A bit late in posting this month as our running day last Saturday took up a fair bit of time last weekend, but was a good event and blessed with some great morning sunshine, but onto RT8...

Starting with the nearside view, the last of the beadings have gone on as have most of the lower deck panels and as can be seen the rear wheels are off so the wheel arches can be fitted and the last of the windows go in. The wheel arches are one of those jobs that have been put off as they are awkward, heavy and fiddly but alas the time has come...

Onto the offside and a similiar story in that most of the uppder deck panelling is done and the wheels are off. One of the great things about doing this is finding out about all the small differences on a 2RT from the post war variants. In this case its the stencil holder... RT8 arrived without one as late in their London lifes they were removed but when new they were fitted in a one piece panel, thus not being in their own small panel and having the beading around them as on later variants. So we have done the same and adjoined a stencil holder to a panel through welding and have made a one piece panel of them as would be accurate for the period we are aiming for circa 1943-44.

The front has been another benefactor of recent work and is now largely complete except for the glass in the destination displays. This has been one of the most difficult parts of the whole reframing to match up accurately but does now appear to be correct... was it R. J. Mitchell who said 'if it looks right it probably is right'?

Another view of the offside but i'm afraid with it being so close to the wall it is hard to get any really decent shots but I think you can probably get the general feel for where it has got to.

And finally a view of the wheel arch area currently being worked on. With any luck these should be done over the Christmas period which will then allow the last window pan on each side to be added. the missing panels, mudguards etc. all of which will make the nearside look very complete and she can then come down off axle stands and be back on her own 'feet' again.

Well this is the last update of 2009 which I optimistically thought would be the year she would've been running again. However, you cannot rush such a large project without cutting corners and we are not going to do that here, so its going to take as long as it takes, (although I do honestly think 2010 will be the year she is back) which of course will be exactly 70 years after she entered service in 1940.

So Merry Christmas to one and all and see you early in the New Year, which of course I hope will be a happy one for you all.

Cheers for the year
Steve

Update Nov 6

So here we are again....

Thought we'd start with some interior shots, as whilst no work has been on going here lately the addition of the windows has made the interior come alive and really look and feel like an RT. Above of course is the lower deck, whilst below is the upper, just to confuse you all!



The focus has been on panelling the bus up this month and the nearside upper deck is just about finished. There are one or two more vertical beadings to go on, then the beading that runs above the lower deck windows. Once these are done the offside will be taken to the same point.

Once the offside is also complete (to the lower deck windows) it will be the turn of the rear wheel arches to be fixed in. Completion of this will allow us to panel the area around the wheel arch which in turn means that the bus will be a solid structure with only the open platform allowing the cold winter air in, which of course will enable us to heat the bus so that interior finishing and painting can be started.

The fuel tank will also need to come off again and be cleaned again as despite the previous efforts some more residue has built up and no one has a wish to suck that into the fuel system the first time she starts up, so cleaned agin it will be and monitored again to make sure it remains clean.

A better angle to see the wheelarches from which have been sized but not fitted and will present some awkwardness in fitting, but in the scale of whats already been done, nothing to scary I guess.

Of course thats all a month away, so wish you all well for now, be you a follower, regular visitor or new to this blog, just to nice to know people are interested and out there!!

Update Oct 8

So the scaffolding has now all gone as the panels, beading and windows are all completed on the upper deck. Work has then been of finishing the fuel system, the front bulkhead, mud guard area and the canopy.


As can be seen from this angle the near completed front area has really taken on the look of an RT and I know that the team will be glad this part is finished as the great looking curves are pleasing on the eye but awfully hard to recreate properly!


And as mentioned the last parts of the fuel system have been put in place along with the last parts of the front bulkhead.

Next month will see us finish a few parts of framework that for some reason beyond us do not feature on the drawings of the time, and then start the panelling up process and fitting of window pans and glass. All things being equal next month should be another good visual step forwards

Cheers for now

Firstly, thanks for the comments last month, nice to know not only are there regulars out there but new people are finding us which is terrific and makes writing this worthwhile!!

This month, I am pleased to say we have a far more visual update than of recent times....

