Issue 83 Autumn 2014

The journal of the Russell Newbery Engine Owners & Enthusiasts Club

David Kay Phillips 1936 - 2014

www.rnregister.org.uk WHO’S WHO CONTENTS

Front cover: DM2 and David Phillips [Rob Davies, Bob May] Back cover: Autumn colour at Cropredy [Kevin McNiff]

3 CHAIRMAN’S CHAT FROM THE EDITOR RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER LTD 4 2015 RALLY The plans so far President: Dr Ian McKim Thompson Ladies Please? Vice Presidents: Lady Carol Stamp, Mrs Susan Gibbs, David Thirlby, Allister Denyer, Graham Pearson, Eleanor 5 YOW CAM SPAKE BLACK COUNTRY Phillips Web site: www.rnregister.org.uk MEMBERSHIP MATTERS The Russell Newbery Register is a non profit distributing Property Update company limited by guarantee. Founded: 1994 Registered in England No: 346943 6 BOOM BANG BANG BANG BANG Officers: Lulu comes to NB Callisto! Chairman: Norman C Mitchell t: 01452 415420 [email protected] 8 REFLECTIONS ON DAVID Secretary: Kevin McNiff m: 07866 424988 [email protected] by Rob Davies Director: Jim Comerford m: 07787 591905 [email protected] 9 TRIBUTE TO DAVID Administration (membership, finance): Rob Davies By Ian McKim Thompson 55 Noddington Lane, Whittington, Lichfield, Staffs. WS14 9PA 10 AUTUMN GATHERING REPORT t/f: 01543 432079 m: 07801 842337 [email protected] THE RALLY OF ONE! Newsletter Editor: Kevin McNiff [email protected] Roger Fox explains Newsletter Production: Andrew Laycock m: 07870 294580 Administration (merchandise): Neil Mason 11 FOR SALE - ONE “CHP” UNIT Hillcrest, Chapel Lane, Westhumble, Surrey. RH5 6AH As New! By Steve Burt t: 01306 889073 [email protected] Rally Organisers: Bob Scott and Andrew Laycock 12 OH WOE - part 2 [email protected] Webmaster: Andrew Laycock [email protected] Monty Vann gets down and dirty 13 ROUTINE MAINTENANCE RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER PROPERTY LTD Back to the basics for us all!

A non profit distributing company limited by guarantee 14 STRETCHING ANSTY ROSE Founded 2004 Registered in England No: 5316384 In time for the Rally, Liverpool and Lancaster by Brian Farrant

Unless otherwise noted, Copyright © Russell Newbery Register, 2014

Rally 2015 RN DIESEL ENGINE COMPANY A Black Country Proprietors: Dave Bixter (m:07812 039110) Deborah Bixter (m: 07966 403132) Showroom: RN House, The Locks, Hillmorton, Rugby, “Bostin” event in Warwickshire, CV21 4PP t:01788 578661 Engineering workshop: 4 Oak House, Royal Oak Way North, Royal Oak Industrial Estate, Daventry NN11 8PQ t: 01327 July. See page 4. 700023 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.russellnewbery.com Field Engineers: Ian Crompton m: 07831 841108 Next edition Richard Milligan m: 07973 826260 All contributions for the Winter edition will be gratefully received. Do not worry about format — in true RN fashion the editorial team can cope with [almost] anything!

Please supply photographs as separate JPEG or GIF files.

Corporate Member Copy deadline is 10th January 2015 2 RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 Chairman’s Chat Since the last Newsletter the Register has lost a past Chairman, Director and RN Diesel Engine Co Ltd. owner David Kay Phillips who died over the August Bank Holiday weekend. His obituary is featured later in this issue. Many thanks to all who were able to attend his funeral, a moving and interesting send off for our good friend David. The Register arranged the annual RNR Gathering at the Stafford Boat Club on the Staffs and Worcester Canal in September. The venue turned out to be a splendid place for any organisation to organise an event, slipway, paint shed and a very well equipped club building complete with bar. The moorings were close to the club organisation, Trish for the “meal chits” and Neil Mason house and there was lots of room for double mooring. for his well organised harbour mastery. Before leaving we were able to benefit from their very reasonably priced fuel and other facilities. During the Now we are into winter, or nearly, so it is maintenance event Jim Comerford accepted our invitation to join the time for boats and engines for some of us. I will be back Board of the Register, his election to be confirmed at onto my boat soon for a quick trace of a minor oil leak, our next AGM. oil and filter change and clear the water tank in case of frosts and I expect you will all be considering similar We had one of the few 70ft moorings within the Club work. privately owned water space alongside the paint shop and able to get to the club almost as quickly as those Pauline and I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a on the other side of the cut. The whole weekend was a prosperous New Year with calm and comfortable great success with lots of time for socialising; just the cruising in 2015. job to relax and unwind following a busy cruising Have a good road. season. A big thank you to Kevin and Rob for the

From The Editor Welcome to the Autumn Edition, after Register. He was a true Gentle Gentleman another summer with decent and is remembered in this edition. As a weather[although August went a bit down mark of respect, I have omitted all the the tubes for a while!] “Eyecatcher” headlines from the front cover.

Once again we have a good level of Our new Rally Organisers have set off at a contributions from members so I hope you pace and they report elsewhere in this find something of interest on those dark edition. evenings by the fire. Several items are being held over until the next edition, including As this is the last edition before year end, the Liverpool Link but still keep your don’t forget to check out the merchandise contributions coming in. available for that special gift for you or yours! I wish you all the compliments of the The passing of David Kay Phillips is time to Season and good boating in 2015. reflect on the amount of time, money, energy and commitment he put into RN Diesel Engine Co. Ltd and of course the

Thanks to all who sent in replies to the quiz question in the last issue. It is of course the old diesel tank at Charity Dock on the Coventry Canal. We would welcome other quiz photos so please send them to the editor at the usual email address.

RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 3 Rally 2015 ~ it is the Black Country in July First the important news, we have a rally date and venue relics and artefacts, plus parts of the photographic for 2015. The former is Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th July; collection, which the BCNS hold will be available for viewing. the latter is Titford Pump House, at the top of the Crow locks on the Titford Branch canal of the Birmingham Canal Post Rally Escorted BCN Cruise Navigations (BCN). So you can all start planning your cruising for next summer now! Following the rally we are arranging an escorted cruise around some the lesser frequented parts of the BCN. This Many thanks to those of you who wrote to us with will be along the lines of the BCNS Explorer cruises. Ian comments, suggestions and offers of help. We hope that McKim Thompson has agreed to arrange and lead this. the choice of date and venue please many of you. Sorry to The exact route is not yet finalised, but is very likely to those that it does not, certainly it is a case of “you can’t include visits to the northern outposts of the BCN at please everybody all of the time!”. Anglesey Basin (Chasewater) and Norton Canes. If possible we will also include a visit to Bradley workshops. As the venue is almost at the centre of the Black Country, The cruise will depart Titford on the Monday afternoon, and the whole rally will have a Black Country theme. We have will finish on Friday evening (with a meal for all participants). booked the famous Black Country Comedy duo Dandy as At this stage we would like a rough estimate of the number the main entertainment for Saturday night. Some regular of boats taking part, so if you are interested contact us RN Rally stalwarts will recall their previous appearances at ([email protected]). the rally - however this one is on home turf, so will be very apt. To help foreigners (that is those not from the Black Finally, any more suggestions for the rally, or offers of help Country) we will provide a translation service! [And see the will be most appreciated. We are also negotiating a beginning of a Learn to Speak Black Country series on the midlands venue for the 2015 Autumn Gathering, again next page]. more details in the next Newsletter.

The Titford Pump House was restored from a near derelict state a few years ago. It is now the headquarters of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society (BCNS), who are our hosts for the rally. It is situated between the top lock of the Oldbury (or Crow) flight and the Tat Bank branch canal. The latter was built as a water supply feeder from Edgbaston (Rotton Park) Reservoir. It was made navigable for short distance, today about 400 yards are used as long term moorings. The main Titford Canal continues past the now derelict Langley Maltings to terminate at Titford Pools, about ¾mile away. The pools are in the shadow of the M5 motorway viaduct. The Titford Canal is the highest part of the BCN, at 511 ft above sea level. Consequently the need for the water supply and the pumps to recycle lockage water from the lower level. The need for pumping is still present, consequently CRT may ask us to stagger arrival and departure dates.

We are not changing the general format of the rally, except Above: The Pumphouse that by popular demand there will be no workshops on with Oldbury top lock on Saturday afternoon. Instead there will be some optional the left and Tat Bank activities in which you can participate. One of these will be Branch on the right. a cruise to the Titford Pools, which are navigable with care. An alternative ‘activity’ for the afternoon is socialising in the Right: The iconic Langley rally bar which will be open all afternoon. Whilst on the Maltings, whose future is subject of the bar, it will definitely be featuring beers from uncertain. the famous Olde Swan brewery, better known as “Ma Pardoes home brewery”. [Andrew Laycock]

Other entertainment is still in the planning stages, full details along with the rally entry form will be in the next edition of the Newsletter. We hope that some of the BCN Attention Ladies! At the Autumn Gathering, some of the you suggested making space for “topics for ladies”. [Readers may remember Brenda Price started a similar column when her husband was the editor.]

The door is open for any and all contributions to this publication, so if someone wishes to champion “something for the ladies” please send them along to me at the usual email address.

4 RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 Yow cam spake Black Country Membership Matters To assist next years rally attendees, or indeed any boater Since the last Issue we have had a ‘flurry’ of 8 new passing through Oldbury, Tipton or Dudley, in this and the members so the current total is 238. One member who next couple of Newsletters we present a very basic sold their boat came up with a novel idea; he paid for the introduction to the language of the Black Country. new owners to join the Register as part of the deal. A simple idea, so simple that we haven’t thought of it before! Remember it is a language, not a dialect. And it is certainly Please bear this in mind if and when you come to part with NOT the same as that spoken just down the cut in your RN. Birmingham! If you call a Black Countryman a Brummie, he will call you an armole (or wurse)! Many thanks to those members who have completed the Banker’s Order when renewing. If you haven’t yet done so, Aa - have not, or am not please think about it when renewal time comes around. Aass - buttocks Ackidock - aqueduct A warm RN welcome to: Adrenchen - soaked, wet through, drowned Ah - yes Mike Casswell, Leek NB Goblin (formerly Snail’s Pace) Am - are █████████████████████████████ Anunst - against or next to Aud (oud) - old David Forshaw, Worthing NB Wendy Woo IIII Babby - baby ████████████████████████ Bai - am not ████████████████████████ Bezzum - birch broom, or playfully a pretty woman Bamfoozle - puzzle or bemuse or confuse Bin - been, have been, are, have. “I bin” is an affirmative Robert Brown, Castel, Channel Islands NB Hannah No 1 answer t████████████████████████ Blubren - crying ████████████████████████ Bobbydazzler - a smarly dressed young lady Bonk - bank, or small hill Graham Davies, Ashwood, Kingswinford NB Ebony Breffus - breakfast ████████████████████████ Broo’us - brewhouse or outhouse Buz - bus Christopher Macleod, Mountsorrel NB Dunvegan Castle Bostin - very good indeed ████████████████████████ Caggy - left handed Coddin - joking (kidding) Matthew Phillips, Hurcot Village, Kidderminster NB May Coost - could you? Negative is coosn’t ████████████████████████ Cost - can you? Negative is cosn’t ████████████████████████ Cop - catch Croddle - huddle together Paul & Meg Bartlett, Shardlow NB Emeritus Cut - canal ████████████████████████ Day - did not ████████████████████████ Doe - do not (as in a negative answer - “I doe”) Dollop - large quantity, especially food Ray Foxwell, Dagenham. Ray started with Russell Fettle - excellent condition Newbery in Dagenham as a 15 year old Apprentice and Frit - frightened left 30 years later when he was made redundant. In Fun - found recognition of this we are pleased to extend Honorary Life Ganzy - under vest membership to Ray. I plan to talk to Ray about his RN life, Gillyvor - wall flower Gawp - staring open mouthed ‘watch this space’. Goo - go

So a few phrases. Ar ay gooin back agen? - Am I going back again? I bay gooin ter tell you agen - I’m not going to tell you again What you blaberen about - what are you talking about RNR Property Update We ad a bostin time - we had a good time The Register has recently benefited from bequests And one for the reader to translate! Ers a rite blobmouth. following the passing of 2 members. In their memory, their Tell er today, the world knows tomorrer. families have donated Property Loans, totalling £1,250, to the Register. Finally for now - H. There is no such letter in the Black Country alphabet, and the ‘h’ sound is never used. Except This increases our stake in the Works property to £2,250 occasionally where it does not occur in the Queen’s – adding to the previous donation of £1,000 made in 2011. English. Such as “Wot, the hode lad” an exclamation similar to “What the Devil”.

RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 5 What happens when your engine sounds like Lulu… going ‘Boom banga bang bang bang! Barrie Holden explains I have a love-hate relationship with my RN. I love it. But I’m Eureka! Fitted to the end of the crank shaft was a hand sure it hates me! made plate that held the gearbox drive plate. It was held onto the crankshaft with a simple bolt tapped through the Number 4003 is a monster of a four cylinder, 40 bhp lump, shaft and tightened onto the crank shaft. That bolt had built I know not when, but rebuilt in January 1992. Perhaps come lose and the plate had shifted down the shaft into the someone reading this can shed light on its history? I bought gearbox, carving its way through the bolts that held the 4003 with its home, a 55 foot long Jonathan Wilson tug gearbox to the bell housing! To get to the rogue plate, the ‘Callisto’, four years ago. It was the lure of the leviathan RN heavy PRM gearbox had to come off, supported by a block matched with a Wilson tug that made it the perfect and tackle, along with the prop shaft and its couplings. The combination for me. Now I’m what you might call a plate was dispatched to engineers to be properly tapped Halfords-mechanic, so when 4003 goes wrong, the cavalry with grub screws that would hold it tight onto the crank shaft. in the form of Dave Bixter thankfully always comes to my aid. (Thanks again Dave). With the gearbox removed, the noise should disappear now shouldn’t it? Wrong! ‘Bang bang bang bang bang bang Anyhow, things started to go wrong on our Easter trip from bang’! Despite new engine mounting bolts and faulty gear our moorings at Streethay Wharf at Lichfield to Tixall Wide plate removed, nothing had changed. just outside Stafford. We’d made it to Colwich (about half way) when 4003 decided to emit a heart stopping gut- I was about to call in the Dave Bixter cavalry, when step wrenching wallet-crippling bang-bang-bang-bang-bang- forward Streethay welder and expert former agricultural bang! It sounded as if the pistons were hitting the top of the engineer Dean Wakeman. By now, everyone in the boat cylinder head …and deafening to stand inside the engine yard knew of my problems, so Dean also offered to have a room. Yet apart from the noise, the engine was running look. After about half an hour of pushing and pulling the big normally, and emitting clear exhaust fumes! The noise ends, Dean gave his verdict… ‘It’s on your crankshaft chief’. baffled a good mate who’s an expert boat engineer. Need And to prove it, he turned the giant flywheel slowly and lo to strip it down was the advice. So we limped very carefully and behold, we could feel a slight jar as the flywheel moved and slowly back to Streethay…and so started six weeks of on the crankshaft. grubby hands, several committees of experts, and some detective work that even Poirot would be proud of. That night, lying alone alongside 4003, I gently moved the flywheel back and forth...until I found it. I could move the To start, I enlisted a procession of experts to pinpoint flywheel a fraction while the crankshaft stayed still, and exactly what was wrong. Was it a big end? Diesel Dave, now I could hear the distinctive bang! Eureka again! Was our resident engine genius was convinced it wasn’t. Nope, this it? It seemed like it…but then my spirit disappeared he decided, it didn’t sound like a big end. We stripped the down the pan when after testing the theory on Dave Bixter. sides from 4003, followed by some general manhandling of He revealed the flywheel weighed nearly 13 stones! To the big ends. One guru was convinced it was the big end make matters worse, there’s only just enough room on number 3. Bit of play on there, he pontificated. Another between the engine and bulkhead to get it the flywheel off, thought it might be the little end on number one. and no room to get down next to it.

Then one old sage questioned: ‘Have you checked the So the remedy was to build a steel lifting frame that sat on engine mounts? I have to tighten mine every six months’. the boat handrails and stretched across the roof to take the We’d never thought of that. So obvious! Of the six mounting weight of the flywheel. Next cut a hole in the roof, drop a bolts, one had totally disappeared and two had the nuts chain and block and tackle through the roof connected to missing so they could be lifted out by hand, obviously doing the flywheel and hey presto, lifting gear was in place. nothing. Only three were holding the leviathan in place! Before I could get the flywheel off, two pulleys had to be And to compound the disaster, the ‘bolts’ – set into 20mm stripped off, and eventually the huge nut that holds the holes through the engine base – simply turned out to be flywheel in place was exposed (I’m sure Dave Bixter will tell 10mm drawn rod with a nut on each end! us the size of the nut, but it’s big!) Big…but not tight; It was so slack I could unscrew it by hand! And the locking washer Eureka! Now all I had to do was drill six new holes through that held it in place was even looser! the five inches of hard Oak bearers and 5mm of steel that 4003 sat on! Even getting a drill bit long enough wasn’t Yet why had it become undone? We can only presume that going to be easy! The long bit was too thick for my drill the other end of the engine, the plate holding the gearbox chuck, so had to be milled down to fit. And then one hole drive plate had moved forward down the crankshaft into the was directly beneath the governor and another under the gearbox bolts, jarring the flywheel and causing the locking alternator! However, a week later, after a lot of cutting oil washer to break and become loose. and cursing, six new 16mm high tensile bolts were in place and 4003 was started. Within seconds, the smug self Anyhow, the flywheel still needed to be checked so it had satisfaction of a drilling job well done turned to dismay as to come off. Thankfully, there was no damage to the shaft, 4003 went ‘bang bang bang bang bang bang’ all over again! or the wheel, or the keyway...so now the hard work. Getting it back on! To get it back on, it has to be perfectly lined up The experts were reconvened. One now thought the with the shaft…and after hours of unsuccessfully banging was coming from the gear box. So off came the desperately pulling and pushing by two of us, I decide to inspection panel. resort to the cavalry. Call on Dave Bixter again. Dave kindly

