12/10/2019

Work continued on fitting up the window pan I previously fabricated.  This included repairing the part of one of the side channel  fittings that hold the bottom glass in place (fixed light) with solid aluminium rivets, fiddly but necessary as the channel had come away from the main section of the fitting.  I also had to reattach the droplight  stop block which, for some inexplicable reason, is riveted to the main fitting, thus preventing removal of the droplight with the window pan still mounted in the bus.

Next I fitted the Delrin corner pieces and blocks to which the droplight frame screws.  I touched up a bit of the paint that got scratched off during the various drilling operations.  All that remains is for the top horizontal to have blocks mounted for securing the window top seal rubber,  then the glass can be fitted.

I decided to try chrome vinyl wrap on the sliding window frame side pieces today as the original chrome is virtually gone.  I am quite pleased with the results.  I replaced the felt in one of the side peices and will do the other tomorrow.  I decided that as the new felt is self adhesive I would not use the built-in clips but just leave them flat on the rest of the windows.   This afternoon I continued fitting up the new window frame with Delrin blocks, ready for painting and final assembly.  Before I put it in the bus I will measure all the parts so the rest of the frames can be manufactured.

Having ompleted fitting the Delrin blocks to the window frame, I gave it a coat of undercoat ready for fitting up.    However I think this will need to wait now until I find the right rubber for the top of the frame.

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9/10/2019

Fitted the lower cladding panel to the first bay of the nearside body today.  This involved rolling a curve into the bottom part of the panel to flare it to sit properly against the frame.  This was mostly successful but there are one or two creases that will have to be filled if they can’t be knocked out from the other side.

First new panel!

First new panel!

 

Fitting up cladding panel for bay no. 1

Fitting up cladding panel for bay no. 1

 

8/10/2019

Corrected the angle of the lower side rod leg between the first and second bays because it was pointing inwards too much.  This was fairly easily achieved by sanding the joint surface where it meets the main siderod, but also necessitated re-drilling the gusset bracket lower bolt hole.  It is now in a much better position so it was worth it as I can now fit the cladding panel.

Next I prepared the new lower panel by cutting a slight groove roughly 1″ from the bottom edge to facilitate folding the panel round the bottom frame rail.  The actual angle of the fold is quite severe and I had to take great care not to cut too deep a groove and ruin the panel, especially at the ends.  However this was entirely successful and the panel just needs rolling to fit.