Peter
I had no intention of upsetting anyone. I know Tim and he can get in contact if he so wishes (and he has my contact details). He has had parts from me for his various projects. I am happy to change the wording but it is ‘a piece of the Seafire Cockpit’ and that is obvious by the photo.
Regarding the inference of the piece and how it ended up at NAM, well it had been asset stripped post recovery from the scrapyard presumably by whoever acquired it from the yard. For example, the throttle box had been cut off and the instrument panel mounts cut off with tin snips. This was not done in the yard. So it is likely that it had the useful stuff removed and the rest skipped or passed on. This was commonplace in those days as you and I both well know. Mix’n’match was not invented by the sweet industry. I can assure you that there was no naughtiness involved on my part or behalf.
Regarding ownership 10 years down the line, well, I have publically stated on this forum that I do not own LA546. This is a public place so that is a fact. Courts are a silly suggestion and one below you.
I am saddened that this thread has been hijacked by what is a side show. My Seafire project is to take something that was of no use to any restorer (hence why it was discarded) and change it into something that will be viewable by the children of the future. I cannot see how that could upset anyone! As I acquire more for it, it becomes completer and diluted. Unlike you Peter, I have not had the benefit or money to own several spitfires/seafires. I am the little oik who was told that he could not look into someones Spitfire at shows. Hence I set about creating my own project that I couldn share with whom I like.
This sideshow could have been dealt with in a much nicer and easier way…you could have simply PM’d me and I would have changed the wording. Instead this has left a bad taste in my mouth and no doubt Tim’s for absolutely NO justifiable reason.
I will instruct my webmaster to change the wording to clarify the situation…but next time pm me it will keep my blood pressure down on what should be a very christian day!:)
Tony Dyer
Dinny
As the former owner of Seafire 46’s LA564 and LA546 I think I am reasonably well qualified on the ‘expert’ front to voice an opinion, of whatever effect on the taste buds, particularly as the current owner of LA546 is one of my closest friends. Believe me, he is not happy.
The concern is the old issue, discussed ‘ad nauseum’ on this forum – provenance trail.
LA546 yielded much of its rear fuselage structure to the reconstruction of Seafire SX336. Of the remaining pieces some were incorporated in to the restoration of LA564, some front frame sections went to Australia and the front fuselage/firewall bulkhead and data plate went to Craig Charleston as a potential future project.
Just how this substantial ‘section of cockpit’ got separated from the main pile at Abbott’s yard and ended up being dumped by Newark Air Museum is a mystery to me.
To the not so well informed, using secondary sources of research, the professional appearance of the web page on Tony’s site headed ‘Seafire F.46 LA546’ will in my view send the wrong message on provenance, particularly as the project grows.
It is better to have the discussion now rather than in court ten years on, notwithstanding ownership changes along the way.
Mark
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