Ron

Nearly always the fasteners where plated. Dull chrome on some of the earlier WD bikes but certainly cadmium plating was normal. Handlebar controls, exhaust systems, speedo/ammeter bezels etc. were dull chrome plated until war economies and a need for more haste dictated that later production bikes could have had these parts left bare or painted. 

The ML petrol cap was not painted and I suspect it was dull plated, but difficult to tell from B&W pictures. Ron

This is the HT set up that Lex mentioned. I also remove the inside of the suppressors and use them as a dummy. Ron 

Hi Steve. Maybe they thought the decompressor cable took a cleaner line to the right side of the barrel?  Ron 

I haven't done a lot of studying of what they did to civy bikes. I've only researched the WD versions. Here is just one period picture from my archive. I've no idea why the WO chose this way round. 

Funnily enough I've just turned the distributor round 45 degrees on one of my WD C10's as I'd installed it as per the civy manual with the flat part facing the barrel which is confirmed in brochure pictures. And yet all the original pictures of WD C10's show them in a different configuration.Again I can't think why this could be??? 

I spend a lot of time looking at old B&W pictures.  Ron  

Thanks Thierry! It's a hobby gone mad! A passion even!👍 Ron

"Reassembly time" 

I don't know what you aim to achieve and it's no criticism, but some things to note that I've picked up over the years.

The spark plug should be on the left (although it will work just the same I'm sure)

The complete engine, carb, exhaust were painted in service colour, (just the two front down tubes were dull plated)

The flat part at the top of your gearbox cover was a casting for the post war engine number.    Ron 

Thanks Rick and good luck. Our booked trip to Etreham will obviously be on hold now. Ferry is paid for so hoping for some sort of credit note and try for later in the year if it's ever possible?

Rik, just studying that picture some more, there appears to be something odd under the CO speedo?

Ron

I keep looking at that control Rik, but can't make it out. It appears to have a tube, Bowden/wiring cable coming from it?  Ron

Can you make leg shields Jan 😄😄 Ron 

Job done.  Ron

Well done Lex! If only we could ride our bikes here!

I believe there is some history about Keating?

Ron

Thanks for that! I've saved the picture and the caption.

Ron

Thanks Gary. Any idea where this is? Are those ladies Dutch?

What I was focused on, was the china bowl on his bonnet, which reminds me of the little paper sticks of sugar that is normal in cafe's nowadays?  Ron 

You could be right Gary, although I'm not sure that is an original WW2 picture? The factories had professional sign writers although Royal Enfield used pre made transfers for their census numbers........However, what happened in workshops or the 'field' is probably a different matter.☺️ Ron 

Yes Steve! Once or fifty!!😃 Ron

PS. Mind you it could all go wrong! Those roundels are a sod!

The number stenciling is done. Using the correct RE font for the RAF number that Jan researched and available from "Axholme Signs".  Just waiting for the postman to deliver my roundel stencils...Ron

Rivets! But you can cheat with socket button head bolts and fill the hex in with body filler. You can buy them with imperial threads to reduce the shame a bit and even file the heads to a lower profile if required. Ron

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=button+head+socket+screws&_sacat=0

Nothing wrong with Indian Royal Enfield's I suppose? But the new 'Pegasus' is hardly even a nod to the WD/RE (Flea). Ron

I've resprayed tank, ready for markings now. Ron

But that link is inferring that new James motorcycles are going to be built in UK. I haven't been inclined to click their "see more" link or "subscribe now" in case I get embroidered into a scam???  

I've looked at this site a couple of times, but doesn't seem to even cover WD ML's? http://simplywizard.co.uk/

Ron

It's annoying me that you haven't touched in that blob on the last dot or wiped it away with a drop of thinners. ☺️Ron

Well it didn't take long to realize that I'm going to loose the hand painted roundels, as the first trial run with the 3mm tape pulled the sign writers paint off😣 Ron

OK I've seen the liquid masking stuff on Google. I've already bought a roll of Tamiya 3mm tape. So I'll see if I can apply that successfully first. Other wise I'll order some liquid........But then that requires a sign writers steady hand😕  Ron

Never heard of liquid masking tape?

Axholme's won't work on the curve surface.  Ron

Doing a Tom cross over forums hear!😉

I was not aware that any WW2 RAF serial numbers have survived? But since young Tom acquired the serial number for his Norton and passed on the contact details to me I made inquiries about my RAF WD/CO. The guy has access to post war key cards from 1949. So only vehicles still in service with the RAF at that time are listed.....Tom was lucky!! 
 
My Royal Enfield is not listed so obviously demobbed before 49. However, he did find a CO with the next frame number after mine, although it is far from certain that the Enfield's where given serial numbers in sequence of frame numbers. So our best guess is to allot the previous serial number, which will be much closer that the made up number it currently wears. 
 
I think we only have one original picture of a CO marked up with the RAF and it appears to have the standard RE font as used on all their models. 
 
So my challenge now is to re-spray my tank and fit the new (correct ?) number and transfers (Already in stock). 
My main concern is to save the roundels that were hand painted several years ago by a dear departed 80 year old sign writer friend.....Squares are easy to mask up:thinking_face: Ron