restorations at the NMUSAF?

67N20 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2014 3:17 pm

Misterg97 wrote:

I hear the Belle will still go into WWII and Shoo Shoo go to Washington. There is a specific date in mind when the Belle will be rolled out and into the Museum. Unfortunately, I'm having another "senior moment" and can't remember what I was told other than it has something to do with the Belle itself.

Probably shouldn't have even written this since it is adding concrete info. I'll be at the Museum tomorro AM for a shift and perhaps I can find out.

Thinking back ... how about May 17, 2018 the 75th Anniversary of Mission 25?

Our guide gave us the same timeframe when we went thru.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2014 11:00 pm

Warbird Kid wrote:

67N20 wrote:

Also near the front was a Stearman (or something close) that our guide said was going to be painted in a Tuskegee scheme.

I hear tell that this is a very bad decision regarding this particular airframe.

Nope

Scooby · **Joined:** Sun Apr 13, 2014 2:45 pm **Posts:** 142

67N20 wrote:

The last of the original paint
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Actually even this artwork is not original, it was a post war repaint

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Sat Aug 02, 2014 6:30 pm

The current nose art dates from her 1980s. The Belle received several coats of paint during her decades on outdoor display. When the first serious restoration effort was made in the early 80s, she was stripped back to bare metal and repainted. I think the nose art was done by a descendant of the original artist, who wasn't nearly as skilled. It'll be removed when the plane is prepped for her final repaint.

SN

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 02, 2014 7:12 pm

At least some of the Belles parts will be original!

DH82EH · **Posted:** Sat Aug 02, 2014 7:27 pm

cooper9411 wrote:

At least some of the Belles parts will be original!

JimH · **Posted:** Sat Aug 02, 2014 8:26 pm

it was Starcer's son

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2014 5:07 am

The nose art was done by Phil Starcer who is Tony's nephew.

APG85 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2014 6:22 am

I thought the re-produced nose art looked pretty accurate myself...

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2014 8:18 am

I thought it was done by Tony Starcer, but age may be tainting that memory.

If the nose art wasn't done by the original artist, then why save it? Original is only original once. I get the family connection, but it wasn't Tony.

APG85 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2014 8:27 am

I suspect they have just left it on for "identity purposes" for the sake of the tour groups that pass through the restoration shop. Just a guess...

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2014 7:44 am

That's exactly what I've been told while touring the shop. We spent the afternoon at the NMUSAF yesterday..one of the docents told me that due to AF budget cuts there's little if any restoration work going on at all right now.

They did have the overhead flourescent lights turned on in the WWII gallery for some reason..you could actually see and even photograph the planes for a change!

SN

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2014 10:54 pm

Maybe with the way the pace of restorations has stepped up at the NASM, the Swoose should go back there. It will be the better part of 15 years before the Swoose is done. I guess I will never see it completed. Darn!

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2014 10:55 pm

Steve Nelson wrote:

That's exactly what I've been told while touring the shop. We spent the afternoon at the NMUSAF yesterday..one of the docents told me that due to AF budget cuts there's little if any restoration work going on at all right now.

They did have the overhead flourescent lights turned on in the WWII gallery for some reason..you could actually see and even photograph the planes for a change!

SN

the lighting at the museum is pretty poor.

JimH · **Posted:** Tue Aug 05, 2014 12:58 pm

really? no budget for restorations? then maybe they should nix the new building and finish what they have.

Jim

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restorations at the NMUSAF?

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