Mark, thanks for your reply, and apologies for the belated response.  The fact that you asked that very pertinent question about the support between removing the bindings and getting the bad sealed and consolidated in fact shows that you understand the process exactly.  So I would put in the final layer of bag with sealing tape applied along its length, but not on the ends, inside the mould.  And in to that I would apply some form of stuffing to hold it all together.  Then extract the bindings.  Then apply the end sealing tape.  Then consolidate.  How does that sound?  I suppose in the commercial world they would use some kind of bladder arrangement, but for me its not worth all the time/expense.  Even with a bladder I would imagine it would be tricky, so how would a corporate moul;d of this type be done?  Is there actually an answer or is my method as good as any other?  I know that in the bicycle frame world they essentially fudge it by laminating in two halves and consolidating together, or by bonding etc.