Internal Restoration
Cab restoration
Through late 2017 and early 2018, we set about dashboard area of MB90. The steering wheel was removed and sent away for refurbishing, and whilst the wheel was off we also worked on the instrument binnacle. The paint was all stripped off the aluminium casing and this polished instead, and the central panel that the dials and buttons fit into was stripped and power coated.
Repainting of front bulkhead
In early 2018 the front bulkhead was stripped from the white and grey it had been in with Location Facilities, and repainted back into the burgundy as it originally would have been.
Fitting of rexine
During MB90's time with Location Facilities the entire inside was sprayed white. This included the red rexine which covers the side walls. Prior to us acquiring MB90, most the old rexine had been stripped off but none had ever been refitted. In the early part of 2017 we started to refit this again, beginning with the bulkhead behind the cab which still had its old rexine fitted and was half covered in the old white paint. The pictures below show the progress.
Repainting of centre bulkhead
The buldkead by the centre doors was another area covered by the allover white spraying done by Location Facilities, and so in early 2017 we sanded this back and painted it dark red again.
Ceiling cleaning and restoration
Since we acquired MB90, we've never got round to properly polishing the ceilings. They've unfortunately been sprayed white during her time with Location Facilities, but in the most part this paint has cleaned up reasonably well.
The locker behind the drivers cab didn't clean up well at all, so we removed this and have repainted it along with a section of the ceiling surrounding it.
The locker behind the drivers cab didn't clean up well at all, so we removed this and have repainted it along with a section of the ceiling surrounding it.
Flooring replacement and tidying
The treadmaster flooring on MB90 looks to be the original, and is really in need of complete replacement as it is dried up and breaking up in places. As this is unlikely to be possible for certainly the next few years, we have decided to make good as much as we can of the existing flooring and replace the worst bits. Some work on the back section has already been completed (see the Refitting of the internal trim section below), but we have now started on the front section.
First job was to remove the old slatted flooring from the front. Initially we were just going to replace one or two panels but in the end got carried away and ended up taking 5 pieces out, including the entrance step. The wood underneath then needed to be cleaned of the old adhesive (a sort of black mastic) as it reacts with the new glue - but this was easier said than done! Many hours of sanding, heating, coating in cellulose thinners and scraping later, the plain wood was ready for new treadmaster!. Most of this has now been stuck down with just a couple of smaller pieces left to fit, before it is ready for varnishing.
First job was to remove the old slatted flooring from the front. Initially we were just going to replace one or two panels but in the end got carried away and ended up taking 5 pieces out, including the entrance step. The wood underneath then needed to be cleaned of the old adhesive (a sort of black mastic) as it reacts with the new glue - but this was easier said than done! Many hours of sanding, heating, coating in cellulose thinners and scraping later, the plain wood was ready for new treadmaster!. Most of this has now been stuck down with just a couple of smaller pieces left to fit, before it is ready for varnishing.
Refitting of the internal trim
During MB90's initial period of restoration in the 1990's, the grey plastic surrounding the windows had been taken out for the wooden framework to be renewed behind it. During her time as a location facilities vehicle, the plastic had also been painted white, and so before any of it could be refitted all the white paint had to be chipped off revealing the original grey finish.
Fitting it was not as simple as it seems (as always!), as it had to be trimmed to fit properly, with the various pieces having come from a few vehicles and therefore different sizes. The metal beading that holds the plastic in place had been lost over time, so we had to cut and drill new bits to fit.
The front was completed first and then work started on the back sections, which needed the seats to be taken out to gain full access to around the window pans. Initially the nearside was done and we also chose to clean and patch-up the floor to preserve it until the time when it is all replaced. The offside the followed, complicated by the presence of the emergency exit door!
The door was basically just the framework and we had to work out how the piece the bits together we had and make up new pieces. Additionally, the rubber seal needed to be fitted round the door
Fitting it was not as simple as it seems (as always!), as it had to be trimmed to fit properly, with the various pieces having come from a few vehicles and therefore different sizes. The metal beading that holds the plastic in place had been lost over time, so we had to cut and drill new bits to fit.
The front was completed first and then work started on the back sections, which needed the seats to be taken out to gain full access to around the window pans. Initially the nearside was done and we also chose to clean and patch-up the floor to preserve it until the time when it is all replaced. The offside the followed, complicated by the presence of the emergency exit door!
The door was basically just the framework and we had to work out how the piece the bits together we had and make up new pieces. Additionally, the rubber seal needed to be fitted round the door
Rebuilding of the front
Before we got MB90, the front panels inside had been removed to repair some accident damage, but never replaced. We cleaned up the necessary panels and repainted one in primer (although it will need new rexine in the future) and refitted them, along with the cab door, giving a much tidier appearance inside. This was finished off with the fitting of an original London Transport ticket machine!
Replacement of rear blindbox flap
MB90 had fitted a rear blindbox flap that did not look like it had come off her, as it didn't fit properly and so couldn't be locked shut on one side. It was also painted yellow whereas the ceilings should be a magnolia colour. One of the items we removed from MBS464 was the blindbox flap, which was then stripped down, repainted and refitted onto MB90.
Restoration of the luggage rack
When we acquired MB90, the luggage rack was not fitted properly with just one screw either end holding it up. We took it off to put it back in place properly and at the same time decided to restore it. The luggage rack itself had all the white paint chipped off the underside to reveal the original finish and the inside was painted in dark chinese green - the internal grey colour. The material on the ceiling panels was also removed as it had big air bubbles in it, and replaced with new grey material. It was then all put back together with the grey plastic in place behind as well.
Rebuilding of the front bench seats
When MB90 was converted to a film location vehicle during the 1980's, both front bench seats were removed and other things put in their place (the nearside one became a sink!). Initially we just rebuilt the seats, so she became a 45 seat bus again for the first time in at least 25 years! More recently, we decided to replace the floor which was in a bad state, and repaint the frames back into red. Pictures of the work can be seen below - click the thumbnails for a bigger picture.