The Runaway Bus

[AJR]

I may be sometime. Drilling out those windows will be like drilling for oil. It's times like this that you appreciate plastic bodies

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I may be sometime. Drilling out those windows will be like drilling for oil. It's times like this that you appreciate plastic bodies

That's OK, don't rush things on my account...

Ghosthunter.

[toysnz]

I'll be following your progress too... I have a number of "Code 3" altered buses in my collection that used to belong to a bus mad friend of mine - he gave me 400 buses to dispose of via my barber's shop and swapmeets when he moved to the other end of the country... I kept the ones I wanted and sold off the rest over a period of 5 years for him - naturally I paid his asking price for the ones I kept - might try to look them out and get some photos on the forums - but don't hold your breath!

Ian

[AJR]

Drilling out the bottom lantern windows cost me three 1.5mm drill bits. They don't like being used as milling bits but it's the only way.
I slipped a bit under the driver's screen and lost part of the beading surround.

[AJR]

Paint stripped and found a casting flaw on the front nearside quarter. There is also a deep seam down this front quarter but smooth on the other side.
Also, but not casually noticeable is the front panels are unequal drop below the bumper on each side but I won't get involved with that.

[AJR]

The over thick window pillars are due to strengthening ribs. The centre three each side stop the tinplate base from buckling. I was going to grind these away around the window area to add glazing but I can add glazing between the ribs in a U profile. I'll be adding a plasticard floor to rest on the shorter ribs whick will hold the glazing in situ and also stop light from the wheelarches from entering the interior. I won't be adding seats but it will be so dark inside that it would be a waste of effort.

[AJR]

A bit of grinding and filing around the destination blind and grill area and a quick primer coat to show up any problems.
The damaged window beading that I mentioned earlier has been repaired with buttonhole cotton and superglue.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Some good work being shown AJ.

I have moved this topic into the bigger restoration/customs thread.

Ghosthunter.

[AJR]

Added sliding window vents and front sliding lower windows .... something that Dinky should have done, or perhaps things weren't as advanced back then.
Got as tight a fit as possible before securing with Syroflex industrial glue. They won't budge.

[AJR]

I was going to make these sliding window representations with fine brass bar but it would have been very fiddly. Instead, I set about another tatty old Dinky model.