RTW on the move

RTW335 being shunted into the operating depot on 19 October after vacating the original Busworks' site for the new facility. Apart from the window pans the exterior is essentially nearing completion - see text below for update on window pan fabrication.

We have recently vacated the Busworks' site at South Shore Business Park for an adjacent unit that forms part of our "Classic Bus North West" operating depot. RTW335 has been relocated here until the new workshop is ready to be commissioned during w/c 5 November and the view below shows it being shunted into the operating depot.

Meanwhile, work has continued on completing the upper deck interior restoration. Within the next week or so, the seat frames will be refitted, once the final batch of cork sheeting arrives and is laid down and varnished.

Varnished hardwood slats and cork sheeting in typical RT style - the cork sheet awaits a coat of varnish whilst the platformm will have rexine applied when the upper deck is complete the avoid any damage.

The rotten destination box has now been rebuilt and the front area is now ready for the application of brown rexine, to the same style as that already applied to the sides.
After several false starts in commissioning replacemment steel window pans to the unique RTW style (they are different to standard RT pans), we have local firm Surface Design in Bispham making up a copy non-opening window pan in fibreglass. The first example should be delivered mid-week and once we are happy with this, and the critical relationship between window pan lip and interior window capping for the glazing rubber, we can then get Surface Design to use the original mould to fabricate the pans for the opening window units, and all the bespoke pans for the upper deck front and rears, under canopy and rear platform.

RTW335 update

The exterior bodywork on RTW335 is almost complete, apart from the steel window pans whilst both decks are progressing down the floor level with ceiling panels, cove panels, window cappings & lining panels all fitted. The window cappings and lining panels have been dry fitted - the cappings may need adjusting when the new window pans arrive, whilst the lining panels have allowed the seat frames to be test fitted.
On the upper deck, the centre timber boards are now fitted, dark stained as original and this deck requires only the cork flooring and some further leathercloth work to complete.

The original exterior window pans for RTW335 are now all at Bonville Panel Craft near Rochford for fabrication of replacements.

May update

Apologies for the lack of photos but an update on RTW nonetheless.
Our most skilled coachbuilder, Jim, has been absent from the RTW for several weeks during May due to ill-health of his father in law, so progress has not been as much as expected. Jim has done significant work on the RTW and whilst it would be easy to allocate someone else to the project - it makes sense for him to see the project throuugh to conclusion.
Anyway, the upper deck is complete now down to lining panel level and the next job will be to refit the floor cork tiles and timber centre strip - all of which is in hand. Then Jim will start making his way down the stairs...

RTW335 sees daylight again

It looks a little like a patchwork quilt I know, but today RTW335 saw daylight once again after residing in a corner of the workshop since work started on its restoration. The reason for the move is to relocate RTW335 to the newly designated workshop area where we can better focus on completing restoration work - indeed, it will be right in front of my office!
In recent weeks, we have been focusing on the interior, finalising the new roof dome and sorting through the preparation of a further multitude of individual parts for refitting to the vehicle. We are still resolving the issue with window pans which will really transform RTW335's appearance but now both this bus and MD60 will sit side-by-side in the finishing area. Wouldn't it be great to launch these two buses together in London?

More visible progress

The last few weeks has seen some very rewarding tasks being achieved on RTW335 and this week has been no exception. The lower deck interior is looking more complete, the under canopy of the cab area is being reassembled whilst the mouldings on the exterior panels are also being refitted. There is still much to do, but step by step, RTW335 is coming back to life.

Focus on the front

The most recent week has seen work re-focus on the front end of RTW335. The front windscreen (still to be stripped and re-glazed) has been 'dry-fitted' in advance of other panelling being fabricated around it. Meanwhile, the under-canopy area has been rebuilt and the corroded steelwork that provides the aperture for the driver's side window to the half-cab.

Fabricating the front dome

It was some months since we did some head-scratching on what to do with RTW335's front dome. It was badly dented, but copying the domes of other surviving RTWs was not really a practical option - because of the difficulty of mouldings and also imperfections in the domes would get replicated. The answer - attempt to create a new dome from a fibreglass example salvaged from an RML. In this picture, Jim Howard starts the process and is encouraged by the fit! Note the London General fleetname on the dome!