Working parties, September 2017

3 working parties have taken place during the month, not to well attended unfortunately,but  good and steady progress is still being maintained. The focus this month has been 2 fold, the reinstatement of the ladder fittings to enable the re-cabling to take place, and, the start of the cab interior refurbishment. Pete Weight has taken on the cab and Colin continues to progress the ladder fittings as well as the many other items he is either making or restoring.  The ladder fittings, beautifully restored by Graham Pearce, have started to find their way back home and the cab has had a strip out of the old unwanted or inappropriate, later addition wiring and some original installations that look decidedly unsafe!
The paintwork has had a first rub down and both the front floor pans have been stripped back to reveal the condition of the floors. The OIC side, generally in very good condition and solid, required the insertion of a steel plate, suitably sealed with marine grade sealant, while the drivers side has revealed a rather unpleasant hole which will require a rotten section being cut out and plate being welded in. Other niggly jobs included drilling out broken screws and bolts followed by retapping to accept new units.  Another section of nasty rust penetration has been discovered on the nearside lower corner of the windscreen mount, this can be back plated and filled in preparation for painting. The radio mount in the front of the roof has been prepared to receive the original radio pack which is now cleaned and ready to be installed once the painting is completed. Several items have been removed for restoration, these include the glove box, OIC seat frame, grab handles and the 2 original interior roof lights.