Although there was only me in attendance, it was a useful working day at Wicken yesterday.
managed to get all the remaining body panels fully polished out as well as 95% of the turntable. IN general, apart from quite a few small areas of rust/bubbling paintwork, the body work is in really good condition. I also had a go at cleaning one of the rear cab 1/4 lights that had fogged up and was pretty scratched. After a lot of research, I plumped for some of the Maguires PlastRX and a supersoft buffing head for the electric polisher donated by Mitch Theobold that I had been using on the body. Well, after 2 passes on the inside and 3 on the outside, I think we can strike off the need to replace the windows! I also had a single pass on one of the rear windows and again, brilliant results. All in all a good day. In the new year, I need to pick up a drill size polishing mop and then I can complete the polishing around the operators consul and the more intricate parts around the frame. Trevor Barnwell, Paul Wing and myself assembled at Wicken for a working party today. We straightened up the O/S of the pump housing and fitted all the alloy sheets and trim. I cut a new housing cover and refitted the "skin" while Trevor and Paul experimented on cleaning up the alloy decking.
We ran short of screws so although many parts were refitted some items will need the remainder of the screws fitting. Trevor had the covers off the console and checked all the electrics and repaired the blown fuses. Parts were taken away to be sourced/ replaced. Today, the working party was well attended and further progress was made as follows:
The last of the trim around the deck was fixed and the rear light wiring was completed.The framework around the pump was completed. The pump bay metalwork was reattached and, the rear panels and rear locker door were screwed back on. While these tasks were being completed other members washed the cab and bodywork and got the polishing machine to work on the paint work, the results were stunning and the paint is now looking good and the appliance has a "cared for" look again. Steve Houston, Paul Wing & Colin Farrington in attendance:
While Steve got on with continuing to fix the decking down, Paul started working on the lockers, treating the wood with knotting, bolting the lockers to the chassis, and getting 2 coats of paint on the internal surfaces. Colin had picked up the (hopefully) last of the wood we need on the way there so he cut out and shaped the wood to finish the pump housing which just needs the final bolting together next time once the bbitumen paint is dry. Colin Farrington & Trevor Barnwell in attendance:
Trevor started reinstating the rear wiring to the back lights and Colin fixed the deck plates in place at the rear, then, rebolting the outrigger that holds the O/S locker was completed and the front deck board was trimmed and 1st coated with paint. Trevor then stripped down the rear number plate holder; unfortunately, it is too badly rusted to use. So we discussed a solution which Trevor will try to get made. A working party of Steve Houston (with his daughter Joanna) Paul Wing, Pete Weight & Colin Farrington carried on with fitting and fettling the parts. Pete got another coat of paint on the wings while the rest of us fitted the O/S pump housing. We then fitted the deck boards around the turntable.
We then tried test fitting of the alloy deck plates and the rear bodywork but they will need screwing down on the next visit as we ran out of screws unfortunately! There are now only 4 pieces of wood to be cut and shaped to finish the pump housing off, which hopefully can be completed and everything screwed back on in the next 2 visits this month. November will see us refitting all the small items and catch fittings and looking towards re cabling the ladder. For some time, the team have been trying to locate some of the very early (1960/70) type cycle lamp brackets that were used to carry the personal lamps which were hung in the rear cabs of LFB appliances. The search had proved fruitless until one day, group member Mike West, happened upon a modern reproduction version owned by Paul Slade of " Fire Brigade Models".
Paul kindly allowed the group to borrow it in an effort to source a manufacturer who would be willing to make a small batch for 240FLM. The hunt for a willing fabricator led Mike to a small company called JACCS metal fabrications based in Kings Langley, Near Watford. Herts. and the team there were more than helpful in taking on the project. In fact, Chris the manager there, kindly got one of his team, Eddie, to make us 6, paint them beautifully, he then proceeded to donate them free of charge to the group. We are so grateful to them, especially as we had never been to them before, for their generosity Paul Wood, Pete Weight & Colin were the working party today with most of the other regulars either on holiday, at work, or unwell.
