eBay - got to love it

Hi all,

Well, I definitely have a couple of excuses to make my way down to Esh Winning to do some more jobs on 3603.

One thing the North East Bus Preservation Trust - eternally grateful to you guys - always does, is fit an appropriate destination blind to a vehicle on acquisition. This simple act always gives a visual clue as to what is to come, and now 3603 will be no different. I now am waiting for delivery of a Percy Main destination blind that is pretty appropriate for the era I am restoring 3603 to, though it is not exact... but it has all the important destinations in! I am still looking for a 100% correct blind, which would feature the yellow 'M' logos for example, and also Kibblesworth in the destination list as many photos of 3603 in its Tynemouth livery are when it is on the 301 to Kibblesworth.

That blind admittedly did cost rather a lot but of course it is worth it seeing as they are getting so hard to come by - but my second purchase did not break the bank! For £1.20 I got a set of oil air and fuel filters on a no reserve auction, so that will set it up nicely for a service and might get the engine running even more sweetly!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

OK, know that I am saying Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year rather late, but I do hope it will be a great 2010 for everyone, unfortunately the normal rotas of work are kicking in so nose back to the grindstone unfortunately!

With the inclement weather over the winter, must say I have been less motivated with work on 3603 - but my New Year's Resolution is to change all that, and really start cracking on! Wilkinson's in Gateshead stock quite a nice selection of power tools, and for the princely sum of £31.98 I have purchased a random orbital sander, and an angle grinder in order to get rivets out, panels off, and get the many layers of paintwork off! Then, I will be able to rivet the panels back onto the body frame, looking much neater, and will get rid of a huge number of bad looking rivets where the pins have been left in, well, if you are going to do something, do it right! Though I do need to find a panel for the nearside, where on a re-panelling the bus lost its intake grille for the demister/heater units, you know the little oval grille behind the repeater lights?

Also still need to figure out that engine stop solenoid, so if anyone knows much about Gardner 6LXB engines I would be delighted for any help!