Tag: 786181

Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s update from Quorn. We’ve been working on the vans this weekend, progressing with the replacement of the rotten sides identified on the theatrical vans which had been loosened off last week.

We got set up around the goods shed and removed the last few bolts holding the sides from B852838, B854782 and B786181. Three new ply sheets were retrieved from the Palshocvan and taken to the dock to be cut to size.

The measurements were checked for each van, with both Shocvans using the same size sheet and the standard van using a taller sheet. Oliver and I cut the sheets down to the correct height and width using the circular saw under the careful supervision of the resident House Martin.

While Oliver and I cut the new panels, the metalwork of the van was scraped and prepared back then primed with red oxide primer, inside and outside the van.

Each panel was dry fitted to check it for size and then painted into primer and left get touch dry. We started in fitting the panel into B786181, first applying sealant to the metal work and then letting the panel in before drilling all the holes and getting the panel bolted up.

The panels for the two shock vans needed some relief holes drilling for the rivets joining the corrugate end. The panels were fitted to the shock vans on Sunday morning, and then we moved our attentions to one of the doors on B854782 which had a rotten corner. We think this is the first of our ‘re-designed’ doors to have rotted and come up for replacement.

We dismantled the existing door and got the required measurements to cut down another plywood sheet to make the door. We drilled the hinge bolting holes using the old sheet, then fitted it to the van and checked the operation of the door before giving it a coat of primer.

Dave trimmed some of the side sheet bolts, then Ernie came and painted all three replacement panels into the deep red undercoat for the bauxite gloss. Dave also went back up to the workshop to clean out the thread on the door bolts

Next week should be more of the same, with more van sides and doors to be replaced which is good as we’ve now found our rhythm with them again. Join us then and see what we get up to!

Hello and welcome to this weeks news from the team at Quorn, as work continues on Tanks 3854 & 3689.

Ernie & Nick also fettled, cleaned up and painted some more lamps.

I finished off the signwriting on tank 3689, completing the barrel end & East side numbers.

The commuted charge logos and the East side solebar letteing.

Charlie went round both tanks with some black doing any touching-up required. He then did a spot of vehicle washing.

Nick, Charlie, Mark, Tom and Oliver continued with assessment of the repairs required to the van train. Identifying the most urgent ones to attend to.

With the yard full of some very presentable Ford RS cars on Sunday, access was limited; however Van B786181 that was in the goods dock was accessible, and subsequently some of its bulk load removed to allow us to get to the bodyside panel bolts.

In preparation for the panel replacement planned for next week most of the panel bolts were removed.

Oliver measured, and with some help from Mark, Charlie and Tom cut some play to affect a Tool Van access step repair.

Nick replaced some of the vacuum hose clips on tank 3689.

Using the space in Test Car 2, I made some progress with the Esso barrel plate signwriting; completing the blue on the plate I had previously applied the Esso letters. This plate was then put aside to dry ready for varnishing.

I then added the Esso lettering to a second plate.

And then a 3rd plate.

Apart from the Esso barrel plates the two tanks are now finished.

Thanks for the kind comments received a couple of weeks ago when my old Triumph Stag had a few problems; you’ll be pleased to know after some fettling and new ignition system parts, it’s back up and running.

All the best, Dave