Evert, Dorn. Thank you. I will take heed and source a glove to help with grip. I did consider a Welsh Willy kit but Chambers are offering a refurb kit for £19... very cheap-I may even buy one more for another Mercury and one for a Meteor.
I am hoping that before christmas I will have enough parts to rebuild my none working Mercury and be able to fit a scope on it with mounts TO48 from Ramsbottom, something I have long wanted to do to a Mercury and an Airsporter though I have never owned the latter (so far).
What would be the best finish? A reblue or repaint similar to a Meteor.
Thanks again for the help and advice, having a knowledge base to fall back on is extremely helpful.