Tuesday 23rd - A tricky day

Often when a coach is nearing the end of a restoration or refurbishment, job allocation can become tricky with less jobs available, and those that can be done impacting on each other and volunteers having to work around each other as best as they can. It may not appear like this in the photos, but today work on the BSK was very much in this vogue, especially as we had a good number attending.

The day began quietly with just Stu and myself in early as usual. Stu taped up and completed the lining out on the Malvern side guards door and short panel to the left.

Then it was over to the Cotswold side to begin the lining out at the south end.

We always do the yellow first. Stu adds the first coat to the lower line. The second coat is quickly added after about twenty minutes or when the paint begins to go tacky. The tape is then usually removed either immediately or after a short time.. The black sections of both lines will probably be done on Thursday.

Then back round to the Malvern side to remove the tape from the guards door and panel. While all this is going on, I'm sussing out the jobs that can be done allowing for any restrictions, and generally doing all the tidying up and sorting out before the others arrive.

It's somewhat chilly in the Paintshop while we are waiting for our gas heater to be serviced. Richard has donned his jacket as he is window cleaning on the Malvern side and not doing any painting.

A surprise today was the arrival of Robert and Ainsley to work on the Cotswold side centre passenger doorframe. While this eliminated some of the planned painting on the adjacent guards door and surround, it was good to see more progress on the remaining door to be done.

Ainsley assesses the fitting of the capping strip. This door in particular has been somewhat problematical to say the least.

Just prior to their arrival, Phil had got the lining out tape on the guards door as this is now ready for top coating. This will now be done on Thursday.

Earlier on in the day I had keyed a lot of the Cotswold side to the right of the centre door in  preparation for a second top coat. Roger completed the light sanding and gave the whole area a good wipe over in readiness for when we can go ahead.

Phil took on the job of cleaning the windows on this side. After seeing paint spotted, dusty windows for so long, the work done by Phil and Richard made quite a difference and a distinct improvement, especially the Malvern side where the main painting is now essentially complete.

We hope to resume the internal varnishing soon. Roger went through the coach again giving it another vacuuming. More dust will be created with the final bits of woodworking to be completed, but regular cleaning helps to keep it down.

Keith had a never ending run of jobs on the trestles, initially continuing the work being done by Pam on Saturday. Phil S. had produced a number of ceiling light fittings to be cleaned up and painted. These along with the Hammerited ones in the background will go into our spares store.

On to more goodies from TK 24006, this time underseat grills. Bob cleaned these with a powered brush. Dusty work, but they looked so much better afterwards.

It was then over to Keith to add the silver Hammerite. In the background on the scaffold platform, a load of old scotches to be cleaned up and painted red - these will be kept for internal Works use only.

The final bit of power brushing done by Bob was on the long metal cover that goes over the south end corridor connection in 24006. Roger coats it in red oxide. In later MK 1 coaches this cover is wood.

Inside 24006 owner Dave is priming another cleaned up compartment ceiling.

John came in for an while to work on the wheelset extracted from the south end bogie. This involved a good clean up of the axle to check for wear. All was well and it was subsequently given a coat of oxide.

There was nobody in Upholstery today, but a good pile of seating from the Bubblecar awaits their attention.

A good collection of painted items cleared from the trestles to make room for the underseat grills from 24006. From the top, the removed handrails from 34929, the missing grab rail from the south end of the coach, the four pieces of black painted wood are for the fitting of the coach's four compartment tables, and finally the Hammerited inset light fittings. The inner bowls of the latter will be painted white.