Here is the August 07 report on the rebuild of BL628 the Spitfire V.

The goal for this month was to have the aircraft ready to run the engine, but as you are now aware we were unable to assemble the propeller and have had to send it away to the overhaul shop for repair. The spinner also arrived this month and was simply three raw sections, not a ready to fit item as we were expecting.

We have continued with the paint job with the application of the main squadron codes and the last of the stencils. We also have applied the registration number, BL628.

We have fabricated the forward wing fairings this month along with the support structure for them.

We have again continued with the canopy assembly and have concentrated on the cable routing for the jettison operating mechanism and the latch assembly.

We completed the pitot static plumbing and the flap system plumbing and have leak tested and rectified any leaks from the pneumatic system.

The wing control rigging is complete and the gear retraction tests have been carried out and some minor leaks rectified. The electrical unsafe warning system and indicator system has also been tested.

The generator supplied was the wrong style for this installation and was sent to the electrical overhaul shop for rewiring and testing. We have installed the unit now and completed the wiring for that. We have also fitted the engine start ground power receptacle and wired up the starter motor. Without running the engine we can’t test the generator system, but have had the engine turning on the starter. The replacement governor has also arrived, been painted and installed with the new pipes we fabricated.

Some of the final placarding for the cockpit has been installed and the engraving on the fuse box lids has been completed and in filled with paint.

We have cast a number of ballast weights for installation on the ballast bar when we carry out the weight and balance after the prop is fitted.

As mentioned the spinner arrived in simple raw spun form with no drawings. The front support assembly that was supplied with the propeller was for a Rotol spinner but the spinner parts supplied are for a VDM spinner, so a new front support ring has had to be made. We have developed drawings for the missing parts and had the tooling cut to fabricate them. We have completed the majority of the parts and begun the assembly of the back plate. Further work is required to complete the assembly.

During the month the remaining hoses for the oil, fuel and hydraulic connections have been completed. We have serviced the engine with fluids.

The prop is at the shop now and I'm putting pressure on them daily to get it back to us ASAP.