Front panel & roof repairs

March 2014

The last two months have seen more progress on the body work, by Maurice (MTR).
The lower front panel has been removed and replaced. It had some severe distortion to the nearside half...probably not helped by the bumper being fastened directly to the panel!

Also both nearside and offside panels, above the front door openings, have had any rot cut out and repaired.

Cut-out holes have been mended in the roof at the front....can't begin to think why they  were there to begin with....perhaps a periscope was fitted?

Maurice has also separated the roof panel to begin repairs to the roof.

See photos numbered 39 to 54 below.

 

 

 

 

Above--drip strips ready to be fitted to door openings.

 

 

 

 

Even more body work!

Jan 2014-Latest photos showing repairs to offside A post, B post, step and sill. All done by Maurice at MTR.

Body Work -Offside Wing and Step

More Body Work...Offside front wing & Step.

More photos of the start of work to repair and replace missing panels.

More Body Work...Nearside step

Here are the photos of the work done on the nearside step area. Quite a lot of work in making parts and getting them all to align.

 

 

13 &14 Step plate and supports

 

 

 

 

15. Step in place

 

 

16. New Door runner made

 

 

17 & 18 Door runner in place and most items welded.

More body work...front wing repair

As a result of old body work repairs the nearside door does not fit correctly when closing. To correct this Maurice (MTR Restorations) has had to remove the front nearside wing in order to realign the body work, to get the door fit correct. The wing had previously been welded directly to the front nearside body panel. In fact both front  wings have been welded to their respective body panels, so it will be the same repair on the offside also.
Here are some photos of the wing removal and repair.

1. As originally welded

2. As originally welded

3. Wing removed

4. Wing removed




5. Wing being repaired

6. Wing repair

7. Side panel before repair



8. Side panel repair

 

9. Side panel repair



10 , 11,12  Door shut construction.









A bit more progress

Sept 2013
1) Body work
Maurice, at MTR, has been sorting out my body work problems and has come across some more issues while fixing the nearside step. However he thinks he has mainly resolved the problems that others had left and is close to welding it all together. See photos below.

2) Livery

While 'George' has been away I have been giving some more thought to his final livery. I have pretty well decided to use a 'Blood & Custard' British Railways design. See illustration below. If anyone knows of the correct lettering or near correct, apart from 'British Railways' I would appreciate some advice. I strongly suspect neither an Austin 101 or Morris J/JB was ever used by British railways but I think it would suit anyway. It fits the era nicely and I am sure to get some railway enthusiasts interest, for good or bad!