Lewin and 196 progress...

Lewin and 196 progress…

/ May 10, 2012 / Leave a comment / News
Below: As the rain continues to pour, work indoors continues unabated.  Oporto 196’s truck is now receiving attention, with all of the components having been repainted.  This brown colour (left over from Blackpool 31) forms a base – the actual colour, as far as I can tell from black and white photographs, is black.  This would accord with the trolleybus livery carried later and, as Phil Anderson pointed out, a reddish truck would add rather a strong imbalance to the colours featured on 196 when it wears primrose and blue.  So black it will be… 

Below:  Tony has been undertaking repairs to a rotten platform bearer on 196, his new piece seen being offered up for trial fitting here.  Once the truck is complete, the body will be lowered onto it and then Tony can start on numerous repairs to the body panels.  There is no point starting this while the tram is on the jacks, as it will inevitable settle once back on its truck.

Below:  Meanwhile, over in Hetton, Dave Young is seen applying the apple green topcoat (first of two) to Lewin…

Below: … whilst I do the same…

Below: The completed loco after the first coat has been applied – more to follow to build the depth, but a good idea of what it will look like is starting to emerge.  The colour looks darker in these photographs.  The tank, cab and bunkers are ready to collect next Tuesday so we are well onto the home straight now.