Here is the March 2005 report on our work on the Mosquito. We have shifted our attention to the cockpit section and have begun work on the components from that area.

1. We have removed the pilots flight controls from the cockpit section including the control column, rudder pedals, aileron torque tube and elevator lay shaft assemblies along with assorted guards, mounting plates and cable pulley brackets. Also removed the No# 2 bulkhead armour plate, washer plates and pipe work clamp blocks. Removed the cockpit section under floor reinforcing structure, cannon barrel reinforcing/support rings.

2. Pilots control Column. Strip down and paint strip. Remove all bearings and fit those on hand. More to come. Clean and inspect sprockets chains and tension rods. Recoverable hardware sent for plating. Ready for partial reassembly.

3. Rudder pedals. Breakdown and paint strip, replace bearings in mounting brackets. Work still in progress. Cracks detected around rivets where adjuster locking plates attach to main casting. Repair developed to reinforce area with 4130 doubler plates.

4. Elevator and aileron layshafts and torque tubes. Items disassembled, paint stripped, bearings replaced where possible. Weld repairs carried out to flange on aileron torque tube scroll. Primer painted. Awaiting reassembly.

5. Elevator trim wheel assembly and housing. Items disassembled, paint stripped and a weld repair carried out on the top housing. Recoverable hardware sent for plating. Elevator trim indicator scroll disassembled and cleaned up. Hand wheel and housings painted black.

6. Pilots flight control chain and pulley guards paint stripped, straightened out, anchor nuts replaced primed and painted cockpit green. Aileron pulley bracket and aileron trim pulley brackets refurbished. Support structure for the aileron torque shaft and elevator lay shaft refurbished, with new bearings replaced and painted green.

7. Refurbishment of # 2 bulkhead armour plate. Paint stripped, bead blasted treated and painted green. Removed all fittings from # 1 armour plate Paint stripped and cleaned up. Cockpit under floor reinforcing structure de-riveted, treated for minor corrosion, primed, riveted back together. Recoverable hardware sent for plating. Components painted awaiting reassembly. Cannon barrel supporting rings paint stripped, bead blasted and are ready to send for plating. Brass items cleaned up.

Woodwork

They are ¼ of the way through attaching the balsa filling and have begun some fairing off of the balsa. In the photos, you can see they are placing the balsa filler material onto one of the jigs, and another photo of the other side with the clamping bands attached holding the balsa down tight while the glue sets. They then sand the whole thing smooth after the bands come off and it is ready for the outer skin.