Thanks for the responses folks, I think I’ll follow my usual theory better left alone and intact than messed with and in pieces. But I will try and get in touch with a couple of museums and seek some expert advice.

You can’t beat the smell of old workshops and old aircraft for evoking memories but long stored flight kit can have a smell best described as unique 😉

@Brian I have rediscovered my VC10 panel it turns out not to have made it as far as the postie for reasons unknown I’ll get it on it’s way to you shortly.