S12 PROGRESS
It has been approximately 12 months since the photo of the S12 3744 appeared in Omnibus. At the time it was reported that Dave Brown and I were carrying out a front end repair in order to safeguard vital parts before they rusted away. Well that’s how it started out.
It was necessary to fabricate framework underneath the front panels. To do that you have to go back to some decent metal in order to weld or rivet the new framework to. So each time we replaced a piece of channel we needed to replace the piece it was going to be fixed to. In the end 75% of the front framework was replaced, including most of both corner pillars. All of it formed and shaped by ourselves.
In the meantime room had been made inside Shire Hall for 3744. Moving it proved to us that the cab floor would require major work. We had to replace most of the steel angle under the cab floor as well as most of the cab floor. We also replaced a couple of cab inner panels. It now seemed to Dave and I that having had to put so much effort into the S12 so far, we might as well carry on with it. We paint stripped, red oxided and brown top coated the cab interior. The destination box was cleaned out and painted white.
Our attention then turned to the entrance porch, the steps of which had rusted away. The step surround was pretty well gone as well, but sufficient remained for us to use as a pattern. Peter Murphy was bribed, threatened and cajoled into making the necessary shaped steelwork. (He didn’t make to bad a job of it) Dave and I finished off the steps and fitted to them. We took off 3 N/S panels. Things weren’t getting any better, the wheel arch and stress panels above would require replacing. Dave found a firm who would make circular angle and acquired enough for the wheelarches. A section of circular channel we managed to repair. Just!! This work has been completed. While the steps were out and the side panels off, we have de-rusted the chassis, body bearers and other steelwork, followed by rust painting, red oxide and a top coat to help keep the weather out.
It was suggested to us that if we could get the front end of 3744 back together and painted, it would be ideal to put with GHA 337 and SHA 431 in the doorway for Midland Red Day. We did try. We put the front panels on temporarily, but unfortunately the windscreen requires a little bit more work than was first thought. It was not possible to fit it back in, even temporarily. So that idea was dropped.
We took off the final 3 nearside panels. The rear wheelarch was in worse condition then the front. The good news is that the pillars and main body frame are in excellent condition, so much so that we don’t intend to take the window pans out. The bottom of the pillars require only minimal work. The stress panels in between the wheelarches are in perfect condition. All of which have been cleaned, primed and painted.
We have replaced the rear wheelarch steel angle and stress panel. We have had to replace the circular channel which holds the mudguard on. All of this has been primed and painted
The rear end looks to be in poor condition. Probably as a result of catching all the adverse weather, but that’s the next job.
Inside 3744, the interior has been heavily mutilated by Automtive Products who had used it as a Mobile Research Laboratory. Dave has fabricated a couple of interior panels which require some panel beating. An exterior panel needs a hole putting in to allow us to put diesel into the tank. This again needs panel beating. Dave is getting quite accomplished at it now. Whilst this gives a good idea of what is required, bear in mind that there are countless small pieces of metalwork that have to be cleaned or made and then primed and painted. There are also quite a few moulded aluminium panels that need de-oxidising and priming.
So far we have used approx 30 grinding wheels, 10 litres of red oxide, 40-50 nuts and bolts, a couple of bottles of welding gas, 20-30 mono bolts, 2 sheets of steel, pop rivets and 10 aluminium panels from stock.
But we couldn’t have done it without professional help and guidance from Tony Robinson and Peter Murphy. We have also had the practical assistance of John Lowe, who has been helping while the adverse weather conditions have stopped him working on the DD11 GHA 415 D.
Mike Jordan
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
