March 2008

Well I was hoping at this point to be able to show the full front upper deck framework on but alas as the end of the month hit, it wasn't quite finished but hopefully you can see the progress made.

It has been the most complex and difficult part of the framework, due to the fact that we have very few drawings for this part, very little survived that was complete enough even to be used for patterns and of course it a very curved area, leaning back, tapering in and rounded on top!

As can be seen though the front two sides bays are in complete with the metal supports, which are both the originals, the roof box and front top window support went in, again for some peculiar reason the wood around the roofbox all survived and is the original stuff that has been cleaned up and treated. We will now finish this area off, add the blind box framework, the front central pillar and fix the floor boards at the front down. We will then go back and finish some framework around the rear blind box and top of the stairs and for now that will be the framing finished.

If that’s all completed for next month then we will start fitting the wiring, conduit and light fittings to the upper deck and also anytime now the engine should be back from recon and it will be our intention to fit this before starting on any panel work either outside or in but that’s all some time away.

As to completion date, thank you for those who fired in dates (mostly sensible!) Cobham next year (2009) was the favourite and I think if I had of suggested that when the vehicle was being stripped down most would have laughed, so clearly the progress has been good. My feeling however is that it will be slightly behind that and possibly London-Brighton run in May next year? But you never know, however we aren't setting a date on this to then have to rush (and possibly mess up) any of the finishing items, its one of those that will take as long as it takes. I will do an update at the end of April/beginning of May, so cheers 'til then.

February 2008

Well as can be seen the upstairs ceiling framework has largely gone up and is in place now giving the whole rear end a distinct RT look. It took as expected the best part of a month to make and fit, it was also done with fitting the original rear domes and roof panels to make sure everything did fit as planned, and I am glad to report that with only a few minor alterations all was well. The next month or so is going to see some of the smaller and less noticeable finishing pieces done. There are a number of small framing bits for the rear that need to be added so we will now go back and do this before the front is tackled. The front of course is the next (and last!) serious major reframing task although we will do it in two stages and leave the cab (as it is suspended from above) until last and perhaps do it after the engine is back in. I will update around Easter but if the progress is not visual enough may hold on until March 31, so you will just have to pop by from time to time! I have been emailed to ask to run a sweepstake on the completion date and seeing as many people said the condition was so bad it would never get done I guess it’s a positive response, anyone want to take a guess?

January 2008

Well this month has seen us tackle the rear framework and as can probably be seen this was quite a complex task. Whilst the lovely curves of an RT may be pretty to look at they are quite a nightmare to make! Fortunately most of the metal work had survived quite well and was taken off cleaned, protected and put back on thus helping us to ensure that the distances and angles were all correct. We brought out the rear blind box and rear seat area to use what remained for patterns as well as the aforementioned metal work and will reuse most of the remainder once we come to fit the blindbox and rear seat area, which has can be seen is not in bad shape. So this next month will see us work our way towards the front. The first job will be to make a few of the roof ribs and ensure that we have the correct size and angles as this is an area where a number of the drawings are missing for and any small error we have made earlier will be highlighted at this point. As long as all is well then we will tackle the front framework. Next update will be around February 5 subject of course to there being progress to show at that time!

Welcome to this month's update. The first thing is to apologise for the quality of the pictures, normally the roof skylights are open and this little camera here will make do, alas in the current conditions they are closed and as such the pictures have suffered but I wanted to get something up. As can bee seen the side upstairs framing has now gone in thus at last giving us the look that it is a double deck and not some strange single deck. We are now working on the rear framework which thanks to all the beautiful RT curves is one of the most difficult bits we have tackled. We are however progressing and I would expect by the next update to have most of the rear framework in place. With such terrible weather and light it must be near Christmas, so an opportune moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The next update will go up at the end of the first week in January 2008.

October update

Well the latest update has not shown as much visual progress had I had hoped but that is purely down to us discussing how we were going to tackle the top deck and changing how we are doing it. We have a lot more detailed drawing for upstairs and of course we now have a lower deck that we know is correct to build up from. As such we have just completed cutting, preserving, shaping and restoring all the framework required to get the project above the upstairs windows and they will start going on at the end of this week. In the meantime as can be seen, the staircase was completed as was the conductors area and staircase bulkhead. The between decks aluminium has gone in as have the upper deck floorboards, which have now been sanded, treated and varnished. As can be seen RT8 has a friend visiting in the shape of RT113, the only other 2RT2 that is fully preserved and roadworthy. Interestingly the two buses entered service on the same day, at the same garage in 1940. Do pop by next month when hopefully a large step forward will have been taken and will be posted up here the first week in December.

31 August

A slight change of plan from last months anticipated actions. We did as planned put in the front framework around the cab, level and straighten the front bulkhead and support the remains of the cab. Alas not much more can be tackled here now until the upstairs goes in and provides the necessary support. So we decided to tackle the staircase and conductors area before moving on to the upstairs flooring, purely to make it easier to work on the floor and in addition to fit back a number of the original panels to make sure everything is fitting as it should!! As you can see the results are pretty good. All the panels that have gone back on are originals that were all in good condition and generally required sanding down and etching before going back into their rightful place. All the kick plates are again the originals and some of the wood supports are but alas most of the other wood was beyond re-use. Next month hopefully the flooring and last of the staircase will all be in place, unless of course we have another change of plan!

1 August 2007

Welcome back after the enforced break! With a gradual catch up in commercial work we got back on RT 8 at the end of June and have been making steady progress and as you can probably see she has moved ‘barns’. As can be seen the most obvious addition is that of the downstairs ceiling, which is now largely in place, all the wood in the ‘red’ looking primer is original wood in case you were wondering. The interior light fittings have also been, cleaned checked and re-fitted as have all the original conduit wiring sections of the lights and the bells. It’s interesting to note one of the conduits leading to where the push button bell in the ceiling will be as 2RT2’s never had the downstairs bell chord like their later sisters. The cab has also been an area where work has finally commenced. Because the support for this all comes from the top deck and the front bulkhead and as we have had to remove and repair much of the front bulkhead (which is now finished) the cab has sunk and sunk. We therefore have now removed all the windows, glass and reusable pans and are currently working on this front framework around the cant rail so we can commence the upstairs framework which will then provide the strength to hang the cab from once again.

The next stage will see the front framework finished and the cab ceiling and canopy finished. We will then be laying first the very thin aluminum and then the wooden floor boards to start work on the top deck, once these are in position then the brackets and vertical framework can start going in. Hopefully by the next update on or around August 31 the top deck will be starting to take some form of very limited shape.