Here is the March 06 report on the rebuild of AK295 the Curtiss P-40C Tomahawk. Good progress this month on the work needed on the fuselage and the associated control systems.

We have completed the audit on the parts supplied with the project and begun work on fitting out the fuselage with the useable and overhaulable components to assess what parts are missing.

A number of assemblies have been stripped down, cleaned, blasted and assessed for serviceability. We have completed the assembly of the rudder pedal cross tube bar and this is now ready for paint.

We have fabricated new elevator cross shaft bellcrank covers and also made a new radio control mount plate for the right hand side of the cockpit wall.

We have begun the overhaul of the canopy crank assembly, fabricated a new crank handle and weld repaired the face plate.

We have begun the overhaul of the main aileron torque tube. This assembly requires a new main torque tube and at this point, the tube is on hand and all the components required for this assembly have been blasted, crack tested corrosion treated and are ready for re-assembly. The main tube bearings have been dismantled and inspected and are now repacked with grease and ready for reinstallation.

We have sourced a number of components for the cowl flap control system from our stock and have begun the overhaul process of these components. New flaps themselves will have to be fabricated from patterns.

We have fabricated new steel cooler mount brackets and two lugs that support the side cowl upper attach hoop. These latter parts are welded to the main mount frame and we will befitting them when the mount is removed after the engine goes away.

We have temporarily fitted a set of U/S control cables to the rear fuselage to allow us to install the various pulley brackets and guide to determine what parts need to be sourced. We have fabricated a number of phenolic cable guides and these will be installed in the fuselage when the new cables are fitted.

We have had the new interior paint delivered. The color has been matched to original samples of the interior paint that we were able to access. This two pack paint will be used on all the interior surfaces and components as well as everything in the engine compartment.

The assembly of the horizontal has continued a little, but has been put on hold while we track down the piece of extrusion we need for the center rib. The tips have been assembled ready for the main assembly.