While Colin fitted the N/S pump housing Paul and Pete carried on with rubbing down the wings. We then did a test fit of the N/S wings before Pete started to put colour on them. We took the O/S locker off to try and straighten the front mountings, this is not going to happen without some serious heat so I unbolted the hanger, this can be jacked back into place and the holes "adjusted" to make everything fit. The front "skin" was replaced and the front checkerplate fitted and the locker lifted back into place. The mountings for the O/S pump housing were drilled and fitted, so this is ready for the "skin" to be fitted and then can be attached. While this was going on Pete got the first coat of red on the wings, this needs to harden for at least 24 hours before being cut back and the next coat applied. I will sort out next working party dates later this week...... as they say "watch this space". Pete Weight & Colin were the working party, Pete filled all the tiny blemishes on the new wings and mudguards, flatted them down and then got the next coat of primer on, it's a slow job but it's worth it with the finish he is getting!
While he was doing that I got on with sorting the fit of the O/S locker. I have established that the problem is the timber at the bottom of the door frame was rotton, so this has been replaced. The front mountings that the locker rests on have been bent up, I will take a long bar to the next working party so that we can straighten them, it only needs a quarter of an inch and then everything will fit. I then completed the decking plates around the turntable and got these painted so they are all ready to be screwed and bolted in place next time. It was nice to see the ladders elevated with the full set together. A milestone in the restoration process was reached today!. With all the ladder extensions now painted, it was time to return them to the main ladder which is still attached to the turntable. A local car recovery agent was hired and arrived dead on time on a rather grey day.Most of us had thought this was going to be quite traumatic, however, the 2 guys who came with the HIAB lorry simply looked at the task and got stuck straight in. 20 minutes later, the ladders were reunited and 240FLM was once again looking pretty with her top hat on. The day continued with Steve Houston, Paul Wing, Pete Weight and Colin cracking on with the new wings and cleaning many of the small panels which were then refitted to the chassis.
The new wings were delivered today and Colin immediately tried the rears on for size, they look brilliant and take us a long way forward with our efforts and help to protect us from future problems. As Colin was alone on the day he filed the following report:After fitting the new rear wings, I started by sorting the n/s pump bay housing. I cut the centre bars as I had worked out last time but I was still struggling to get the parts to line up correctly. After much head scratching and measurement I finally had an ephinany the deck beams had been made out of too thick material! I trimmed about 8mm out of the front mounting and everything then lined up. I then fixed the mounting brackets and fixed the alloy skin on. The back of the board just needs painting and final fixing.
A significant moment in the restoration process was reached.!A small group consisting of Colin, Trevor, Graham, Steve Houston and Pete Cowland managed to re-install the ladder sections into a single unit ready for the big lift which will finally see them reunited with the main ladder on 240FLM. Trevor managed to get all the new treads cut and fitted and the whole assembley looks brilliant.The missed areas of the ladders were painted at the same time.The front o/s locker is now made and part of the outside painted, next visit will see the skin back on and the painting finished and on the appliance. The decking is on the front n/s locker and finally, she is parked up in her "bay" again.
I Spent the day at Wicken with Trevor, we dodged the rain and got the ladder up and propped against the shed so that we could remove the ram and fit a new gaiter. After a bit of brute force we succeeded in removing the top mounting fitted the gaiter and started refixing the mount, after a couple of false starts we finally worked out the correct order for reassembly
The next problem was depressing the ladder, since it was near maximum elevation and very little weight on it we found that it did not want to depress! Attaching a ratchet strap encouraged it to return to the horizontal. I then started work on the front O/S locker and have cut out the front and work can continue on Sunday The working party was booked so I turned up! I was on my own so I am now talking to myself!
