Here is the April 2005 report on our work on the Mosquito. Progress has been good on the cockpit components with some subassemblies now completed.

1. The pilots instrument and switch panels and supporting structure has been removed from the remains of the cockpit section for refurbishment. The steel support straps and recoverable hardware have been sent for cad plating. Work has begun on stripping and refurbishing the various brackets, panels and plates recovered from this area.

2. Various pilot/navigator switch boxes stripped of their switches and wiring. Switch boxes paint stripped, repaired as required and repainted black. Various brackets for holding switches and electrical items refurbished and painted green/black. On going work.

3. Pilots control column reassembled, new bearings installed throughout, hand grip bound with cotton chord and sealed. Gun firing switch partially rebuilt awaiting the missing parts before it can be completed. Steel doubler repair to the rudder pedals completed. Pedals painted green and now await reassembly. New bearings installed throughout.

4. Pilots throttle box stripped for refurbishment. Throttle and pitch control levers and box paint stripped. Isolated areas treated for corrosion. Items painted black. Recoverable parts cad plated. Two leather friction plates replaced. Throttle box reassembled. Still requires placards and supercharger switch. Throttle link rods refurbished. Ends sent for cad plating.

5. Elevator control layshaft reassembled. Elevator trim position indicator scroll reassembled onto elevator layshaft. New bearings installed. Elevator trim hand wheel assembled onto housing. Trial assembly of unit comprising elevator layshaft, elevator trim wheel and indicator scroll assembly carried out.

6. No 1 armour plate bulkhead refurbished. Recoverable hardware sent for plating. Armour plate bead blasted, treated and repainted green. Ammunition box attachment fittings refurbished.

7. Latches for machine gun blast tubes refitted to nose cone.

Work on the control systems parts is nearly finished and we will this month start to move onto instrument panel areas and electrical boxes.

Woodwork

The inner skin is complete on both sides and the inter skin doublers have all been glued into place. This in turn has meant that fitting all the balsa filling material has been possible and this is now complete on both sides.

The balsa and inter skin doublers have all been faired off over the entire outer surface in preparation for the attachment of the final outer skin ply. Work has begun fitting the outer skin ply, and as of the end of April, the ply had been bonded down to and area of approx 50% of both sides, starting at the rear and working forward. The right side is slightly ahead of the left and the skin has been fitted up to the wing cut out/ bomb door area on that side.

Work is concurrently being done on the cockpit and navigator's floors. Both these structures are a sandwich construction just like the fuse but are flat and can be made on the bench. The inter skin structure for the cockpit is being built to accommodate the installation of dual controls so at some time in the future, if these can be found they can be fitted.

The outer skinning should be completed this coming month and then the fuselage halves can be lifted from the molds.