I had a Morris Minor car once-it should legally have had a ‘Q’ registration plate as it was comprised of over twenty different Minors; was that an original Morris Minor, or not?

God knows how many bits of Lancasters and similar comprise PA474 these days; does that mean it’s not a Lancaster anymore?

For aircraft, I don’t think there is one hard and fast answer-each case has to be viewed individually.

I don’t know what ‘original’ was ever found/left on her, but I was certainly under the impression that everything you see on Sugar was applied when she went into Hendon in the 70’s.

Only just seen that comment-VERY poor taste. 😡

Well, call me picky, but so little of HMS Victory actually IS the HMS Victory anyway…

Only just caught back up with this thread, otherwise I’d have answered dhfan’s Bluebird/Gnat query myself, but Alexis has it spot on, anyway!

Bluebird did indeed once have a Beryl engine too though, so actually, we’re ALL right! 😀

I know the poster you refer to, I used to have one myself! It’s my understanding that most of what you see there was fitted by one Ted Willoughby, a former 467 sqdn man who took it upon himself to fit Sugar’s once bare interior out as best as he could over the years after her internment at Hendon.

From when they’ve had the covers off, and especially when they took her whole port outer wing off a few years ago, I’d say that the engines are just left ‘as is’. The one I saw was splattered with ancient-looking red gooey stuff, a preservative I would guess, and it had a few bits missing. So yeah, she’s got Merlins, but only as lumps on which to hang props!

To clarify, I meant everyone associated with the Vulcan, not anyone else who happens to be based at Brunty.

Willow, Sugar was last repainted thirty years ago, actually inside the main hall at Hendon, where she first came after leaving gate guardian duties. Her looks and finish have actually lasted very well since, though recent quite necessary conservation work on poorly areas of skin have led to bits of her being repainted in a more correct matt finish, while the rest of her stays satin. So basically, as you’ve probably seen, she’s rapidly turning into a hodge-podge of finishes, which makes her look well-ropey.

In my opinion she should always be one of THE highest star attractions at Hendon, but for now at least she’s not looking her best, which is a let-down. 🙁