6 RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 explained that it takes time and patience until it’s directly in I’ve also learned something else about my RN… I don’t line and then it should slide on easily! But there’s an oil seal actually own number 4003. I’m just its custodian. Like all behind it and while we’ve got the flywheel off, change the the previous owners of number 4003 that have gone before oil seal because the flywheel is a bugger to get off me, we are just temporary safekeepers of a great piece of again…Just as Dave advised changing the oil seal before magnificent British expertise and creativity that I will look getting the wheel back on, I turned to Mark who was after and care for until its time for me to pass it on to the fighting the wheel to tell him to hang on - he slid the wheel next custodians. And who knows, in a 100 years time, the on! Arggh! Luckily, he’d checked the oil seal, but as Dave keepers of this great engine might be reading this and said, it would have been good to have changed it. But saying a silent thank-you to me and those who have never mind, at least I know now how to get the flywheel on previously loved 4003 for doing our bit to preserve and and off - and I’ve still got the hole in the roof and the lifting safeguard this wonderful piece of engineering for them to frame. And guess what…when I put it all back together pass on, and on. again, engine number 4003 stopped banging! I hope so. It took nearly six weeks to solve all the problems. But what started out as a frighteningly expensive nightmare for this Halfords mechanic, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. PS. My heartfelt thanks go to Dave Bixter at RNDE and the Why? Because I’m not frightened of taking it apart any more. team at Streethay; Diesel Dave, Dean Wakeman, welder I recall what Dave Bixter said to me…‘they were built to be Mark, Cubey, owners Nick and Terry, and all the others repaired’. And as Streethay’s Diesel Dave said…‘It’s just a who generously and unstintingly gave me their time, advice, big boys’ Meccano set’. support and encouragement. Without them, I couldn’t have done it.

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RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 7 David — My Reflections Although David and Eleanor were at the first Rally at what was then The Boat Museum, I do not recall them specifically but, as it was the first Rally, I was a little pre-occupied hoping all went to plan! At the second Rally at Gloucester I made David’s acquaintance and the following year at the Black Country Living Museum, he came on our boat to offer his services to help out. Thus the seeds were sown of what became a very close friendship between Helen and me and David and Eleanor.

When it became very clear that Graham, our founding Chairman, was set on stepping down at the Anderton Rally in 2002, David was my man. I knew enough about him to know that the Chair would be in safe hands. I broached the subject with him and, after consultation with Eleanor, he accepted.

Thus began a very close working relationship that was underscored by our developing friendship. He may have been the ‘Boss’ but bossy was not David’s way. It was a pleasure and delight to work with him; he was both a gentleman and a gentle man. An engineer at heart, he loved to tinker with engines and probably had the slowest revving RN of all. If something broke the odds were he could mend it, and usually did even if it was easier or cheaper to replace the offending part with a new one. So it was no surprise when he took RN Diesels over from Ian, he was in his element. Some members felt that there may be a conflict of interest being both Register Chairman and MD of RN Diesels. They didn’t know David like I did; it was actually to our mutual benefit, he protected members’ interests from both ends of the spectrum. Also, it is easy to overlook the amount of time, effort and money that he put in to maintaining RN engine building.

He became an RN man through and through and it was a tragedy that his illness forced him to relinquish his positions. He determined that RN Diesels would only be sold if its future was in going to be in safe hands. That he did. RN owners and Register members past, present and future, owe him a huge debt of gratitude for what he did for all of us.

None of this would have been possible without the unstinting support that Eleanor gave him and we were so pleased when she accepted my proposal to become one of the Vice- Presidents of the Register.

Mailbox I can’t begin to tell you how honoured I am to have been made a Vice-President of the Register. It reinforces the high regard in which David was held.

I also wanted to express my thanks to all who came to the Celebration of his life in Churchill Church, such a beautiful service crowned by the recessional ‘music’ of the RN Engine – always music to David’s ears.

Thanks you too for all the cards and letters you sent, and also for the donations in his memory, it is very gratifying to know that David was so well thought of.

David would have loved the party afterwards, and I’m still on a high, and I intend to ride the crest as long as it lasts.

A great send off.

A big thank you, from Some 23 members of the Register travelled to attend the funeral service at St. James the Great Church, Churchill Yes, as David’s coffin was leaving the and afterwards at The Park Hall Hotel, Kidderminster. Church a recording of Galliard’s RN starting and Photos: Bob May [Top], Kevin McNiff [Bottom] running was played – it provided a very moving climax to the Service. [Ed.] 8 RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 Obituary and Tribute given by Dr Ian McKim Thompson at the funeral of David Kay Phillips

It is a privilege to be asked by the family to give this tribute to a friend and colleague who I first met in the 1990's. While this is a sad event it is also an occasion when we can recall achievement and friendship with affection.

David Kay Phillips was born on the 24th July 1936 at the Calthorpe Nursing Home, Edgbaston, a fine old fashioned establishment now long gone. Birth weight 8lb 8ozs for those who require precise obstetric detail. Early education was at Brasshouse School, Smethwick, Chigwell House, Edgbaston topped by boarding at Tettenhall College, Wolverhampton. Great diversity as they say in modern parlance. Following a short period in optical work, David undertook National Service in the RAF followed by 5 years regular RAF engagement. It was here that he refined his human and engineering skills that were to serve him so well for the rest of his life. Periods in motor transport and motor engineering included two and a half years in Germany. Part of the draft included attachment to the local radio station (he was very skilled on complicat- ed electrics) and the ambulance service. On return home, David was posted to RAF Ternhill with secondment to Shrewsbury Technical College specialising in mathematics. Demob then found David working at the classy motor distributors Charles L. Hull of Hockley Heath, the Rover people. In 1962 David branched out and bought the business of Humphreys Garage of Bearwood, long established motor engineers.

On the domestic front there was plenty to report too. David had originally met 12 year old Eleanor when he was 13. On a 1960 blind date, he was reacquainted and they were married on the 8th September 1962 at St. Matthews Church Tipton, first residing in Halesowen, and then moving to Churchill in 1981. Church activities led to his appointment of Churchwarden. A son Matthew was born in 1963 and daughter Tamsin in 1965. On the social and charitable side David joined Round Table in 1962, occupying the chair in 1974 to 75. And he gave great commitment to Rotary joining in 1970, serving 2 terms as President with long periods on the Council, numerous committees including the district international and public relations activities, wonderful service culminating in the Paul Harris Fellowship in 1994. Impressive voluntary and charitable service indeed.

On the recreational front the family were fully involved. Years of caravanning including continental touring gave way to David's love of boats, particularly their engineering aspects. In 1963, David bought the tug Joan from the fleet of Leonard Leigh, Black Country carriers. The family had also a sailing dinghy, unsuccessful home made craft due to water soluble glue and spent time hiring narrowboats. But in 1991 David bought the uncompleted cabin narrowboat the May which would have profound effect on the rest of his life.

