Lower deck floor out

Work on RTW335 is again making good progress this week. The lower deck floor has been stripped out for renewal revealing the chassis underneath which is in excellent condition.

This can be attributed to 335's history with Hywema Lifts in Germany - the bus was used to demonstrate the vehicle lifts to potential clients so keeping the underframe in good clean condition was important. The floor will be replaced next week.

Lower deck re-assembly

The gap in posting updates has been twofold - partly a brief diversion of the team working on RTW335 to other projects and partly because in bus restoration there are many jobs which are laborious, unglamouress and for which there are no great picture opportunities. This describes much of the tasks of recent weeks which has seen rewiring of the lower deck and fitting of some more complex shaped timbers between decks.

Anyway, to make amends here is a view of the lower deck now with ceiling panels and aluminium cove panels refitted.

Lower deck stripped for restoration

We have now started work on the next stage of the build programme for RTW335. The lower deck has been cleared and stripped with all ceiling panels and fittings removed.

It is intended to now concentrate on getting the lower deck to the same stage as the upper deck, which will include all timber replacement, rewiring of saloon lighting, new stress panels and a new floor.

Great progress on upper deck

The basic re-assembly of the timber and steel stress panels on the upper deck of RTW335 has made great progress this week as seen in the accompanying photograph. The next stages for the upper deck would be refitting mouldings and window cappings - but it is more likely that we will now start stripping the lower deck to get it to the same stage before the detailed finishing work commences.

Because RTW335 was devoid of much original interior detail when it arrived at the Busworks, we really need another RTW to refer to. Sister vehicle RTW467 is earmarked to make the journey north to Blackpool during the Spring allowing us to extensively photograph the bus and apply this to the restoration of RTW335.

Timber!

Work has now started on replacing the framework timbers on RTW335 as shown in the picture opposite. New between-deck stress panels are also being fitted to complete the basic assembly of the upper deck.

We are hitting the ceiling with RTW335!

Yes, we really are hitting the ceiling with RTW335 this week. New ceiling panels, already covered with primer and a first coat of gloss have been fitted. Also fitted following paint stripping are the aluminium coving panels, refitted now that rewiring of the upper deck saloon ceiling has been completed.

Machined timber, based on the originals used as templates, is now on hand and will allow further re-assembly of the upper deck over the next few weeks.

Factory finish for aluminium pressed panels

Another batch of aluminium pressed panels has returned from a commercial metal paint stripper after dipping in a bath that removes all paint but leaves the metal with its as-new factory finish. Included in this latest batch are the destination screen panels and the characteristic RT-style panel below the driver's windscreen (illustrated). Just another piece of the RTW jigsaw!