I searched round for all the bits of wood that made up the decking support around the turntable, I ended up with one piece missing, but as it was a mirror of the support on the other side it wasn't drastic. I have cut and sealed the underside of the rear deck support and made the pieces that go around the turntable. I have left the two rear ones long so that can be cut to length to fit exactly.These will be fitted on the next work party and the rear deck plates can the be fitted, along with the rear body work and trim: Today, Saturday 16th July, a few of us were at Wicken to work on 240FLM. Trevor Barnwell was showing me the mudguards/wings that are very badly rusted and MUST be replaced. The problem is that these items for such an old vehicle no longer exist and Trevor has kindly sourced a company that can make them but as they are custom items and most likely hand produced they are not cheap and we are sure the all up cost will be about £2,000. Whilst the current bank account sum is around the £2,000 mark we cannot go without this plea as we have other bills rolling in, I have just paid £300 for the ladder repairs and Colin has a bill for just over £200 that needs to be covered. There are also a number of sundry bills that will also be coming my way soon.
So what I am asking is that you dig deep and make payments into the group bank account to cover the monies we will require over the next couple of months. I propose a minimum of £10 for each of the next 3 months, these will need to be extra payments over and above your normal monthly subs. I am sorry to ask this of you but without these extra funds the restoration work will falter and grind to a temporary halt. You need to refer to the details you already have for the bank account and could you please use the reference '240FLM Gift'. Below are a couple of photos to show you how bad the mudguard/wingsreally are. Dave has now welded the 3 prepared rounds into the ladder and repaired the jack control mounting and welded a new plate on the rear chassis.While he was doing this I made the frame for the deck plates, drilled and bolted this in place, found most of the angle plates that attach the sides and fitted these to the ends of the timbers.I then cut the ply that fits in front of these that the frame around the pump is attached to.So at long last parts are being attached again!
The first working party of July saw the re assembly begin!
There will need to be a bit of "adjusting " on the parts as we found that some of the mounting points had been bent over the years but nothing that can't be managed. We had a look at the gaiters on the rams and freed some of the fixings, then decided that actually installing the new gaiters is a job for another day. The top 2 ladder sections are now completely painted (maybe a bit of snagging) so we need to get the main ladder and first extension finished so the ladder can go back together. June 6th. Steve, Pete Cowland, Paul Wing and Colin assembled on the day and while Colin carried on with the construction of the nearside locker, Paul and Steve clambered over the main ladder section and started rubbing it down and managed to get a coat of paint on most of the areas tackled. Meanwhile, Pete carried on working on one of the other sections and completed the underside so that it is ready to be turned over for the other parts to be cleaned and painted. The locker is almost ready to be lifted onto the appliance to check the fit, it will then need painting and the alloy skin refitting and then it can be bolted on to the appliance. June 23rd: Another successful day! while the others got on with rubbing and painting the ladders I carried on building the near side locker.It is ready to be lifted onto the appliance and the finished length marked and the last two panels made. It can then be painted and the alloy skin refitted and it can be fitted back on the appliance.
The Chairman’s Report, 240 FLM AGM 2016
This past year has seen much work being carried out by our small working party of enthusiasts, headed up by Colin Farrington, in often adverse weather conditions. For my part, I would like all those participating in the task to accept my grateful thanks for endurance. The task was not as first imagined, when the team investigated the many attacks by corrosion to most of the lockers and associated woodwork, plus corrosion attacking the metal work. The hydraulics gave the team some headaches, firstly the jacks were reluctant to work in unison until removed and dismantled, followed by the hesitation for the elevated ladder to return to horizontal. The Elevated ladders made a useful landmark in Wicken, standing above the rooftops for 6 weeks. The cure was eventually found after many uncertainties as to a safe manner of working. The gunge in the hydraulic lines was cleared and ladders now go up and down safely. It was inevitable that the weather would work against the team, with very strong winds in October rendering heavy duty plastic sheets useless in less than two days. Money spent and wasted. Colin has been showing off his varied skills in engineering and woodworking, plus foundry work