The May was built by premier boatyard Les Allen of Oldbury, based at Joseph Holloways's yard. Allen's employed a wonderful engineer/fitter the late Albert Brookes, who in my opinion was the leading installer of the iconic vintage style marine engine, the Russell Newbery DM2. The May was so equipped. David would go on to buy the company which manufactures this Rolls Royce of machinery - an apt description as the company's original founders were premium apprentices of Frederick Henry Royce. But the boat needed finishing and the yard entrusted to complete the interior managed to set fire to it which was not the anticipated product. But it was finished to a high standard in due course.

David and family enjoyed wonderful cruising holidays and it was natural that he would join the exclusive Russell Newbery register, the engine owners membership club established by the inspiration of engineer Alister Denyer and engine owner Graham Pearson who became its first chairman. Soon after the RN Diesel Engine Company was re-established to produce new engines and spares. The original company was established in 1909 and continues to this day.

David with his enthusiasm and expertise purchased the engine company in 2004. This was 2 years after he became Chairman of the Register, elected at the AGM held at the RNR Anderton Rally. The Register is a superbly run active organisation of some 250 members administered by the inestimable Rob Davies, who worked so well with David.

David was passionate about Russell Newbery, its engines, register club and provenance and he served them well. He had a reputation for being approachable, kind, easy to work with and with such a gentle disposition. A real gentleman as colleagues described him and with such harmonious working relationships. The RN works or plant as some have described it is at Daventry. David travelled tens of thousands of miles in all weathers only allowing himself 1-2 days off a week even when illness had struck. RN owners have much to be grateful to him for.

It was not until his last cruel illness that he had to give up all of this which meant so much to him. Eleanor always gave him much support particularly during his illness and we thank her too.

The Register made him a life Vice President in recognition of his exceptional endeavours and we remember his contributions with gratitude. RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 9 Rally Report — Autumn Gathering 2015 The Stafford Boat Club [SBC] were our hosts for the 4th SBC prepared a finger buffet on Saturday evening, Gathering and a total of 22 boats[including a Gardner and following which [and after Ian’s tribute], we entertained a Kelvin!], 2 cars and a caravan attended. The towpath ourselves with music from Dave and Nessa Martin, myself mooring had been strimmed back and measured out by and Ken Nelson, who also has a good line in monologues! SBC harbourmaster Pete Hardy and his helpers which Rob Davies sang his Swansong and even SBC members enabled Neil Mason to get everyone slotted in with the joined in with an impromptu Morris Dance. My own tribute minimum of hassle. to David came in the form of singing David Blagrove’s “Hard Working Boater” with the accompaniment of The theme of the autumn event is more social than Galliard’s DM2 [which was played at David’s funeral]. organised, which gives members the chance to catch up on Sunday morning we enjoyed a “Full English” breakfast, anything and everything. This year we also remembered again at the hands of Stella Machin and her team of ladies. the contribution made by David Kay Phillips to both the One thing is certain, they made sure no-one was going to Diesel Engine Company and Register; Ian McKim forget their meal tickets! Thompson paid tribute with a précis of his eulogy given at the funeral earlier in All the SBC members made us feel very welcome and as a the month. As reported elsewhere in token of their generosity in providing the clubhouse, the this edition, the RNR board met and Board made a donation of £150 to their chosen charities, offered a Vice Presidency to Eleanor, The Beatrice Trust - running boats for children who need to David’s widow, along with co-opting Jim get afloat and Ernest Thomas II – day trips for the elderly, Comerford onto the Board to fill the disabled and youth groups. The “Ernest” has a DM2! vacancy left by David’s passing. Jim Comerford With my final “duty” to write and formally thank SBC for their September’s weather brought a help, [now done], it only remains for me to thank everyone welcome return to summer, although the weekend started for coming along and making the event a regular feature of with rain on Friday afternoon which caught a few out as the RN calendar. they were still en route. Saturday was a dismal day with low cloud a drizzle while Sunday redeemed the weather which then stayed for the rest of the month giving the boaters a Photos: Gathering - Rob Davies, Jim Comerford -from himself good road away.

A Rally of One! The June date of the main Rally has always been a problem for us as I am the show Director of a major trade exhibition which takes two weeks out of the middle of the month and consequently restricts boating.

However we decided to take Arden No. 2 to Ellesmere Port anyhow, especially after the news that there was to be some spot dredging on the line north of Chester. We left London on Sunday 20 July and arrived at The Boat Museum some 186 locks later on Tuesday 5 August after a minor diversion to Canal Cruising at Stone for a new domestic water pump and a few other minor works. The return was not without incident. The engine stalled and After a brief return to London for business meetings we set almost stopped dead under the bridge at Hawkesbury off for home on Wednesday 13 August and arrived back at Junction. Help was summoned from drinkers at the pub. our Battlebridge Basin Ropes were thrown and Arden tied on the lock moorings. I mooring on the Regent's prodded at the prop with the boat hook with some Canal in the afternoon of trepidation. There was black rope visible. Fortunately it Thursday 27 August. The began to unravel and soon about eight feet of for inch total trip took 258 hours diameter rope came free with little bother. We were on our and passed 356 locks. Not way within ten minutes - and very relieved. bad for 2 people with a little bit of additional help for 5 days on the return leg. [who also provided the photos]

10 RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 For Sale: Combined Heat and Power Steve Burt has an unusual RN unit for sale Back in 2008 the website (see recession had rallies - 2009). begun and I had a meeting with the Since then the owners of RN CHP unit has been Diesel Engine Co installed in the to explore garage of my alternative uses Midlands home. It for RN engines. sits on industrial For many years spring mounts. A RN had only sold large hospital engines to a small silencer is fitted sector of the after the exhaust narrow boat gas heat market and it was exchanger so both felt a single noise and vibration market was risky. are significantly DM engines are reduced. The reliable so call- engine can be outs were few and remotely started the company’s The CHP unit “alive and kicking”at the Shackerstone Rally. and stopped. Due only other income to my canal was from the sale of spares and add-on products. RN has location I also have a 1200ltr Titan bunded fuel tank in the a proud history of producing reliable generating sets and garden. these were installed in cold war nuclear bunkers and even Winston Churchill’s war rooms. Sadly, although there was lots of interest, no one was investing at that time due to the state of the economy. For By chance and independently, Allister Denyer and I had those of us who have mains electricity, the supply has looked at Combined Heat and Power (CHP). This is a thankfully remained uninterrupted. The oil price is back to system used on a large scale in industry where an engine where it was in 2008 so minds have not been focused on or gas turbine drives a generator to produce electricity. this technology. That could change but I cannot predict the However the clever bit is to capture the heat produced future. Instead I think this is a good solution for someone in rather than just release it. With oil approaching $100/barrel a remote (off grid) location who needs both electricity and and the threat of the closure of coal fired power stations, heat. It will run on diesel, gasoil or heating oil and it ran well everyone was looking at alternative energy sources such a on rapeseed oil at the Warwickshire county show. At the photovoltaics and wind turbines. Generous feed-in tariffs time Brian was running his boat on a waste engine oil mix; were offered to encourage people to invest in this somewhat messy but it proves the RN is very versatile! technology. On the same list (and largely ignored) was microCHP. This would typically provide enough power and When the government announced the feed-in tariff for CHP heat for a house or small business with surplus electricity it was so low I decided not to run it at home. The engine has fed to the grid. just 47 hours of engine running time on the clock.

