2011 – Issue 1 of 4

The N/S corner has had the higher panel removed as the top corner
timber was damaged. It was cleaned up and repaired, so the panel has
now been refitted complete with its trim strips. The job is at last starting
to look good.
Craig and Mike have been rebuilding the rear seat supports, refitting the
seat frame, and rubber matting to the floor. The rear seat supports have
been cleaned, undercoated, and finished off using the outer blue. The seat
pads on the lower level have been removed and the frames painted black,
by Viv Corbin,
A decision was made on how many panels were to be painted; filling and
rubbing down then took place. The cream top panels have been painted
with two coats of enamel and look very good. The blue paint which came
with the vehicle is cellulose based and has not taken to being brushed on;
we also find that it is not drying. We have since found out that the paint
is what is called “two-pack” and has to have a hardener mixed with it
before spraying on. As it has not hardened we have been able to wash it
off with thinners but some areas had to have paint remover and were
cleaned all back to bare metal. The area was undercoated and a tin of
enamel obtained and three coats applied. The rear lights were fitted,
together with the number plate. Apart from the hinge bolts the outside,
the rear is finished. Oops! I take that back, it seems the earth connection
of the number plate lamp is not up to the regulations, so insulated bulb
holders have been fitted and a cover plate made and fitted.
The floor has been patched upstairs and down, an inspection panel in the
floor was lying a little low and had to be packed up to the same level as
the rest of the floor. Paul Gilbertson and Richard Evans have been
cleaning out the inside and painting the upstairs and downstairs floors and
Viv Corbin has painted the upstairs seat frames.
Richard Fitzjohn and myself rubbed down and painted the inside blue
panelling (there is a lot of it). The seat pads have been sorted, using some
stock from the store room, and fitted into place. Peter Smith washed
them and applied a leather balm to soften and shine them.
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