Only known surviving Dornier 17 to be raised from the English Channel

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Personally I'm hoping they'll treat this as it is and fix the damage caused by the years under water, but not the damage caused in battle, like the engines.

Very much this.


And if you recover, say, 1/4 of a tank and you restore it. It's not THE tank anymore,
most of it is just a replica.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Very much this.


And if you recover, say, 1/4 of a tank and you restore it. It's not THE tank anymore,
most of it is just a replica.

I believe that is the plan, obviously it could have changed since the announcement but I'm fairly sure I saw somewhere that it is planned that the wreck will be washed thoroughly to get rid of the corrosion and water damage whilst at Cosford. I believe (of all things) citric acid will be used to help remove silt and the like. At this point it's hopeful that the original markings will be displayed and in good condition.
During this time, the museum at Hendon will be being overhauled and a new Battle of Britain display will be being created, once this is complete and the Dornier ready, then she will be taken to London and the conserved wreck put on display in the Battle of Britain section. Bringing together a Do-17, He-111, Ju-88, Bf-109 and Bf-110 in London for the first time since the 1940s.

EDIT - The Battle of Britain Beacon will likely be the final home for the Dornier, I think the design is still being mulled over, but it's going to be about 300ft high.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8682646.stm

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Very much this.


And if you recover, say, 1/4 of a tank and you restore it. It's not THE tank anymore,
most of it is just a replica.

Sometimes there is no other choice but, make from scratch, parts to complete a restoration. Simply no way around it other than hosing off the tank and plunking it down in a display. Not a bad idea but do patrons of the museum want to see this?

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Sometimes there is no other choice but, make from scratch, parts to complete a restoration. Simply no way around it other than hosing off the tank and plunking it down in a display. Not a bad idea but do patrons of the museum want to see this?

I have no problem if some parts are restored, but if a large part of the object needs to be build from scratch, then I dont see the point of even using the real parts. At that point, to me, it just becomes more of a replica.

Why not just put them up on display as they are? Or store them somewhere?

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Dowly

I have no problem if some parts are restored, but if a large part of the object needs to be build from scratch, then I dont see the point of even using the real parts. At that point, to me, it just becomes more of a replica.

Why not just put them up on display as they are? Or store them somewhere?

I think it boils down to what is left of the original. I agree that it does become a replica but a lot of what we see today has had a majority of the parts replaced or made. It is the nature of the beast. By and large, it's all about $$$$$$ in the end.

As they say in the classic car arena...."It is only original once."

[Oberon]

Honestly, the Dornier is a one of a kind, it's too valuable to mess around with. If people want to see an intact Dornier so badly then it'd be better to build a new one from scratch if they can get the blueprints, like the American Me-262 group did with their 262s.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Dowly

And if you recover, say, 1/4 of a tank and you restore it. It's not THE tank anymore,
most of it is just a replica.

By that standard there are no flying DC-3/C-47s anymore. After more than seventy years every single part, piece and panel has been replaced, so nothing is original.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

By that standard there are no flying DC-3/C-47s anymore*. After more than seventy years every single part, piece and panel has been replaced, so nothing is original.

Yes, that's how I see it. Same as an original musket would have it's parts replaced by
new ones. To me, it's not the original anymore, it becomes a replica.

*Of course, nothing stops anyone from looking at the plans available and actually
building a C-47 though.

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I think it boils down to what is left of the original.

Yep, I agree. IMHO, if there is enough to restore something, that still keeps much of the object original, I'm willing to say it's a restored piece. Say, a tank that is missing it's wheels entirely from one side, I'm ok if they build them from scratch.