February 8

A really good month for progress! Firstly the cab area has been completed as can be seen. The front mud guards have been repaired and fitted, the foot hold and electric booster panel all repaired and fitted and the inspection panel and all its holding fittings is also now back on. The lower deck panelling is all now being fitted and is the current job.

RT8 is also now off its long term axle stands. The rear brakes have been relined, completely overhauled and put back together, allowing the wheels to be fitted and the vehicle to stand up on her own 'feet' again.

Also completed was the lower deck flooring, the wheelarches have been fitted and indeed the bench seats are now in place as well.

As mentioned before the lower deck offside panels are the current project but before these can be done, the brackets that hold the 'life guard' to prevent people or animals going under the bus need to be fitted. Alas RT8's were beyond repair so all new ones are being produced, such as this one now fitted at the rear.

And lastly the plans for the next month... Firstly the aforementioned brackets will be fitted, the remaining panels, mudguards and then life rails, will see the outside of the vehicle completed, with the exception of the engine bay area, bonnet and front NS mudguard. Of course there is no pointing in fitting those until the engine is in. So on completion of the bodywork attention will once again switch to the mechanical side, with first the wiring loom going in and then the engine and radiator. As can be seen the fully reconditioned engine awaits ots top cover of black paint that will be done this week in preparation for its fairly imminent refitting. Whether that happens before the next update is unclear, so best you pop back and see in roughly 4 weeks! Until then cheers for now!