Welcome to this week’s super-hot update from Quorn, with Nick, Matt, Ross and myself on-site.
Ross changed Hectors inverter, which after a little hesitance brought the 12v side alive. Although faults remain with the rear lights and indicators it does mean the main isolator now operates properly and he can see in the dark; the remaining faults are likely to be wiring as a fault is apparent.



New battery leads were also fitted to the jury rigged battery system and the image below serves as an example of up-to date electronic miniaturisation.


Matt woke Madge up giving her a wash before Ross and Matt loaded her with our bulk load for display.




I used Test Car 2’s compressor to pump up Madge’s tyres; I then joined Matt in the ‘office’ to prepare the signwriting templates for our Most Important Van.


Madge was joined in the yard by Jerry, my Stag, Nicks Morris Minor, Danny, Hector and our Tug, making quite a colourful line-up from our group to support the GCR’s Summer Classic and Vintage Vehicle Festival.

Matt and I continued with the work on the van, yellow and black panels being applied.



Ross and Nick attended to the sleeper crossing that was very much in need of attention.



I made a start with some signwriting on the van, applying the ZQO TOPS code to the chalkboards.



Test Car 2’s compressor was called upon again to assist with air for the tyres of a 125cc BSA Bantam from the TPO Museum in the LNER Postal set.
Ross then assisted getting it going, providing a customary ride-test.


Some late evening floodlit striping was carried out by Matt on the west side van doors, the livery really beginning to take shape.


The focus for Sunday was again on the van, Matt working at the south end marking out and applying the wasp stripes.



I got the signwriting brushes out and made a start on the west side number panel using the templates we had prepared on Saturday. First chalking up, then working bottom-up with the white paint.




Madge was joined again in the yard by Nick’s Morris Minor and my Stag. In order to prepare for the unloading of Madge’s trailer later in the day, Ross and Matt took the pick-up to unload a few parcels from one of the vans to make space for the bulk load. The pick-up was however out of gauge to pass under the gazebo, so rather than take it down the two-stage lift and drive-through method was used.




As the sun came round the west side of the van in the afternoon we had to put up some shade to allow us to work safely in the heat. An old gazebo cover was spread over the end of the van and the tank wagon which was coupled to it providing a good amount of shade for Matt.

I used our new gazebo positioned to give me some shade to continue with the signwriting.

By the end of the day we had completed the west side & south end wasp stripes, and the west side number panel.



As Matt said last week, we intended to reveal the final livery for our Most Important Van this week; unfortunately due to late delivery of the paint we have not been able to reveal the actual body colour, so here it is on the diagram; BR Engineers Olive BS381C 220, commonly known as Olive Green which was introduced by BR in 1967.

Hopefully the Olive Green paint will be here before next weekend so we can reveal the colour actually on the van; tune in to see how we get on.
All the best, Dave