HWade

Just to let you know that my brass data plates turned up today for the 352 Tractor unit, and what a good job he has made. Thanks N.O.S for the contact, heres a pic of one of the plates. Howard

Heres an update on the semi trailer, The first side wall is now in and also part of one of the end walls, all the electrics are also connected up and the consumer unit is also fitted, and connected to the outside hookup. I ran a test on the wiring and all works as it should to the switchs. I now have to locate some 12 volt lighting units and some mains lighting units.I have also had left in each corner of the wall and inspection hole for getting to the wiring for the marker lights on the outside of the trailer, i have plates to cover the holes,this will prove handy if ever I need to replace a marker light.Work should restart on the other wall next week.I cant hold my hand up for the wood work, a good friend of mine is doing this for me,and what a good job he is doing, but I did do the the electrics. Heres a couple of pics. Thanks Howard

Well gents, I managed to get the chassis and the wheel drums blasted, and it had 3 coats of a good zinc phos primer, so next stage will be to black gloss the chassis and axles ect. heres a few pics. Howard

Quick update on the trailer, all of the first fixing for the wiring is now done.I have also first fixed the new wiring for the marker lights on the side of the trailer. There will be removable panels on the inside of the trailer for each light for access to wire in the new marker lights. The new marker lights will be arriving from the US next Thursday, my sister in law lives in the states and is coming over next week, so thats been well handy. The new ply wood sides are being fitted tomorrow, so on Saturday I hope to fit the sockets and switches, oh yes I have also fitted the exterior socket for the Mains hook up.Well thats it for now on the trailer, try and get some pics of the new ply wood walls tomorrow. Howard

Ok gents, well here we go, the truck arrived at mine Monday this week, the state of play is that the owner wanted the rear body removed and the cab, and aslo engine and gear box ect. The truck at the moment is now a chassis sitting on axle stands in the blasting bay. I have stripped all the brakes ect so that the back plates can also be blasted.I am hoping to have the blasting done this week but like always have a few small jobs to get out of the way. The body of the truck is very straight and in very good order, The cab is not so good but I do now have some new panels, wings, cheeks ect. I will start taking some pics and get them on here. Here is a pic of the truck at a local show, before the rebuild.

I have just started a full chassis rebuild of a Bedford RL AFS control truck, would people like me to do a blog on the restoration, of this vehicle. Howard

Well I managed to first fix the low voltage lighting wires and the mains lighting wires in the roof space, and the plywppd ceiling was fitted today and the wires pulled through where needed. I now have to first fix wiring on side walls and then these can be covered with play. Heres one pic of the ceiling. Howard

An up date on the semi trailer for the truck. All of the alloy sheeting that was inside has been stripped, and I am now left with the wooden frame and the insulation, The woodwork and insulation are not to bad so will be used. I have bought the plywood sheeting to line the inside of the box with.I have also had one of the windows changed from opening inwards to open outwards. There is still a further window to be installed. The work on the plywood lining will be starting tomorrow.Heres a couple of pics of the inside of the trailer, taken with the phone so not that great. Howard

Hi Joris Sounds like a dam good event, I would like to get to that one, have to work out cost of fuel, or see if there is a nice man with a loloader going that way. Howard

Hello Joris what is the Date and where is the event, chances are trailer wont be ready, and are be to busy, but may as well have the details. Thanks Howard

Hello Joris Thanks for that, the ride in the truck was great, hope to get to one event this year but I will see how it goes. Now about to start a full chassis up rebuild of a Bedford RL AFS fire control unit. So I am going to be busy for a while. Howard

Well it was the moment of truth today, the truck went out for its first run.A Friend of mine David who is restoring a Dodge Carryall, cane along for the ride. After 2 or 3 miles I pulled over to check for any leaks ect, loose wheels, every thing seemed ok. So we set off again. I am happy to report all went really well and the truck pulled very well. Just a few bits to finish off, will be a case of waiting for parts to arrive or try and source them. Thanks Howard

Hello Paul, Yep once I know the truck is all up together and has a few miles under the bonnet I shall start on the trailer, the inside of the trailer has now already been stripped out back to the wooden skeleton and the insulation,so I am ahead a bit.I also have all the new ply wood for lining it out with.I would like to get the brakes all sorted first, so I need to get the Hydrostar brake controller from the US. Howard Hello David see you later this morning,

Hello Gents Thank you for your support, I hope to get the truck out on saturday for the road test, subject to a rain free day.I have a few more stencils to do, and things like the data plates, headlining,and also some new seat covers to fit. Thats it for now will post some more pics once complete. Next thing to do will be move onto the trailer. Howard

Hello Gordon Yours right the closed cabs do look so much better, just a bit of a sweat box in the summer. Howard

Well here is a bit more of an up date, I have now received the registration number from DVLA, and it was a very painless process. The truck now has the centre decking and back decking in place, this was made from 4"x2" primed and painted.I also made an electrics box that is situated behind the cab for the suzie cables to go from this to the trailer, there are two cables one for braking and the other is for the lights ect.heres a couple of pics of the truck so far. Howard

The repair to the back of the cab has been done and has been primed and top coated. The dash board has also now been finish and refitted to the cab, and the rewire is about 3/4 done. I now have the doors to prepare and paint. Howard

Well the closed cab has now been transplanted onto the tractor unit.Now got to refit it out with electrics ect. Howard

I had to move the trailer out of the blasting bay today, so heres a couple more pics of the truck hitched up to the trailer, also a pic of the closed cab now in primer after blasting. I think the closed cab once fitted is going to look alot better than the open cab, even though it is nice to have the wind blowing through your hair,well thats if you have any. Howard

I picked up the drums this morning, I managed to get them blasted and painted before starting work, and managed to get them fitted this afternoon, truck certainly looks better with both sets of double wheels on. Howard

Hi NOS No need for return all sorted out, they turned out to be Studibaker, they are being passed on to Roy. Cheers Howard

I managed to get a bit of work done on the cab last night, welded up the holes in the roof where the flashing beacon was, and also got some other holes welded up.There a small piece of rot to cut out of bottom of cab and replace. Its also good news on the brake drums, I have finally tracked some down. I shall be collecting those in the morning, so thats friday night sorted out.Well thats it for now. Howard

Here is a quick update, I now have a nice solid closed cab for the tractor unit, theres a little bit of rust at the rear of the cab at the bottom, and a little bit of work to do on the doors other than that, it should blast up well, looking forward to getting the closed cab blasted and painted,when i get time, this will defintely finish the truck off. Heres a pic of the cab to be installed. Howard

Hello Rosie Thats bad luck on the truck and now a squeak, well thats your winter project sorted out then,all the best and I hope it all goes well. Howard

Hello Jimmy Thanks for your comments, regards the trailers that Army cars have, they only had the one ex US army single axle semi trailer that I have. They did have some other semi box trailers but I think these were twin axle,and 30ft. My trailer is only 23ft long which is ideal for what I want it for. Jean at army cars is very helpful it might pay to drop him an email. Cheers Howard