17/4/2020

Yesterday and today were spent in completing the boot stress panel, including deburring the holes and spraying both  both sides with several coats of red oxide primer.  Whilst the paint was drying I cut some 6mm ply for the boot wall lining on the nearside.  I thought this would fit in one piece however on trial fitting it became obvious that it needed to be split horizontally in order to accommodate the complex shape of the body frame in the boot.

15/4/2020

The last few days have been taken up with preparing the new steel stress panel for the boot front.  This included painting the external surface of the timber frame with aluminium paint where it abuts the stress panel, marking out the steel for cutting using the hardboard template, cutting the panel and trial fitting.  The trial fitting needed to be repeated a couple of times but finally today I was able to start drilling the holes for the screws and coach bolts that will attach it it to the frame.

Steel stress panel being prepared for fitting to the boot front

Steel stress panel being prepared for fitting to the boot front. The large cut-out accomodates the central gangway.

 

12/4/2020

Yesterday was spent completing and painting the new gusset plates and the two extra brackets for the replacement OS upright (no.3 in the boot counting from the back).  I also cut a piece of hardboard to exactly half the length of the boot steel closing panel so I can use it as a template.

Today the two for upright no.3 were installed.  I also cleaned and primed the outer faces of timber that form the frame the boot closing panel is mounted on.  Once this is dry they can be painted with aluminium paint then the closing panel can be cut and fitted with screws and coach bolts.