As can be seen the scaffolding around the roof height has gone and come down to the waist rail. All the window pans are in and the beading and drip guards are either on or going on.

The nearside from the rear looking forwards shows quite clearly the drip guards and beading. The larger over the roof beadings are also now all fitted in place and have added sealant around them to ensure the all damaging rain cannot get back and have another go at the wood!

The front nearside looking back and quite clearly now its an RT. Interestingly the first RT's had enlarged vents that took air in just below the beading line across the front above the windows, which protrudes quite away out although not obvious to see in this picture. These were later blocked in by various means as they were in reality to effective and blasted air, rain, cold draughts and even mud in. LT ordered them to be modified, whilst some may have received genuine modifications others received the 'make do and mend' type fix of World War II and have copies of 1940 ear newspapers wedged in!

Finally, a nearside view as the last of the roof beadings and drip guards and horizontal beadings go on. It has been possible to use almost all of the original beading as whilst twisted and warped it has been possible to straighten most of it up.

This month will see us utilise the scaffolding and start panelling up the rest of the upper deck, which should hopefully make for another nice visual update the first week in October, until then cheers for now

This month has been a month of preparation for the next big visual improvement...

Firstly, the long awaited scaffolding arrived and RT8 was entombed in it. At the moment the level is around the roof so we can refit the roof panels back, whilst working safely. This will also allow us to be able to seal it all properly, so that god forbid should it ever rain won't have drips coming in.

A slightly unusual view of an RT from the back lookiing forwards gives a good idea of the job to be done. At this stage the panels are just lying in place and have not been fiited whilst everything is measured up to make sure the beadings will all fit and join everything together.


And the same view but looking from the front back...

And as I mentioned before, the time has been used preparing the items due to go back in. The top deck windows and pans can be seen here in a before and after stage. The before is with the 'pink' paint thats still left, whilst the grey panels are the completed item. All the winding gear is taken apart, overhauled, greased and replaced where necessary leaving them winding as smooth as when they were built. Once the roof is fitted the standing level of the scaffolding will be lowered to allow the windows to go back in. The plus of making the bus enclosed again will be as the weather turns colder it is easy to keep the interior of the bus warm so work can continue.

Next updates should hopefully be a little more photogenic!

July 09

So back again! This month has been all about the front end with the cab being finished and painted and the framework around the blindbox being completed and the first of the upper deck window pans going back in.

Its not just been the bodywork though that has been tackled as the fuel system has been checked over and the gravity tank refitted having been thoroughly cleaned, sealed and painted. The observant amongst you will notice that the gravity tank on a 2RT2 is deeper than on the post war versions and the handle for turning it off, is notr the large top mounted handle found on the later versions.

A nearside view shows that the canopy is in place now along with spring loaded stencil holder for the route number. The wrapped round panel that runs from the cab window to the first of the nearside windows has also been repaired and coated and is ready to go back on. The sidelight panel that also supports the mud guard is now being worked on as its a little battered and the wood inside it is as rotten as they come but the plan now is to finish the front off to the same level as the rear.

Lastly, not a to brilliant shot of the cab which shows it now its been painted. The cab seat and steering wheel will be last to go back in so as to make as much space as possible to work in whilst the wiring is all put in.

Well hope it was worth the wait and hopefully next month I will be a little more prompt if we have no more holidays or sickness... cheers for now

June 09

Just a brief note that due to sickness and holiday, not enough progress has been made to warrant a full update, so the next one will be first week in July when there should be quite a bit to show

Until then...

OK not going to be a great deal I can write this month as almost all of the work has taken place in the cab, equally the photos won't be the greatest either as its not the easiest place in the world to photograph! Above can obviously be seen the front panel that is now fitted along with side light and headlight mounting.

Well I had to put my tea down somewhere! All the floor has been replaced with original RT parts as the floor on RT8 was as rotten as the proverbial pear. New rubbers have been mounted around the floor and everything has been cleaned and modified to fit.

As can be seen the original flag unit has been restored and repainted and is now mounted back in position as have the front screens. The steering wheel has been recoated and is back with us and will be one of the last things to go back in.

