Refurbing, conservation etc

Just wanted to canvas opinion on this one. Over the last week I've done a complete clean, retrobrite and rebuild on my child hood millennium Falcon. It looks fantastic. The yellowing is gone and the 35 years of dust and grime is also. It looks box fresh. I've also saved some of the decals which I will reapply.

Now I posted some photos of a refurb of a tatty, bright yellow battered in xwing and the topic was removed. Not a moan I just found it surprising ( nee to the adult collecting hobby)

Can I ask why it's such a touchy subject. I mean the conservation and cleaning of old antiques is common place. Considering that these items are really approaching antique status I don't see the purpose in letting them deteriorate further or having them in such a state of disrepair that they are unattractive.

I understand the need to disclose if selling on to another buyer, but personally find cleaning / replacing broken parts / fixing things and what not satisfying and useful.

Thoughts?

The use of chemicals to whiten yellowed plastic only degrades the plastic further. Fill your boots if you want to do it, but you're unlikely to find much support for the practice around here.

People are touchy on the subject of conservation especially using chemicals, but i'm of the mindset that as long as you delare it if you end up selling it on its up to you, its your stuff at the end of the day, i'm glad you now have a falcon you can be proud of

Main issue I think a lot of people have with this, same with repros, some dishonest sellers trying to pass items off as genuine or not been "touched up" e.g. de-yellowing or painting. If everyone was honest I don't think the hatred would be so high.

Oh yes I understand that but I will never sell my childhood stuff. I have loads of it and some of it was a mission to get back.

But to me it's not the monetary value it's the sentimental value. And looking at how it's come up I'm very happy.

My neighbour has a mark one Ford escort. He's spent months removing rust, re chroming, re spraying what was an un roadworthy lump of metal. Is it original? No but like Theseus' ship, it is in spirit.

Restoration is acceptable in cars especially in vintage and classics In fact it would be difficult to get into Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance without it! Where as Comics Restoration will devalue it considerably. Star Wars is full of contradictions as some collectors don't like you using certain chemicals to improve the colour of something but don't mind other people using different chemicals to remove price stickers of MOC's so I would just do what makes you happy as there are no set rules in Star Wars.

Just because something is accepted in one hobby doesn't mean it has to be in another. You cannot buy 1950s tyres for a classic car, they have long since perished. And even if they did exist, they would be dangerous. Metal rusts, hence why replacement car parts are often the only option. I assure you classic car restorers would prefer original parts, they just do not exist in most cases.

Surely as a 'high end' MOC collector you can appreciate that originality is preferred to restoration. Would you pay 10 grand for a Palitoy MOC with a replaced bubble or name plate? no, of course you wouldn't. There are many collectors who are satisfied with restored carded figures, but hopefully that more accurate comparison explains why some people prefer untouched, authentic items to restored ones.