Depending how you view it , a warbird will cost you money to maintain it to standards .When you see an aircraft at first site to buy it, nice paint job, the seller open the canopy to look inside but not touch and offer you some coffee or a lunch, this is the tip of the iceberg that you can see .
What is under the water line is usualy kept in the dark like: real cost to maintain the aircraft,
can the aircraft be certified, hours on the engines, when next parts need to be replaced, who sell parts, at what price , who can overhaul parts and at what cost, who can work on the airplane and do they have knowledge,references where they received the training and proof of the training received ...
If you are not sure, ask around .
It is better to have a second advise than to be forced to pay 1000'$ to have the aircraft in perfect condition.
If you want to go the cheap way good chance that one day or an other your airplane will end in the scrap yard.
