There are countless treasures stashed away in palaces, offices etc – but is this RAF or IW museum (for example) policy? If, say, I had a T-rex bone of value, would I store it way or let the natural history museum at it for study and display? Is it policy with “state” museums or committee management structure or what?

I have a piece of Stirling Mr Hacker, jolly good, lets let have 12 jaguar have it, no no says sir humphry?

generally, do private collections trade, understand and wheel and deal more than IWM etc?

Well they no doubt don’t have the cash and backing to wheel and deal more than the IWM, but don’t insult their knowledge and sincerety, I’ve no doubt we have some dodgy collectors, but small museums run by enthusiasts, counting every penny, are sacrosanct, thank god we have them.

It’s interesting how much little thought has been given to preserving historic items in this country in the past, of whatever genre, and it still goes on.
You would have thought that after the war to end all wars finished, that important icons and airframes would have been stored in one of the numerous hangars available somewhere for future generations to appreciate, but no.
It seems to have been down to private individuals that have rescued what we have, without their support, we would have lost so much.
The predecessor of the Eurofighter, is it the EDP, is rotting away in Loughborough University, Why? If anyone, like me was lucky enough to see this innivotive, new generation gem display, it makes you wonder why the hell it isn’t at Cosford or Yeovilton, it is a landmark aircraft, with the large number of Jags kicking around at Cosford, why hasn’t it been exchanged for one of those for instruction before it’s too late. Oh, I suppose it’s gutted remains will end up somewhere eventually, but, like the Stirling and the infinite number of important airframes lost, it should be preserved now, we are supposedly in the enlightened 21’st century.
It was the same with steam loco’s in the late 60’s, the powers that be, representatives of the country that invented the bloody thing, kept cutting the list of possible preserved examples, back and back until bog all was left.
It was one foresighted man, Dai Woodhams, a scrap dealer in Wales, who resisted, if it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t be able to go for a jolly ride behind a steam loco on many of the preserved lines in Britain, in fact they wouldn’t exist except for one man’s efforts.
My missus bought me a book about Mossies last week, I gather that even though it survived the war, the prototype was due to be burned, it was hidden away around the country by private individuals who cared, sums it up really, we shouldn’t be plumbing the depths of oceans to find historic airframes, they should have been preserved in the first place.
What hurts me is that high profile Fred Dibnahs collection has been allowed to be vandalised and it’s future left in doubt, doesn’t give you much hope for the future of anything of historical value much does it, we care, but the majority obviously doesn’t, airframes or otherwise, as I said in the Spotted thread the other day, I was blessed with the sight of the Cat flying overhead, but could anyone be bothered to look up and give this unique sight a second look, no way.

They get allsorts of visitors at Lakenheath and Mildenhall i guess, and in flying terms, we’re only a stone’s throw away.

Fair point on the thread-jacking, it’s been my fault both times today, made the mistake of mentioning airfix kits to Scott (the rightful owner of the thread!) and ended up unwittingly pulling in Kev_35, self-confessed anorak for a completely off-topic discussion on the difference between Airfix and Revell.

What was the topic? oh yes, anyone off to Sunderland this weekend? lol

Don’t worry, these things happen, you’re back on thread.

Airfix didn’t do a Victor did they? I thought it was Matchbox that produced the Victor and when they went out of business the moulds went on to Revell?

Regards,

kev35

Quite right and produced with authentic Gulf War markings as well. I was in mass model making phase about 10 years ago when my son was ‘of that age’ and we were hanging things all over his ceiling, we set up a scenario of it refuelling a Tornado and Buccaneer, I had to fabricate a refueling probe for the Bucc and do all the artwork with a 0.1 Rapidograph pen.
The Victor was a lovely model, one of my favourite completed kits in fact, don’t worry, after 2 house moves and a son that’s now left the roost, it’s still intact in a box in the garage along with the Focke Wulfs, Spits, Zeros…………….et al.

Cat returned to DX at about 5:15 yesterday, at the time, I was taking the dogs for a walk, this magnificent, unusual aircraft flew very low over us and I was so surprised that the hordes of the general public around at the time didn’t give it a second glance, whats wrong with people, have they no imagination or interest, I guess not, sad isn’t it, my missus agreed too.

Spares?

Obviously not, I presume this is the one that had an altercation with some trees.