Minesweeper

A superb day! This was the day that our first road-run was scheduled and we all were a little apprehensive on how it would go! We were joined by our good friends Barry W and Graham S from Bedford and Roley M and Timmy from Bridport together with our neighbour Chris R – all wanting to see the fun and help wherever and whenever we needed it. We have never fully seen the lorry from outside the close confines of the Shed and that was something else that we were looking forward to - to be able to stand back and see it as a whole. As before, more than one pair of hands on the starting handle rope to get it going as it is really hard to turn over but again it fired up fairly quickly and with Steve behind the driving wheel, it came out into the sunlight. We were surprised with the fairly tight turning circle for such a lorry, but it came out into the drive and was turned to face the gate for the road run. Its first journey and the first journey for any of the lorries that we have previously completed is the difficult one as we have to come out through a narrow gateway and immediately turn through 90 degrees to go down a narrow steep lane to join the main road. The National Trust Property is situated right at the foot of our hill. No problem! We stopped at the foot of the hill after descending beautifully in first gear under full control – this was the first journey! At the foot of the hill, we were joined by all of those that wanted a ride to drive through the village and then back again. A trouble-free journey although the fan was touching the back of the radiator and making a “tinging” noise which calls for an adjustment. So it was back up the hill, reverse into the driveway and stand back to savour the moment. More in a moment

Thanks Fayjo. That's pretty! We have been working on tidying the last odds and ends up ready for the first run but we are still not quite there. With eight joints between the throttle pedal and carburettor, the backlash is terrible! We hope to be on the road by lunchtime. Will keep you posted! Steve

Called on Martin and Jim of "Allied Forces" today to pick up the canvas for the Dennis. They were still working on the Cab Roof when we got there, just putting in the final touches - and what a superb job has been made again. As well as the cab roof, they have made the cushions for the front seat, the side "door" on the passenger side and the main canvas sheet to go over the main body. The "roof" has been put together on a jig which Steve made up, designed to hold the bows in their correct erect positions. The initial slackness in the canvas will quickly disappear as it weathers. The cab will go on over the coming weekend. We speak only as customers but they have made a superb job of it and have been really interested in the whole project as it has progressed. We would recommend them to anybody.

QUOTE Isn't it awful! You spend 10 years restoring a pile of rust to a magnificent Dennis and then someone 'nitpicks' about a split pin that you have used... No! I take that as a sign of an enquiring and discerning eye of someone, like us, who wants to get things right! Tony

Well, I can't really tell you any more about them as I always assumed that a Split Pin was a Split Pin. We usually buy things like that when we see them and put them on the shelf as part of standard stock so that they are there when we need them. I guess these must have come from an Autojumble or somewhere like that but I cannot remember - perhaps Steve will when he picks this up in due course, almost certainly later today. We always refer to them as "Split Pins" but they are also known as "Cotter Pins". Tony

Getting near the end of the job and a busy day on the final items. The main thing today was the linkage from the driver's controls to the Magneto and the Carburetor which Steve has worked on. We had a "mish-mash" of bits from different sources for that and Steve has made other bits to complete the job. However, not finished assembling that one today so the aim now is to finish that early next weekend as we plan to take the lorry out for the first time. Tim has been filling up all the Greasers and amongst other final jobs, the tail board hinge pin has been crossed-drilled at the ends and pinned.

Two weeks to go! This weekend, the "team" re-assembled in Devon with the aim of finishing off as many of the outstanding items that we could for final completion and fitting. Many bits had been previously made and finished and were just awaiting final attachment or fitting to the lorry. The front wings had been completed earlier and trial-fitted, but now that everything had been fully painted, they were ready for permanent attachment to the lorry. This was completed during the day and are looking good. The brackets to hold the shovel and pick were fitted to the side, The brackets to hold the seat box to the chassis were bolted on - this was not an easy job as most of the bolts that hold the seat box are obscured by the body tub. We guess that when the lorry was first made, all of these fittings were completed before the main body tub was fitted as they would have been much easier to get at then. Steve turned his attention to the throttle linkage - still not completed but perhaps tomorrow - and the final thing attached was the footstep up into the driving position. We still await the canvas and this is now expected next Thursday!

