somewhere on the pattern forum there was a link to a build thread in japanese where the guy builds a museum quality pattern plane on a 4' table in a tiny workroom. as best as i could tell the plane was finished in silk and then painted. the craftsmanship on that build and especially the finish is unequaled by anything i've ever seen online. i think those planes sell for $10,000 - 15,000 american dollars over there, so it is probably the guy's means of earning a living.

david