Looking in from the emergency window you can get a better view of the rubbers that have gone down on the floor, the restored hand brake area and the mounting where on later RT's the indicator switch went but on the 2RT2 an antiquated horn is fitted.


Again taken from the emergency window you can see the winding handles that allow the driver to open the front windows and get some air. These were all seized solid and are made up of a spring and bicycle chain like mechanism. Eventually one was freed off enough to allow us to get it all out repaired, re-fitted and working, it is 'small' detailed jobs like this that don't look much but that take up so much time. This month is going to be all about finishing the cab to the point that everything is painted and fitted permanently, then perhaps we can move on to somewhere easier to photograph... until then cheers!

RT8 March Update

Welcome back. Alas visually there is not a great deal to see this month although what has been done is all time consuming stuff that will allow for the completion of the cab area.

The cab door has been stripped down and reassembled. Obviously it takes a lot of work to make sure that it runs true and is alinged properly. As can be seen new rubber has been fitted to the edges and now following numerous small modifications it all glides along perfectly.

One of the more famous faetures of the 2RT2's is of course the 'drooping' front cab window, which has now been repaired, coated and is being fitted back in place on a permanent basis. Perhaps its to poetic calling it a landmark point, but its certainly visually a very pleasing point of the restoration.

Another view showing the panelling going back on the front end. As can be seen the area above the front screen has gone in and the front windscreen is all set to go on as well. The only snag is that the bottom part of the front screen needs to go in first but the winding gear allowing this to be opened is seized solid. Thus far we have sourced four others that have all been seized as well, but maybe, just maybe the one sourced from one of our readers (thanks Mike) appears in better nick and is currently being soaked to try and free it up, fingers crossed.

Its hard to get the feel from this photo but the cab is now getting that enclosed feeling rather than just being an open space on an otherwise reframed vehicle. It has proved time consuming and fairly complex with numerous mods needed to make everything fit but the look of it now is right and by next month should be panelled in its entirety.

And finally a close up of runner for the cab door and the wheelarch framework. The keen eyed amongst you may spot that the runner is topped by a form of hard wearing canvas that was fitted to RT's when new on areas of friction. This has been sourced and used to ensure that the level of restoration on this vehicle is to the highest standard we could possibly reach.

Happy Easter to all

February Update

So here we are again back! This last period has seen two RT cabs tackled, RT624 came in was reframed and has gone back out to be painted and tested, whilst RT8 has had the cab framework fitted as can be seen from this shot.

The side walls and every vestige of the cab has been removed, straightened, stripped, undercoated and put back in. The steering wheel has also been removed to be recovered.

A few other bits still need to go in around the cab, such as the supports for the side light and front headlight (and before the purists amongst you point out the 2RT's weren't delivered with the second headlight, whilst you are indeed correct we are restoring to 1943-44 era and by then the modification had been made!) We also need to add the framework above the wheel arch which will go in next week.

And a final shot looking from the front into the cab towards the bulkhead. Whilst not the best of photos I'm pleased to show that the hand brake has indeed lined up correctly with the newly fitted cab floor, so we are presumably not to far out on the rest of the bus!

Next update will be as usual in the first week of next month, when hopefully some more progress will have been made.

So a warm welcome to 2009! Alas to start with we have an interloper in the form of RT624. This RT was the very last to run in LT service back in 1979 and this being the 30th anniversary of that event she is already in great demand for the season. Unfortunately she requires a complete reframing of the cab, so progress on RT8 will be somewhat less than hoped for whilst her younger sister is brought back to full fitness.


Interestingly the cab area is one that changed little between the 2 and 3RT's with the droopy window being the main difference. After the war with the rush to replace London's tired fleet the decision was made not to make wholesale changes to the cab area, (unlike much of the rest of the construction), and to save time the curved window was done away with for a far easier to construct straight one.


But this is not to say nothing has been done with RT8 as these photos show. As can be seen the lower deck ceiling has gone up as have the interior side walls. Currently work is being done on the inspection hatches.


A close up of the front bulkhead of the lower deck, showing the vents and some of the interior fittngs that are now in place.

As to my next posting it will largely depend on progress. If we get back on RT8 quickly then will post as normal at the beginning of February, if however there is little to report the next update will be at the start of March. All the best til next time!