Such small systems already existed using cheap fast I think it is time to hand over this project to someone else. running diesels but these were noisy and bound to expire Perhaps you can think of an application or know of after a few thousand hours. What we felt was needed was someone who lives remotely? Clearly I have invested a the proven reliability of the RN D2 driving a 10kVA (10kW) significant sum in this project but the plan was to try and alternator. The engine would be conventionally cooled with help RN at a difficult time so I don’t mind losing money (well the heated water pumped via a heat exchanger (capturing not too much!). As an alternative if someone needs a the exhaust heat) to central heating radiators in a building. marine engine, I could be persuaded to sell the D2 alone. Cooled water is then returned to the engine. The efficiency The conversion to DM2 is not hard and could be carried out of this system is very high. DIY. Otherwise Ian Crompton or perhaps RN Diesels would be able to do it for you. I commissioned and paid for one as a development project and Jamie built the engine to the latest specification. It is If you would like more information I can be contacted at similar to the DM engines we have in our boats but without [email protected] a gearbox and polished plumbing. It is painted blue and sits on different mountings but otherwise is immediately recognisable. The alternator sits alongside and is belt driven from the flywheel. The unit was trailer mounted and [While compiling this edition, reports emerge that energy Brian Jarrett and I took it to shows and potential customers companies are confident that there will be no blackouts in to demonstrate it. Those of you at the 2009 Shackerstone the UK this winter. Maybe there may still be a market for Rally will remember electrical power that weekend was this unit in the years to come? Or maybe Steve may yet provided by this unit. There are pictures on the RNR change his mind? Ed.] RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 11 O Woe 2! The second in the series covering Monty Vann’s National [All Pictures courtesy of Monty] Having dismantled Pinner's engine to sub-assemblies Ÿ Cylinder liners not located correctly on upper which were now cluttering up the engine hole and back location diameter cabin it was necessary to get them out of the boat to clean, Ÿ Lubrication oil pick-up strainer gauze damaged, measure and determine what work was to be done. As large holes there is no removable panel in our boat's roof Looking at the insides the engine had to of the engine it come out via the side appears as though a doors. I had the use of fair amount of past an engine hoist but this maintenance work could only lift items done was done 'just to within its wheelbase. keep it running' and Also, the sub- whoever did it certainly assemblies had to be had a comprehensive lifted high to go over set of hammers! With the cylinder liners out the door cill. Déja vue for me as my own DM3 bearings looked the same in 2008! [Ed] of the block I was able I made a gantry frame to see inside the water (photo in last issue) jacket and found cement-like silt up to three inches deep in with feet resting on the places. Those who have raw water cooling to their engine engine bearers and a word of advice, Regular flushing is necessary as once height to within about any deposit solidifies it will not flush out and Dave Bixter six inches of the roof tells me that this silt build-up is often the cause of frost with a slide on top so it damage even when the engine has been drained. could be positioned over the flywheel, To date the welded on engine and gearbox. patch over the cylinder With a combination of block frost damage has metal bars with holes drilled in suitable places. chains, been repaired. The old shackles and M16 threaded rod I was able to lift the parts patch was removed high enough to get a 'Workmate' under them to take the and a new plate fitted weight while I removed the lifting gear. Now I had to move into the trimmed hole the parts sideways out of the door. On site there was a and metal stitched in length of four inch square hollow section - someone must place. Crankshaft, have known it was going to be useful - which I suspended, main bearing block and one end on the gantry frame the other on the engine hoist. con-rods are away This set-up allowed me to suspend the engine part on the being repaired, I've repaired the lub. oil pick-up strainer and hollow section, again using metal bars, chains etc. and with I have started machining stepped rings to fit on the cylinder a ratchet winch drag the engine part out of the boat. liners. One of the differences between RN and National Lowering the engine hoist jib then put the part on the ground. engines is the size of the cylinder liner location diameters in the cylinder block. RN engines have the same diameter Having the engine on land it was now time to clean it. The top and bottom but the National engine has a 0.125" larger sludge trapped in nooks and crannies was unbelievable diameter at the top and also has a copper sealing ring and had to be poked out with a suitable tool, i.e. an old under the top shoulder. RN liners do fit but need modifying screwdriver. I'm of the opinion that this engine hasn't been to locate them properly. Our engine hadn't been done and taken down to this extent for at least forty years and, the liners have been moving. interestingly, the crankshaft, which has been built up and reground, has two dates stamped on it - 1958 and 1963 so I've also bought a wire brush and paint for when I've nothing it could even be fifty odd years. to do!

So far I've found the following faults: Ÿ Old frost damage repair leaking water Ÿ Big-end bearing white metal has broken up Ÿ One small end loose in its con-rod the other worn too large Ÿ Pistons 'dressed' with a file Ÿ Piston ring grooves too wide by up to 0.014" Ÿ Metal round crankshaft main bearing journal oil holes flaking off Ÿ Big end journals slightly scored Ÿ Crankshaft end float excessive Ÿ Crankshaft taper for mounting forward clutch worn due to clutch being loose Lick of paint and “Job Done!” 12 RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 Maintenance and other things Technical

While experienced RN owners know what routine servicing and replenishments are need to keep their “Russell” in good order, our newer members may not have the “knowledge”. Of all the issues that come up on a regular basis is the one of cooling.

