The curvature of my bits is still intact as well. And the triangle that is attached to the heel block of the neck, and the sides, is pretty firmly attached, never been broken.

So rather than try to remove it, I'm thinking of going the way Ben Seymour seems to have - building up the back using the sides of the mandolin as a base, and articulating the shape with the triangle that remains in situ, and that little rectangle in the middle, but without fastening to the sides. Maybe have some bit of flexible wood or plastic wrapped round the sides temporarily, jutting up an inch or so, to help hold it together while I'm assembling and gluing - then remove, put the reinforcing cloth or strips in, and then glue the whole thing to the sides and the heel block triangle.

The black inlay strips - would those be something I had to cut myself, or would it be possible to buy from a craft shop or something? As mooman said, I reckon that might be the trickiest bit.

It's complicated trying to write this stuff out - especially since I'm not sure of any of the terms. (Yup, spaw, walls meant sides, which I imagine is the better word to use. And reading it through some of the language sounds a bit bizarre: "the curvature of my bits is still intact as well"..ye Gods!