Here is the May 06 report on the rebuild of BL628, the Spitfire V. A fourth staff member began on the project this month.

Work has been centered on the engine mount, elevators, ailerons and cockpit equipment this month.

An original engine mount was supplied, but it is only for pattern purposes. Also supplied were refurbished end fittings for most of the mount frame tubes as well as raw tube stock. We have cut and machined these tubes to the correct lengths and then match drilled them to suit the original fittings, reamed the taper pin holes and trial fitted the taper pins. Cant quite finish all the tubes as there are a couple that we don’t have samples for. In this case we will finish these tubes when we assemble the mount together. We have fabricated the other two main side plates for the main web assy. And these are away being heat treated. All the other useable parts have been refurbished.

The original elevator supplied has been fully dismantled, all the components de-corroded and assessed for airworthiness. The spar and leading edge assembly will be satisfactory to reuse as will most of the sheet metal nose ribs. Most all of the tubular ribs require some elements replacing and we are working our way thru this rib repair process. All of the hinge attachment fittings are U/S and need to be fabricated from new stock and these are with the machine shop at present.

Further progress has been made on the aileron and all of the new skins are finished. The leading edge skin has been refurbished and will be able to be used again as will the spar and ribs. There are a couple of machined fittings that are missing and have to be fabricated.

The fuselage has now been stripped externally and we are expecting the water strippers later this week to come and strip the cockpit and firewall area. Most of the cockpit equipment that requires overhaul has been dismantled and assessed for serviceability. A large number of components have been sent away for plating and we can begin re-assembly and final painting soon. There are a few items that were badly corroded and we are sourcing new stock to remake these items. The main control stick tube and some support frame structure require replacement. The main aileron cable drum also needs the cable drum sectors re-fabricating. Most all of the other components are in good condition and will be fine to install following plating, paint and new bearings etc.

We have begun work on the top fuel tank. It requires a new outer skin which we have fabricated a couple of doubler plates and a new outlet boss. Most of the internal structure and the pipework is all going to be useable again and we will begin the re-assembly process shortly.