Giving models to a museum

[Hobbes]

Many aircraft museums have some sort of collection of scale models. This varies from a few dusty models done by the curator's son, to an impressive, well thought-out collection that complements the real aircraft shown in the museum.

I know the What-if SIG has a display cabinet at the Midland Air Museum. Apart from that, has anyone here given or loaned models to a museum for display? What's involved?

[PR19_Kit]

The RAE Museum at Boscombe Down has a large collection of first quality models built by a friend of mine. He himself was approached by the Museum guys at a show we did in Salisbury, which was a bit of a shaker! They said he would always retain ownership but sometime the Museum may request he took some back if they wanted a special theme at any time. Sadly it seems that Museum may be closing, due to privatision of course!

The Swedish Air Force Museum at Linkoping has the right deal, the guy who runs their exhibit section IS a modeller! 

The hobby needs to avoid the situation that obtained when the large Skyfame collection, model and full size, moved to Duxford way back when. The contractors just dumped all the models in boxes, all on top of each other (!) and the people at Duxford put them straight on display as they arrived, broken under-carriages, missing canopies, scratched paint jobs and all! It took some effort on the part of some of us on the IPMS Committee at the time to persuade them to either repair the models or put some good ones on display.

[Dork the kit slayer]

The Warbirds museum at Hamilton(Ontario) has quite a good display of "Canadian"subjects in 1:72. The museum at Trenton also has quite a few models displayed (of varying quality) and some very nice dioramas.
Ill try and dig the photos out.

[Hobbes]

The reason I'm asking is this:

I've been in contact with the Bristol Aero Collection for additional information on SRAAM. As a way of thanking them for their assistance, I've offered to build them a model.
I'm looking for info on what to expect and what to avoid.

[TsrJoe]

some of Geoff Baker 'thorvick's project cancelled models are on display at the Hunterian Museum/Glasgow University engineering department where they provide a nice visual insight as to what might have been
My own stuff is on display in a few museums too, having worked as a museum modelmaker for a number of years.
re comission type models, if a kit build, they generally look for nice clean builds to a consistient standard, such models can range from 'display model' style right through to 'whistles and bells' with lots of detail

bestest wishes, joe

[PR19_Kit]

I've been in contact with the Bristol Aero Collection for additional information on SRAAM.

That'll be the guys at Kemble then? Quite a good museum that, suffers from chronic lack of funds and space though. I went past it every day I went to my office and dropped in a few times when I 'finished work early'. 

[Hobbes]

Yup, that's the one. I've been there twice now, it's a fun little museum.

[Joe C-P]

I have models for display with the Battleship New Jersey museum. I don't know if they're out on display right now, but they were accepted. For museum displays, do the following:

1. Use long-lasting materials. The more durable the better.
2. Ensure maximum historical accuracy. Choose a single plane/ship/armor to model, rather than a general idea, and a specific date. Research thoroughly, and remember that photos are generally more accurate than plans. The final paint coat is what the visitors will see, so what's underneath only has to be the right shape and size. Interpretations are only acceptable if there is no absolute information, and only to present historically important information.
3. Include some sort of plaque explaining the display, both the subject and the model's scale.
4. Mark the base with your name indelibly but in a way not visible when displayed.
5. Don't be "cute" unless it is factual and historically important. "Cool" is fine if it presents historical information, such as a cutaway section showing the structure.
6. Choose a subject for a reason, something with an interesting story or a local connection.