Regarding conservation and preservation. I went on a tour of the Henry Ford Museum's restoration and conservation facilities several years ago. At one point of the tour I was in the area where conservation, restoration and preservation was performed on steam engines and other mechanical devices. The gentleman, while describing the work he performed there, used a small two cylinder operating steam engine as an example of the problems involved in keeping things in working order. He made a point, I never thought of, that when the number of replacement parts on the engine reached a certain point, I think he said fifty percent, it was no longer considered to be an original engine, but was more like a re-manufactured engine and not suitable for display. It would be auctioned off. The museum keeps similar artifacts in operating condition and run them as part of the museum displays.
If an antique or historical ship model with extensive damage was to be restored, could there be a point where the model would not be considered to be original when the restoration process was completed? Would the work be attempted at all.
Jim