I build 1/64 scale sailing ships from wood. It can take hundreds of hours and even years to complete a single ship. About 10 years ago I lent a model of HMS Bellona to a local gallery who were hosting a naval painting exhibition. Because I normally keep it in a glass cabinet and it’s bolted to the wall, the model went on display uncased but behind a small rope cordon. Even so the public could walk right up to it. As it was a fairly upmarket gallery, I didn’t have too many qualms….

When I got it back 4 weeks later, some of the small brass canon were missing, the jackstaff with the union flag on it had been snapped off and taken and cocktail sticks had been stabbed into the hull between the strakes and broken off. Somebody had evidently also tried to spin the ships wheel and as it was fixed, snapped all the pulleys and string rigging for it.

Needless to say, that was the first and last time I ever agreed to show anything to Joe Public!

Not everyone with the money to buy a vintage aircraft is a vintage aircraft enthusiast. It’s the same wherever a market exists for rare items. For some it’s the allure of owning something rare, for others it’s an investment and sometimes it can be as simple as a whimsical purchase or that their lives simply don’t revolve around their collection.

For many, I suspect financial factors also play a large part. Classic aircraft are expensive, maintaining them is expensive, storing them is expensive and insuring them is expensive. Some collectors no doubt have to make compromises somewhere.

Are Drem and East Fortune the same aerodrome?

Regards

No, but they are, or were, next to each other.

AFAIK, it was just an elevator. Bob did post back in May that he still had it.

The Point Cook PRXVI had been a candidate for restoration to fly some years ago, but no longer. It is undergoing a long term conservation plan, to static condition only.

Bruce

Ahhh, I was unaware that the plans had changed. Thanks for clearing that up, Bruce.

Oz?

Not sure about one there.

Now, I’m not being biased here in any way, but I’m going to come out and say that I think this is the finest restoration (yes, RESTORATION) of any aircraft, anywhere, ever, to date. A stunning achievement by all involved.

Bruce

I thought the Point Cook Mossie was under long term restoration to fly?

So that’s one flyer in NZ with two more to follow, plus one in Canada and one in Oz on the way, too.

I dunno about anyone else but I’m feeling the UK is getting left out! 🙁 :p

Don’t forget there are already two more Mosquitoes already being rebuilt to fly here in NZ Seafuryfan, one of them by Avspecs, and the other by Mosquito Restorations Ltd.

Not just in New Zealand either!

Vicair are well along in restoring VR796.