with the absent monitor. He has found three rounds on ladders need replacing, and is struggling to find qualified welder to undertake this essential job. Next item for Colin is to organize the finishing of ladder paint then refitting to chassis. Plus, he still finds time for his personal leisure pursuits. A man to be thanked for dedication and perseverance. Our master of the inventory, Peter Weight, has been similarly well engaged in his ferreting around for suitable equipment. Items donated are being refurbished and prepared to show, boots polished and axes shined. I am sure Peter will be pleased to regale you with his experiences of visiting donors for bits and scanning EBay for bargains. Memberships have seemed to have waned a bit, judging by lack of renewals of subscriptions, but Steve Lomas can tell you more about that. A recent highlight for myself and Julia was to get to the open day at New Cross, taking some photos of the TL’s working parties and components being removed, to put on show. They were well received and displayed, dominating the LFBs contribution. A tunic, helmet and boots with black leggings were loaned for the day, drawing comments from many attending, both “old boys” and visitors. I knew no one present, but many seemed to know of me. No idea why. Had good look at the Leyland Metz on show, from Mick Cotton’s collection. Great looker and works well. Better than the ALP on show from Forest Hill which had jacks stick when making up. We adjourned to a local Chinese Restaurant with 6 others for lamp swinging and eats. Good day out. The minutes of the AGM: AGM Minutes for 2016, 240 FLM Group. Opened at 1100 hrs, with following member present. Peter Russell, Chairman Julia Russell Caterer Steve Houston and Sue. Martin Ormes Peter Cowland, Paul Wiing Steve Lomas, Treasurer Colin Farrington, Workshop Manager Mike West Trevor Barnwell Graham Pearce Roger Davey Apologies for absence given from Barry Pilkington and Ted Temple. Meeting opened by Chairman, and requested all to stand to observe a minute’s solemn reminiscence For Passing of President, Bill Butler. Minutes of previous AGM circulated and read. Matters arising; Item 5 Chairman explained that DVLA were unwilling to undertake registration of 240 FLM in the Group’s name, unless forming a Company. This was considered as being open to further correspondence with DVLA and other Govmt. Departments, drawing attention unnecessarily , so left in abeyance. Martin Ormes pointed out that the name on log book is that of Registered Keeper and satisfies requirements. It does not indicate the owner, who, according to Constitution, is the Group. That proved acceptable and passed. Item 6. Treasurer, Steve Loams pointed out that not as many had subscribed as anticipated, so income down. A revision of original proposal for subs to be amended to collecting £5 per month. Some debate followed as to what to do. Communications seemed to be deficient in contacting those not renewing, due to many having failed to be on internet and mailings unanswered. Item to be followed up by Chairman. Issue of PLI arose, and Colin Farrington, through his close association with the Fire Brigades Preservation Society, indicated that it could cost the group as much as £350 p.a. but by being Affiliated with the Society, would come down to £30 per event, so long as a bona fide named member is present. We are getting applications for membership from many unworthy individuals, and are mainly disposed of by Treasurer and Secretary. It was suggested that a pro-forma application may be needed to sort out those illogical applications, with details appertaining to the Fire Brigade type of experience held by individuals, Some are from outside LFB, or any Brigade. But worthy persons have been allowed to be accepted, subject to a vetting procedure. An acceptable procedure agreed to. It had been minuted last year, that in order to vet members, a photo ID should accompany their Facebook entry. The task is now to draw members into the exchange of information of relevance. Suggested that Garry make approaches to those still registered, and remind those in arrears that they forfeit the voting rights, and need their ID photos. Chairmans report followed (sent separately) Gen Sec had sent in apologies at last minute, and no report to offer at that time. Treasurer’s Report. Steve Lomas continued with his comments on absent subscriptions, mentioning that some eminent members were in arrears. Expenses being met from current account, which he had much difficulty in establishing with Lloyds Bank. There is a balance of £2,496.06p currently. The Chairman undertook to pursue those absent subscribers with view to establishing their future involvement. Workshop Manager report. Colin made strong plea for more people on working parties, especially as we approach the time when muscle power will be need for ladder reinstatement on chassis. Dates were given for attendances. July 16/17th is Date to mark in diaries, and when the hi-lift will be in attendance to reassemble. Colin and Trevor let us know how work was progressing, with the rubber round sleeves to be fitted when