| << Goto Part 12 |
Sunday 10th June 2007
"Panels Off" |
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| Today a start was made at removing some of the panels from D23. The general panel work on D23 is actually pretty good, with mainly the offside of the bus needing attention 'between the decks |
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| Before starting on the outside, i had previously noted a plate on the edge of the bench seat at the front of the bus. Curiosity got the better of me, and it was decided to drill out the rivers to see what was beneath this plate. |
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Above: The plate riveted on the end of the bench seat - © C.Anderson |
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| To much disappointment, we saw what was under the plate.... Nothing. It would appear that this plate only strengthed the end panel, as without it, it tended to flex a little. Obviously in hard earning service, this would have had a tendancy to break due to the forces upon it and the plate simply added to the firmness. This will stay off. The bus, now in retirement will not be subject to daily abuse from passengers. The rivet holes will be filled up in due course |
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Above: The edge of the bench seat with the plate removed - © C.Anderson |
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| Next, attention was turned to the outside. First up was to removed the bashed panel underneath the cab window |
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Above: Panel removed - © C.Anderson |
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Above: Close up of behind panel showing a steel chassis member - © C.Anderson |
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| The actual condition of the steel chassis, is good with just surface rust. This was be cleaned up before the replacement panel goes back on. |
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Above: Front of steel chassis - © C.Anderson |
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| Next, attention was turned to the two panels on the exterior of the staircase. One was scored, the other dented. |
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Above: Panels before removal - © C.Anderson |
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| Eventually all panels on the offside between the decks will be replaced. All are dented, scored or bashed. Amazingly, these are the worst panels of the bus. |
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Above: Side panels to be removed - © C.Anderson |
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| Scaffolding was manouvered into place, ready to commence panel removal. |
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Above: Scaffolding in place - © C.Anderson |
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| With the panels removed, the underlying alloy frame of the bus was minted. Incidentally, the picture below was actually quite historic. The white and blue Dennis Javelin bus parked next to D23 was being stored temporarily whilst being prepared after sale from the Ministry of Defence to Ritchies driving school. Unknown to me at this time, that bus would be the one I would pass my PCV test in some 10 months time! |
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Above: Panels removed and lying on the ground - © C.Anderson |
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Above: Top down view of panels removed - © C.Anderson |
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| Now this is interesting. Marked on one of the frame members was RL1.5.81. D23'd body was part of batch RL6 from Alexanders. RL1 was the batch of bodies on D2-D21. The date 5.81 corresponding to May 1981? This would perhaps suggest that D23 has had a replacement frame member from an earlier Dominator. Whilst D23 was with Moffat & Willamson, similar D19 was being used as a source of spares. Could it be this frame is actually from D19? |
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Above: Possible replacement frame - © C.Anderson |
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Above: How D23 was left at the end of the day - © C.Anderson |
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