In the coming editions, we hope to re-issue the “gospel according to Allister Denyer,” which goes a long way to helping us understand the various methods of plumbing, some better than others.

A recent new RN boat owner and RNR member has asked for help on what routine maintenance is required, and below we publish Allister’s basic schedule from a previous edition. Hope this helps to jog all our memories! Maintenance Schedule Continually during running period to do this) It is an advantage to have the delivery pressure reset after the first 500 hours. 1. Monitor oil pressure, should be 30-40 lbs per 3. Change air filter. square inch when the engine is hot. oil pressure 4. Check tappet clearance. (Set according to should not fall below 10 lbs per square inch at tick individual notes in your handbook). over. 5. Check oil level in gearbox. 2. Monitor engine coolant temperature, should not rise above 80°C. Normal running temperature 60°C. Every 1000 hours

Daily 1. Change gearbox oil.

1. Check lubricating oil in the sump and fill up to the Every 2000 hours top mark on the dipstick if necessary. Never allow the level to fall below the bottom mark. 1. Remove cylinder heads and check for valve guide 2. Check the coolant level, skin tank systems or, wear and leaks. Re seat and lap in valves as isolation valve is on for raw water cooling. necessary. 3. Examine the fuel, lubricating and cooling systems 2. Check piston pips for tightness. for leaks. 3. Check bores for scoring, remove pistons if 4. Insert a few drops of lubricating oil in the governor necessary to check for broken rings or damage. oiler. 4. Check bore wear and not the wear rate. Maximum 5. Put a few drops of light oil on the fuel control rack. permissible wear at any point around the bore is 6. Check for any leaks including the gearbox, dry with 0.010” per side or 0.020” overall. Maximum wear a clean rag. will be just under the wear ridge at the top of the 7. Examine stern gear for leaks and loose fasteners. bore. Uneven wear around the bore is normal. (See stern gear maintenance). Maximum ring groove clearance should not exceed 0.010”. The top groove will normally be the most Every 150 hours worn. 5. Examine big end shells and pins. Maximum pin 1. Drain fuel trap if fitted. ovality should not exceed 0.004”. 2. Pump out the engine lubricating oil whilst hot. Refill the crankcase with new oil to the top mark on the Stern gear maintenance dip stick. 3. Check alternator and water pump belts for tension Daily or every time the boat is used. and condition. (Should be about ½” deflection 1. Check for excessive water leaks. Should leak ½ to between centres of pulleys). 1 pint per day during continuous use in order to 4. Change fuel filter. cool packing. 5. Change lubricating oil filter. 2. Check for any loose couplings for fixings. 6. NB the oil change should be done, at least, 3. With the engine running go from ahead to astern at annually. ¼ speed and check for any clanks or unusual transmission noise. Every 500 hours 4. After use turn the gland greaser to stop any water dripping from the gland before leaving the boat. It is 1. Check oil flow to rocker gear. then pre greased ready for next use. 2. Remove the injectors and clean away all carbon deposit by brushing. do not use a file or emery cloth. Couple the injector to the injector pump and check there is a fine spray and no dribbling when the pump is oprerated. (You will require a priming tool

RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 13 Stretching Ansty Rose Brian Farrant ‘s 2014 Major Project [all photos by Brian] My plan in the spring of 1998, when I set out to buy a above the gunwale line (and would be unacceptable). To narrowboat, was to find a second hand boat in good determine the line of the cut the boat would have to be condition that had a semi-trad stern and was 62 feet long. inspected out of the water. The next date they had for a quick inspection between a changeover of boats using their The first boat I looked at was Ansty Rose, 55 feet long with dry dock gave me a few days to mull over the facts. a trad stern. I looked at her because she was on the first broker's list and was nearby and would give me something Ansty Rose was presented for inspection on time. to compare to other boats. The owner and salesman was Unfortunately there had been a problem with the boat in the Ron Wilson, a retired boatman. Some of you may know his dock so the swap was off. As I wasn't available for the next son, Les, who fits out boats built to his specification on the couple of weeks, and obviously wanted to be there for the North Oxford Canal just west of Brinklow. The engine, as inspection, Steve arranged for Rose Narrowboats back you all know, sounded good! Still, the boat was 7 feet down the arm at the junction to take her out on their slipway. shorter than I was looking for with nearly 14 feet less living My heart sank for a moment as the last time AR had been space, though I thought I could live with a trad stern if the slipped a trailer wheel bearing broke as we had just been right boat had one. pulled clear of the water and the boat, with Cara (the dog) and me on it, canted over at an alarming angle. We were Off I went to spend the next 3 days looking at boats all over returned to the water before the trailer collapsed. the country - 22 other boats in all – and all the time I found I was saying to myself “OK, but..” and one of the “buts” was Out of the water the swim taper was identified about 4 feet “it doesn't sound as nice as the first”. You know which boat back under the lounge and flat side plates were confirmed I bought so I I'll fast forward to 2003. at the start of the swim taper. The gunwale was checked and it was confirmed the cabin trim above the gunwale line In the summer of 2003 with a change of fleet my work wouldn't need to be touched. After 20 minutes Ansty Rose pattern was more settled and I could adopt a genuine was returned to the water. continuous cruising life style for a few months. So I set off from Newbury heading for Shardlow for the rally. I took a couple of days to consider what I knew and what I would have to do to prepare the lounge. It doesn't sound On the way back I planned to leave Ansty Rose at like much; lift the decorative 'click' type floor covering, Streethay Wharf for a few days while I went to Chicago remove a couple of shelves, pull the carpet covering back (purely work, never any time for fun..). Whilst there I saw a from the hull sides and clear lose items out of the way. They boat on the stocks being stretched and asked a few would dismantle and move the Squirrel stove and tiled fire questions. The simplest option, and what I thought would place, the corner locker, marine ply and insulation lining the be the least disruptive and expensive one, would be to sides and floor and, because a couple of short cuts would extend the well deck. “That's not just too difficult, it'd be be required either side of the forward bulkhead, remove the impossible.” As I hadn't seriously considered having a forward bulkhead from floor to the bottom of the front doors. stretch done I didn't make any enquiries elsewhere. A mess it would be – but at least the top half of the cabin walls would be untouched.I confirmed I wanted to go ahead Fast forward again to 2013. I was retired and had spent 4 and started my preparations. summers out on the boat. I'd noticed some boats had a more suitable length of well deck for relaxing and February came and I phoned to confirm when Ansty Rose socialising. I had often found I had been driven inside after was required. The atrocious weather had delayed work at a day's cruising, either into the comfort of the lounge or the yard considerably, so I was told I would be contacted a relative discomfort of the well deck where I could barely couple of days beforehand. Nearly 6 weeks passed before stretch my legs. I began considering options. the phone call came. Ansty Rose was craned out on Friday 14 March in the afternoon. The following Monday and Changing boats was the least desirable one. I then Tuesday were spent clearing the front of the lounge back to considered converting the trad stern to a semi trad/trad steel. convertible. I wondered also if another boat yard would have a different view on stretching the well deck. Both Cutting started on Wednesday 26 March. Richard Milligan these options would involve steel work so I decided to was dismantling Russell for a 25 year service. We knew discuss the possibilities with Steve Priest at Brinklow Boat when the separation was complete when there was a slight Services, a Company well known for traditional work. judder as the final metal link was cut. I was now the proud (http://www.brinklowboatservices.com). owner of two worthless pieces of metal! We now had to await delivery of my steel. It was an hour well spent. It would be possible but not without some disruption to the lounge. The job would take Next Monday, 31 March, the between 4 to 6 weeks and the earliest they could start process of rejoining the boat would be at the beginning of February 2014. I said I usually commenced. Three days started my summer trip after Easter so ideally would set later the base plate and that as my end date target. I didn't mention my alternative keelson extensions were in proposal for a conversion at the back of the boat. place, the new hull side plates had been tacked on The hull base cut would have to be behind the point where and the complicated process the swim started and the hull sides where the plates were of shaping and fitting the flat – usually coincident. How much disruption to the lounge gunwale infills was well Gunwale and bulkhead cuts. would depend on the width of the gunwale; too narrow a under way. Meanwhile I had gunwale and the disruption inside would extend up the wall Base plate extension tacked on ordered replacement ready for welding. 14 RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 insulation for the exposed cabin walls, tiles for the new In week 6, the wet weather returned. The deck drains fireplace and had started to prepare a new longer plank to worked perfectly filling the bilge box. I realised in the middle stretch from the roof of the cabin to the cratch. As the of one night the bilge pump hadn't been connected so engine head would be returned with a shiny new coat of returned to the boat the next day expecting to find the bilge paint I also had to find time to clean and paint the bits of it box overflowing and the under deck area full of water. I was that remained in the boat. lucky, the water had only risen to the level of the wire grommet. The new starter battery was connected to the Access to the new space I would have for storage under the pump as an interim measure and the water pumped out. deck (5'x7'x21”) was a simple decision but I had yet to The whole hull was cleaned and re-blacked. As on previous decide whether to cover the deck or leave it open in semi occasions I remembered Allister's article and gave tug deck style. After discussing the merits of both over a instructions that the area of the skin tank should be cleaned pint with a friend, I decided to cover it over, resisting the to bare metal and be covered with only one coat of bitumen, temptation to adopt the traditional tarpaulin style and fit a not laid on thickly. I bought and fitted a longer support plank frame. I could use the old well deck cover if a frame was to support the cratch board and deck cover. The tunnel built, and would just have to buy a 5' sheet to fill the gap. A lamp cable was extended. frame under the canopy would make walking along the extended gunwale safer too. Week 7. The rear bilge, as built, extended under the whole of the back cabin so I had a baffle welded across it towards End of week 4. The hull is complete and watertight. The the rear to make a small bilge 'box'. The stern gland was gunwales have been shaped and are slightly broader. Infill repacked. The canopy frame for the extension cover was rubbing strakes fitted to both sides. The deck is almost built. The lounge refit was started. Richard Milligan returned complete with supports for floor boards under. I'm almost to re-assemble the engine and fit the new alternator. At his confident of completion by the end of April. But still quite a suggestion I re-plumbed the header tank connection to join few jobs to do! after the calorifier and had the top cut off the top of the tank (adjustments that proved their worth later, especially on the My insurance was due for Mersey and Ribble). renewal. I had expected the Company to insist on a Ansty Rose was relaunched on Wednesday 30 April. The survey but an affirmative domestic water feed and sockets were reconnected and answer to the question “is the the bilge pump wired in. The marine ply was refitted to the work being done by a floor and walls. Richard Milligan returned to complete the professional?” was all that previous day's jobs. It was 6pm, the time of the first engine was required. No demand for run, when we discovered a more money for the 9% leak at the engine water increase in length either (nor The extended hull pump. The cooling system for Mersey and Ribble was re-drained and Richard crossings). changed a seal. We stopped to eat Fish and Chips before Easter weekend and the end of week 5. Deck and hatches refilling the system and complete. Sump box fabricated and piping from it to hull running the engine again. outlet and from drain points on deck and hatch channels After checking for leaks and complete. Automatic sump pump fitted. The water tank that the thermostat worked deck fittings – filler and breather, were re-sited, the former we shut the doors and left for to the gunwale and the latter with anti syphon loop back to home at 9pm. A marathon for a hull fitting next to the sump outlet behind the lounge wall Richard who had to face a 2 lining. hour commute and an early start to reassemble the Just a shelf to fit The ballast from under the Brooks' engine. lounge floor was replaced leaving space under the deck Work continued over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend under-floor for more. The to restore the lounge to its original condition, which included Swan's Head wobble, caused re-tiling the stove corner, and I completed the alternator by a little wear over 23 years, assembly. On 7 May Ansty Rose was in a cruisable was cured. As the workforce condition so I left the Yard and returned to Lime Farm to on site are all enthusiasts as clean and pack before setting off for Ellesmere Port and well as skilled craftsmen points north. Deck and hatch construction comment was passed on the size and position of my Am I pleased with the 'dollies' (not the '8' type but those on the counter). In a trice stretch? Very much so. I can they were replaced and positioned correctly. All new metal now put up a picnic table with was primed on completion so I applied an undercoat; no 4 chairs around it, and point in putting on gloss coats whilst in the dusty yard! there's room for Cara too Decking planks were fitted under the new deck. Having without getting under our feet. previously cleaned the engine I applied a coat of enamel to I can also hide copious it hoping my shade of Mid Brunswick Green would match quantities of junk! All I need the heads when they return from the workshop. I found a tin now is the time to apply the of high temperature paint for the exhaust manifold, not The original well deck is the gloss paint. common silver but red. area to the left of the centre vertical frame support

RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2014 15