Reminds me very much of that series of ” restoration” programs on Discovery chanel, hosted by Mark(I’m a vet really )Evans, where he takes a vehicle (which is not actually that bad) and replaces everything with new build panels, wheels, interior trim,etc; clearly there is more skill required to straighten and rework old metal, as opposed to replacing it wholesale and it will more time consuming, with a financial cost attached.

If we are talking about ww2 era A/C (the two examples I have given are that)then they need to have built in that time period, and be extant in that ex factory condition.

It’s also possible to change your mind; ten years ago I thought that non flying museum A/C were a lost opportunity, in the susequent years we have lost quite a few flyers, some have been reborn, but that just highlights the dilema, I now believe genuine time capsule A/C should remain tucked up in (some cases) dimly lit museums!

In many ways A/C that have been “reborn from the ashes” are the best possible machines to fly, damage to them, as sad as that maybe, (and we might only be talking a wheels up or U/C failure) will not involve the loss of any original structure.

If A/C such as the Sahara P40 (should it ever be recovered) and Swamp ghost, were to lose a substantial amount of quite obviously original structure, (in the process of making them airworthy) then (in my view) that would be wrong.

I quote someone who is at the top of the tree within the industry, he says (on the subject of what “bits” you should or should not reuse) “it’s a mans life at stake, safety is no1” if he is not satisfied that any component will perform as it would when new, he wont sign it off.

Only the free French.

There is always the option for those not currently building a Spitfire, to resurrect one of these lost types for themselves…..

In all honesty with the budget set as it is, and working within the specified time frame, I’d say no chance, but best of luck anyway.

There were a couple of U/C legs on ebay, recently, they were a bit rough but probably could have been made presentable, but even they were £200- and then you need axles, wheels & tyres and a means of securing them to the airframe.