Ron

I've repaired the damaged paint on my tank and fitted my spare RE mag. The faulty mag has gone for repair and will then become my spare. I used my new electronic gizmo for the first time today. Quite handy to tell exactly when the points break, instead of the usual fag paper or 1 1/2 thou feeler. Ron

There are these pictures from Exercise Mush in 1944, which show markings on Fleas. Clearly seen is 110 which I'm reliably informed is on a brown background, and tyre pressure markings on the mudguards. However none of the pictures I've seen, confirm that Pegasus is on the other side. I did mark my tank with Pegasus, but then changed my mind and re-sprayed my tank with just the census number. Ron

Again Terry Roberts (Metal Magic) makes good repro Miller blackout masks. 01189 731631.. I also know someone who was going to make some repro Miller tail lamps (here's my original). Last I heard, he was searching for a suitable red lens. PM me if you want his email address. Ron

Well the model WD/L is back on the bench. First thing is the addition of a front number plate. I've had the original unique Enfield number plate mounts for a long time and one of Jan's laser cut true to shape plates is now fitted. My main minor disaster, is that the paint on the N/S of the tank has started to peel off in one place for no apparent reason? The 2PK primer has just lifted off. So the tank will come off for grinding back, filling and respray. Don't think I'll be using that 2PK again. There is also an issue with the mag, which will also come off tomorrow....The problem is, as I tighten the mag pinion nut, the points gap alters, which is due to inaccurate shimming of the end cover. I'll take it to my mag guy for his expertise on Wednesday. I also need a Norton field stand foot if anyone has one for sale. Ron

Oh Bugger! I'd forgotten about that day in Reigate. Ron

Nice to see those 'other side' pictures Rik. Wish I'd seen them before. Always learning something new. Ron

Here is my own WD/C. Still 1940 but from a later contract than Ben's. I've just done a few updates and corrections. I copied the markings (well offside anyway) from this picture which looks like some sort of trial or test ride. Steve M. gave me the colour coordinates for the green/red square. The other side (3rd Inf Div) is just artistic license.

Glad that you and several other guys found it interesting Gary. It's no problem for me to take pictures and write about it. If it helps someone with their restoration or if I learn something myself, (which I always do) then it's worth it. I also enjoy any banter and piss taking which I can take as well as give😉 Which reminds me! I'm holding the bike under lock and key until Ben the owner pays me the ransom of the part I need to borrow off another vehicle. 😈 Ron

Nice to start with such an original bike Jan. Most have lost lots of their original bits by now. A sister bike to yours! I'm currently removing the number plate from my own WD/C that shouldn't be there (later contract). It will require a front mudguard respray of course. I'll post a picture when it's done. Ron

Thanks for saying Bob. Ron

Finally the saddle has returned after being recovered with the material I supplied. I'm pleased with the result. Ron

OK on that, although I haven't found those items on Draganfly's site yet? Ron

Here they are. I think I have a spare pair for the front. The rear bracket was also used on post war TRW's so that's a possible source (Don't know if the fronts are the same?) Otherwise it's not that difficult to fashion a rear bracket from strip steel. Ron

OK Andy. I managed to find some front wheel bearings by a local bearing firm and got together with someone else and bought 12 of them at £50 each. Still got two left. Ron

Can I ask what you paid for them please? Front and rear? Ron

The sad part is Chris, that the guy is 12-13 years younger than me. I must thank my lucky stars! Ron

After a 2 month wait for the saddle to be re-covered, I just heard that the poor guy has had another two heart attacks and can no longer work. So an 80 mile round trip today to reclaim it and now negotiating with http://www.rk-leighton.co.uk/ to undertake the work with the material that I will provide. Ron😕

This is what we are looking at Rik. Jan tells me that the difference in shade between the rim and shell is black....and who am I to argue? Ron

Well Jan has whispered in my ear that the headlamp rim should be black. So that was my mistake and I've resprayed it. Sometimes a slightly different shade of grey in B&W photos is not that obvious! Ron

I had it running again today for about 15-20 minutes and did some adjustments to the carb. The internal pull twist grip works exactly as it should but the action of these is not to my own personal liking. The gears are all clicking through nicely. It's now just held up awaiting the new saddle cover. In the meantime I've parked it up under 'Crazy Horse' Ron

I collected the exhaust system from the blaster on Wednesday. I've sanded, sprayed and fitted it. I think it's as good as a 78 year old exhaust is going to be. These early WD Royal Enfield's had a headstock transfer which I'll fit tomorrow. I'm just waiting for the saddle to have it's new cover made, but I heard that he'd become ill and was taken into hospital. He's out of hospital now and convalescing at the moment. Ron

I have just a few pictures of RAF 741's and I don't think there was anything specific about the markings. I guess it was just decided at unit level. They did seem to often display a roundel. The bikes would have been supplied in service colour. (US Olive Green?) The inspection picture in Jerusalem in 1945 is probably post war and by now it looks to me as if they have painted the left side of the tank in shiny blue with a roundel (anxious to show their true colours I expect) With a serial number on the white tips of both mudguards. If I was going to depict my 741 as RAF (and it could well be?) I would paint a roundel on each side of the tank with a black serial number on white on the mudguards. No RAF records survive, so it's make it up time. The numbers that I can see in the Jerusalem picture are RAF 10108? - 10010? - 99263? Ron

The Jaeger speedo cable arrived today. Ron

Even Hitchcock's get it wrong sometimes Chris! I hear comments often from guys who run with no oil in the chaincase "Because it always leaks straight out" But I've fitted chaincases to most makes with success and I always put oil in. The thinking that it doesn't need oil (like the rear chain) is erroneous. The primary chain is running 3-4 times faster than the rear chain and in an enclosed hotter environment. Show me a bike that doesn't leak a bit of oil, and it's probably Japanese Ron

Tank fitted and heart pounding I added some petrol. The left side NOS tap was weeping all night so I had to drain the tank and re-cork the tap this morning. With that done there are no apparent fuel or oil leaks now. The exhaust system is next on the agenda , But I decided to kick the engine over anyway. It fired on the first prod and then died immediately. This continued for a dozen kicks or so, until I gave it some choke, and it then fired up and continued running on a fast choked tick over until I pulled off the choke and it then ran quite smoothly, all be it noisily However I'd momentarily forgotten that these are slack wire advance so I'd started and ran it on full retard. I'll attend to the exhaust before a re-start. Ron