To restore or not to restore...

Mr. Nagata

Mr. Nagata

Sr Member
RPF PREMIUM MEMBER
That is the question. I recently posted some pictures of a screen-used TNG desktop monitor that I acquired. I'm on the fence about whether I should restore it or not. It's pretty damaged in a lot of places. I know that for a screen-used piece, a little wear and dirt adds to the charm of the piece. But a lot of the damage is pretty excessive, like big gouges and cracks in the surface, and big portions of tape peeling off. I feel like repairing the damage will make it a much nicer display piece. Though I don't plan on reselling it, how does restoring a prop hurt its resale value? I don't plan on doing a huge overhaul or an entire repaint, just the areas that really need it. I would try and keep as much of the original paint and tape as possible. Anyone have experience in this area? What are your thoughts?

props2.jpg


Here is my original thread:
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=33216
 
Last edited:
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

My vote goes to restoring it. It kind of looks like mistreated junk sitting on a shelf to the untrained eye otherwise, ya know? But I tend to display my props with photos of them in a production, even if I create them from screencaps, that eliminates the pesky "what's this thing from?" questions I get occasionally from folks viewing my collection too.

Take lots of progress pics along the way if you decide to restore, and share them here please!
 
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

Usually the concensus is to leave screen used alone, but what you have there looks quite tatty, i would say a little restoration wouldnt hurt if you plan on keeping it.
 
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

If it were me, I would try to restore it only in the sense of sticking down the peeling tape that already exists. That should make it look a bit neater.

I wouldn't repaint or try to fix the damaged areas. The damage isn't going to get any worse, so I would just leave it.
 
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

Interesting. My pictures actually don't make the damage look that bad, but some areas are really an eyesore. Most of the places where it just looks like paint is chipped off are actually deep gouges in the urethane foam. Some of the tape wont even lay down properly anymore because the surface is completely uneven with loose pieces of foam where it's been scratched and beaten.
 
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

Guess I'm going to be the dissenting voice... I'd leave it like it is. That's the condition you got it in, so be it. If its authentic, leave it like it is and enjoy it in its current state. Now this wouldn't apply in my world should the item be something that further disintegrates over time (foam applications, for example).

If you try to do some repairs along the way, I'd tend to believe that you risk damaging the value down the long road.

Now, if it was a repro, I'd totally be up for cleaning up it.

Repro = clean it up.
Authentic = leave it alone.



playskool2000 said:
Interesting. My pictures actually don't make the damage look that bad, but some areas are really an eyesore. Most of the places where it just looks like paint is chipped off are actually deep gouges in the urethane foam. Some of the tape wont even lay down properly anymore because the surface is completely uneven with loose pieces of foam where it's been scratched and beaten.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

Hi,

Same as Ob1al...just put back the tape but nothing else. It's a piece of movie history, all the alterations are parts of his history so it must stay like this.

FRED
 
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

Noooo. Dont touch it. You will ruin the integrity of the prop and once it's done there is NO going back.

I would want the paint and the detailing that set there, on set, with the actors every day.

Not some neat spruced up recoated paint job. Props are supposed to be beaten up man. They lived through it!

Again....NOOOOO!
 
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

my vote is to do whatever YOU want to do. if you're happy with it how it is, leave it. if you'd like it a bit neater, restore it. considering you're never going to let it go, it's all about your own personal taste.
 
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

If this piece were mine I'd leave it as is.

I know the gouges are an eye sore but the damage is now a part of it's history.

Nice score btw!
 
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

I would leave it i know you say you don't plan on selling it but things happen and if you ever did have to sell it then restoring it will affect a sale possibly not an awful lot with price but it will cut your potential market down.
There are people that wouldn't look at it because it's been restored and they want untouched pieces and those that don't mind it being restored can always restore it or get it restored themselves anyway.
If you want a perfect one for display then i think you should just make a copy and keep the original safe in storage.
 
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

Take the following into consideration -

This is a prop from TNG, not TOS.
They made several of these things; this isn't the only one out there.
The damage is not screen specific (ie, it's not the remains of a pyro model).
The damage was likely caused from storage and it was easier for them to swap it out with another identical unit rather than repair it.

Taking all of this into account, I don't believe doing a clean up to touch up the scars and replace the tape that is missing will affect the overall resale value that much. I wouldn't completely strip it down and repaint it, but I would make it more presentable. Who knows, it may actually make it more desirable in the future to the casual collector and you might get a decent return on the investment and labor.

Things like this have to be examined on a case by case basis and you have to ask yourself what you want........... Some of the matte paintings and artwork I have have rough edges. Sometimes I choose to add a matte that covers it up. Other times I mount the artwork without a matte, so you can see the edges and see that it is not just a picture, but an actual artifact.

My two cents,

Gene
 
Re: Too restore or not to restore...

I would take an original untouched, beaten up prop over a restored anything!

But that is just me, it's all about what YOU want to do.

Steve
 
Do what you feel is right but I'd give it a partial resto.Just make it look how you want it.:cheers:thumbsup
 
For me, unless that damage can be traced back to a specific episode where you see that state of distress, I'd touch it up a little.

I certainly wouldn't strip it down and repaint it or anything like that, but you photograph the $#!+ out of it, do a little putty & paint and re-glue the tape and from 5' it'll look like new.

If you wan to return it to it's current state, you can always pop out the filler plugs, peel the tape back and voila!

But hey...that's just me ;)

Awesome find, BTW. One of those is on my short list of things I'd like to have!

Steve
 
Unless it's a stabilisation issue to prevent degrading of material or damage I think it's best to leave pieces the way they are.There's no real need in this case to actually fix anything as any restoration would be purely cosmetic so i think it's a great piece and fine the way it is.Just my opinion though.Very nice catch.:thumbsup
 
bigbaddaddyvader said:
Unless it's a stabilisation issue to prevent degrading of material or damage I think it's best to leave pieces the way they are.There's no real need in this case to actually fix anything as any restoration would be purely cosmetic so i think it's a great piece and fine the way it is.Just my opinion though.Very nice catch.:thumbsup
Click to expand...

I agree.:thumbsup Since you obiviously have building talent and a eye for detail, as well as a original for reference, why not just build a replica in pristine condition to display next to it?:love
then post the tutorial.:love
 
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