welder had dealt with three rounds affected by rust damage, and new front mudguards obtained from AEC suppliers. More timber locker construction being done and new mudguards from AEC to make it roadworthy for impending move. Colin is negotiating with Norfolk Fire Museum for space. The Chairman announced that a contact had been given for parking at Laconbury, but only outside hard standing, subject to elements, for £20 per week. Decided not good enough. Quartermaster Report. Peter Weight not present, but Colin gave resume of his situation. Many items have been donated and were in Peter’s care for renovation, A good relationship with an Ex Policeman’s collection found donations of good items being given. It Is reckoned a full complement of TL equipment is now held, apart from pair of 220 volt rubber gloves. Elections of Officers. It was proposed by Martin Ormes that all stand for re-election, Seconded by Mike West. Vote in favour unanimous. Going around those present, matters arising. Martin Ormes raised the point about Committee members and absences, in conjunction with need for drivers in future. Chairman pointed out that only three drivers on insurance policy, Cold Farrington, Barry Pilkington and Frankie Ward. Barry has been unwell, but still interested. Frankie has not been in touch, so will make contact. When relevant information to hand, will let Committee know of outcome, perhaps co-opting ne Committee members. Colin let it be known he has elicited up to date information of type of licence needed to drive TL. The minimum is Category C HGV required, perhaps incurring need for medical. Mike West asked about date anticipated to realistically get TL back on road. Colin replied, with anticipated finish of essential work to make it presentable, of Sept/Oct. Date of next AGM for Group determined as being May 13th. Chairman thanked members for their time attending and participating, and meeting called to close, with Roger Davey asking for vote of thanks to be recorded for members and Committee tasks undertaken. Closed at 1315 hrs. A rather unpleasant wet day but more rubbing down and additional prep on the ladder sections and some paint added before the rain stopped the work.Colin & Trevor made excellent progress on finishing the rear locker, finally getting the all important coat of bituminous paint on it before offering it into place. It fits!
The new year has got off to a steady start with good progress being made, however, more hands are urgently needed to get 240 FLM to a state where she can be driven to her new, but yet to be found, home. 2 working parties attended by Colin Farrington, Steve Houston, Trevor Barnwell & Pete Weight, supported as ever by Lady Julia & Peter Russell saw continued work on the red oxide painting of the chassis, which is now about 95% done as far as we can without a pit- further work was done on wire brushing down the ladder sections and applying the hammerite. Bank holiday Monday and a site visit was made by Dave Porter (the welder) to measure and check on exactly what materials are needed to repair the 3 damaged rounds. repair the broken hydraulic lever bracket and weld on a new plate over the rotten rear section. Meanwhile, both Colin & Graham Pearce have been busy away from Wicken: Colin has begun making new box sections for the nearside lockers and Graham has constructed a home based sandblasting cabinet and has been putting the first of the small parts through it with excellent results. Another day of sunshine here, and wind died away altogether. Bit on the cold side though. Stalwarts appeared in persons of Peter Cowland, Peter Weight, Garry Warren and supervised by Colin Farrington. They got house ladder up to remove remains of the plastic sheeting, and covered the TL with it, to keep worst of rain ingress off the old lady. No, not Julia. 240 FLM that is. Hope it will stay put in forthcoming winter months. More rubbing down and painting done as well. Tools away until next year, unless something comes along that has to be dealt with. Well done gang, for turning up and getting stuck in.
Lewis and I had a small working party today. Lew carried on with building his locker, the base was offered up to the appliance and mounting holes marked and drilled. I carried on with fitting the operators consul deck. This is now back on, just the light mounting to re fit. Then the jack operating lever can be re fitte
Yesterday we had all the ladder sections out and steamed all the old oil and grease off them, this completed the steam clean and the steamer was returned today. Paul had cleaned off most of the runners on the top extension, Steve got most of this painted today (the rain prevented him from finishing it). Trevor made a start on red leading the chassis and got a good half of it completed. Lewis spent his day turning wood into sawdust! (see photo) Seriously Lew has just about completed the frames for the first locker so this can be assembled soon, just the front to cut with it's various holes!
I got on with renovating and rewiring the light in the operators platform and the wood work and platform is just about ready to be re fitted |