Having seen quite a few restoration projects over the past years, it has come to my attention that there are six distinct stages common to most, if not all, projects:

1). Enthusiasm.

2). Disillusionment.

3). Panic.

4). Search for the Guilty.

5). Punishment of the Innocent.

6). Praise and Honors for the Non-Participants.

Sad, but so true.

Hey, you forgot the ever-popular

"Replace plate in head, worn out from banging head against wall repeatedly" step.

Howard P.
Sweetness & Light, CT

On my chart number 4 and 5 seem to be the same person, me!

Then quickly replaced with the thought, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!!!!!

Hey Howard, have they come up with that new ceramic plate in head material, so it won't wear out so quickly??

Also, could you give me direction to Sweetness & Light, CT?

Scott

No, Scott, I'm old school. My wife gives me a dozen made out of steel (HY-80) every year for a birthday gift. Sometimes I have a few left over at the end of the year; other times, I run out months before.

"S&L, CT"-- heck, man, you were there! Look for it on the special limited edition Mapquest!

Howard P.

"It's amazing what can be accomplished, if it doesn't matter who gets the credit"

I tried; but it lead me across a railroad track and over a cliff....

I must be doing something wrong. My projects at the Museum of Transport keep coming in ahead of schedule and underbudget. I guess I need help.

No, Jim, You're simply doing it the right way. You obviously are following the methods of Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott of the Starship "USS Enterprise". You take your best estimate of the time and cost to repair whatever damage you are dealing with and double it, then report that as a bare minimum to the Captain/"powers that be". Therefore, when you get done, only 30% above your estimates, you are officially a "miracle worker". Keep up the good work.

Continuing the process of taking one of our April 1 jokes and taking it to a serious conversation....

At SPCRR we include the following in our restoration philosophy...

For any of our cars there are typically a series of phases a car goes through as it is restored. These phases are not clear cut, and may occur simultaneously:

Phase 1, Acquisition, transport and stabilization.
This is typically expensive, particularly the transportation. Stabilization varies greatly from car to car, and can include tarps, blocking, sealing openings, cleaning, or treatment with anti fungal agents.

Phase 2, Research and documentation
Frequently the least expensive, and in reality a phase that never ends. Tasks include paint sampling, photo documentation, Drawings, and historic research.

Phase 3, Restoration planning, Budgeting
Usually a part of phase 2 above - this phase is frequently revisited as the car progresses.

Phase 4, Disassembly
For the first time we start to take the car apart, and possibly destroy fabric. This phase can only happen after we have documented the artifact as received. This phase includes paint removal.

Phase 5, Restoration
The process of remaking parts, and reassembling the car. Phases 4 and 5 frequently take place either simultaneously, or cyclically.

At some point late in phase 5, we have an artifact which can be operated, displayed, and may appear to be complete. It can be difficult to determine where phase 5 ends and phase 6 begins.

Phase 6, Project completion
Our projects, while appearing complete rarely are. There may be tasks left undone, tasks which we chose to ignore during phase 5, or make do aspects of the restoration which need to be revisited. There is always documentation to finalize.

Phase 7, Interpretation
The car enters the public realm. What stories do we tell about the car? How do we use it, where does it live? Do we need signage or other interpretive materials?

Phase 8, Maintenance
Ongoing care related to wear and tear or use.