It's just a cheap chinese one which is always a gamble but it has proven to be sound and very useful. One of the problems with this game is in building your tool kit. To buy the lot would cost thousands but we have gradually built it up between us either as we want things or find a bargain. Two of my best investments have been the ten ton hydraulic press and the engine crane. The ability to apply controlled force or movement has made life so much easier and reduced the chances of damaging things. I certainly wouldn't want to manhandle an engine back into the chassis again! Steve

We think of "chitting" as standing the spuds up in something like old egg cartons when they start to shoot - removing some of the shoots so that you are left with just one or two growing upwards. Your definition as well - or perhaps something a little different? Tony

Ah, yes - that's right. Something that I had not thought about for many years! Our only wirelss was downstairs in the house and was left on so that we could listen to it from our beds - it was on quite late - and then it was either my mother or my sister who had to go down stairs when it ended to turn the wireless off! And I think that they were both left scared stiff by that time! Tony

Valentile Dial (is that how you spell it?) I remeber well - "The man in Black"! Did you listen to Lord HawHaw as well? Tony

If it is the one near Kingskerswell, then yes, we do know about it! It used to be called RJ Cafe and Takeaway. RJ standing for "Romany Jones"! In 2006, we heard that the site was being cleared but when I enquired by telephone, I was told "not so"! We never went to have a look, so don't know what it is! Tony

I would say that it is/was a Settle! A lot of old farm houses had these in their kitchens - the high back to help protect from a draught - and certainly with storage space under them. As this one is on a farm, my bet would be that it was chucked out of the kitchen when the kitchen was modernised! And it does look now with the seat "up" that it was varnished or polished! Tony

Are you anywhere near Axminster - if so, call in! Tony

In an ideal world -yes! Still lots to do with limited time left so maybe not.............We shall just have to wait and see. Tony

Thanks, Matthew - that's very kind - as are so many of our new friends who are watching us. We just hope now that we don't let anybody down! Tony

Great stuff! Barry's entry has been accepted, too - so it really will be a gathering of the Clans, that day! Tony

The letter that we have been waiting for arrived this morning - formal acceptance of our entry for the "Brighton"! We are in! Tony

Thanks for that. Yes, we plan to have the Dennis at Honiton Hill this year. Apart from London to Brighton i suspect that this will be its only outing in 2011.

Barry's great suggestion of having the Steering Wheel Rim powder coated black has worked out well - the spokes are meant to be left bright polished aluminium. The pictures show the wheel as it has been received back from the Powder Coaters - it still has to be cleaned up. All very pleasing and at a very reasonable price - just £36. One of the things that has been on our minds for sometime is what we perceived to be a rather slack fit of the back tyres on their wheels. When the new tyres were put on the wheels some time ago, they slipped onto the wheels very easily when really they should have been a very hard tight push fit. We suspect now that there might have always been a problem with these wheels as the remains of "staples" in them was apparent - these were sometimes used to hold the tyres on the wheels. Over the recent years since they were fitted, we have noticed that they have "settled" and that it is now possible to slip a thin metal rule in a gap between the tyre and the top of the wheel. This will not do as obviously the tyres will "work" when the lorry is on the road and before long they will come off. So our only choice now for peace of mind is to get the back tyres off the wheels again and get them pressed back on with a shim between tyre and wheel - we have opted for a 1mm steel shim all the way around the circumference. So we have arranged to take the back wheels to our friend in Bedfordshire on Saturday who has the big Tyre Press. We have started to take the wheels off today - not an easy job because of all the space restrictions - and it meant moving the civilian Autocar out of the Lorry Shed into the Car Port so that we have room to move. The wheels are very heavy and we have used the engine hoist to take the weight of them. The tyre pressing is an interesting exercise and we will take some photographs of the operation to show you.

Yes you are right. I have seen a photo of one Dennis fitted with just the seat and no body being taken for a test drive. It seems we have put this one together in the wrong order. Anyway, the Seat is virtually completed - just a few more screws to into the back to see "job done"! Started last Saturday morning - finished Tuesday evening - now over to the "Painting and Decorating Department"! Next job now is the wings and mudguards - fortunately we had those made a few years ago by "Vintage Wings" and they have been waiting patiently for this stage. All the brackets to hold them have to be fabricated this week and then they can be finish-painted..

Nice one, Roy! Tony

Thanks for the good ideas guys. The seat box is screwed and glued together. Due to the shortage of room once it is in situ we have no option but to assemble it on the floor. It just cant be done once it is on the chassis. Gordon, your idea looks to be a good one and one we had not thought of, so we are leaning towards that idea at the moment - unless anybody has any better ideas of course? Anyway, today we painted up the capping strips that go on the edge of the body and the metal strips that run inside. Also, the seat box is looking better and more pew like every day:

Am I the only one who has noticed the amazing resemblance to a church pew ? No you are not, Gordon! Someone else suggested that any one of us could be buried in it! Tony

Two pairs of hands required to assemble it and move it around. The seat is very wide but the War Department specification for this was that it should be able to take four persons sitting side by side in the front. Looking good but how are we going to get it on the lorry? It is going to be a very heavy unit by the time it is finished as there is still a lot to do to it The seat has to be fully assembled and painted before we put it on. It has to be lifted over the top of the petrol tank which has about 1/16" clearance on each side and will dent if the seat lands on it. We cant use the chain block because the seat wont go over the radiator. We cant put the seat on and then drop the fuel tank in as the strenghteners for the seat will get in the way. The seat is very heavy, but we do have just enough roof clearance to get it over the tank. Any good suggestions please? Tim