It isn`t a problem to make photos now. You have camera, don`t pay or pay small price for this and do what you want. In Internet a lof of photos from this museum, but they`re with russian language names and maybe that`s why you can or very difficult to fined them for you.When I was there in 1980's they allowed only general photos to be taken, no details. I however took several detail photos as well when the old lady sitting in corner of each room was busy and didn't notice it.
You`re completely right! They have big collection, but show only one small part and don`t do any searching work with devices. For example, with R.Mi.44. I know only one thing - time to time they have historical days where people sometimes talk about interesting part of history and about engineering too. But it`s very rare.I did a four day visit there several years ago to photograph some items in storage. Really incredible collection, but it suffers from the same problems that all military museums do - underfunded and understaffed. I'm sure that they would like to do many things better, but the money only goes so far. Our escort was the curator for ammunition - an old man in his 70s doing everything by himself, using general labor when needed. Thousands of pieces, many which were photographed during that trip and have been shown on this forum. Don't blame the museums too much for their problems, one of the best museums for ordnance in the US was shut down after years of neglect - the military had better things to spend their money on. It was merged with a second museum, that collection was then moved to a new location so that a larger much better facility could be built to hold it. The money went instead to Iraq and Afghanistan - the museum has not yet been completed and as far as I know everything remains in storage.
Unfortunatly that`s why we don`t have good pgotos of R.Mi.44 with details. My friend send request there, but quality of photos are awful!!!!! And answer from museum was a bit angry - like "why we should do this work??? it`s your problem, if you don`t have information about this device!"
Ivan; someone should try to explain those peoples that they have an ultra-rare, possibly unique, item there!!
Anyway, from now on every honourable BOCN-er visiting that place is kindly asked trying to make some more pics of this particular holy relic.
Please both sides and possibly from behind (there seems to be some space between wall and showcase!) - every record could help to enlighten engineers all over the world!:tinysmile_shy_t: