Modestine

[fay66]

Well, don't wish to tempt fate but Modestine once again appears to be in rude health. 100 mile round trip to Brooklands today with Jim Baldwin from Cape Town on board passed without incident. 500 miles now since the engine rebuild, prop shaft re-furb, gearbox overhaul and wheel balancing so can I please now relax a little?

Lambda lunch in a couple of weeks time and then send the water pump off to have a modern seal fitted and get the water temperature gauge working. Attend to the several minor items that need sorting all in time for a splendid summer's motoring. Like I said, 'not wising to tempt fate'!

Robin.

Well done Robin, lovely to see her again in apparent rude health, couldn't have really asked for better weather, although a tad warmer would have been welcome, thank you to everyone who turned out to meet Jim & Guy from South Africa, how about we make this a regular event on the calendar

Brian
8227

[Dilambdaman]

When I read Steve's comment that Modestine was featured on the new Forum header I looked in vain for a splash of yellow. Then I spotted the donkey!

I then went to Google images and came up with the following which seemed more than a little apposite.

"Why Modestine? I have named her after Robert Louis Stevenson’s donkey.  From a behaviourist’s analysis, Stevenson’s initially troublesome relationship with Modestine only improved, once he began to understand her character."

Attached picture is by Walter Crane from RLS's Travels with a Donkey.

Robin.

[sparehead3]

It's now been updated

Press the F5 button on your browser to get the latest image ....

[Neil]

On this evening's BBC Celebrity Mastermind- Modestine get a mention, Nigel Planer's topic was RLS when asked the name of his donkey, he scored maximum points in his section and went on to win.  (I managed to answer that question correctly too!!)

[Dilambdaman]

In the hope that Modestine's engine, gearbox/prop shaft, front wheel balance are now sorted and in anticipation of much pleasurable summer motoring, I've taken her off the road for a month or so to deal with the list of minor problems that have been accumulating.

The water pump is with a guy in North Kent who successfully converted John Millham's Lambda pump to take a modern seal. I'm fed up with struggling to stop Modestine's leaking using traditional methods and matters came to a head recently when it was suggested that she was taking after me, old and incontinent! 

The water temperature gauge packed up a while ago and is with those lovely instrument repair people in Tunbridge Wells and both doors are off! They are very heavy and it's difficult to keep them from sagging. So, Jonathan has the six hinges and is going to ream them out and make new pins whilst I strengthen the frames and provide secure fixings for the hinges. Grill needs a small repair, door lock leavers require properly extending, window winder mechanisms (Fulvia!) need further modification, brake servo needs adjusting etc, etc.

Oh, and Jonathan's got the gearbox out of the Fanalone and that looks like a mammoth job and not a little expensive. Must start a thread on it.

Easter is the target!

Robin.

[Dilambdaman]

Progress is being made at last.

The water temperature gauge is back from Vintage Restorations and what a splendid job they have done. The water pump is back from John Dominey at Models and Prototypes Engineering Erith  and having converted it to take a modern seal, made a new impeller shaft, new end plate and fitted a greaser it looks absolutely stonking.

Can't recommend these two companies highly enough:

Vintage Restorations
Clocks   Instruments   Accessories
The Old Bakery
Windmill Street
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN2 4UU
01892 525899

Models and Prototypes Engineering
94 Park Crescent
Erith
Kent
DA8 3DZ
01322 345580

Now need to push on with the work on the doors.

Robin.

[fay66]

Oh Ye of little faith    I thought, OH NO when I saw Modestine in the subject line with no other comment, Phew!
Thank Heavens everything is OK, the water temperature Gauge looks like new, and a superb refurb of the pump.

Brian

[rogerelias]

Robin, so i guess you wont be at the GNW this weekend in her

[Dilambdaman]

Robin, so i guess you wont be at the GNW this weekend in her

Spot on Roger! First club event will be the Sliding Pillar Rally if all goes well.

Robin.

[Dilambdaman]

The previous owner didn't pass on the serial plate when I bought the rolling chassis from him and it's always bugged me that its missing. Searched Dilambda on Ebay recently and wonder of wonders there was one advertised in America.

Jerry Turner runs Nostalgic Reflections reproducing plates for all manner of transportation. Not cheap but acid etched and beautifully finished and stamped in a period style with the correct chassis number. www.nostalgicreflections.com.

It arrived yesterday and I was astonished at the effort Jerry puts into the presentation. The plate is attached to a piece of card with the details written on it in the most amazingly flamboyant script. The envelope is similarly decorated. I hope that the detail is visible on the attached photo.

All I need to do now is distress and age it a bit!

Robin.

[Sliding Pillar]

.................I could lend you a hammer!!!

[DavidLaver]

A lovely job - such a shame to mess with it.  Surely it will age with time...

David

[Dilambdaman]

Yep, spot on David, it looks the business! 

Robin.

[Dilambdaman]

First outing today after the winter fettling and Modestine performed well. Great not to have the water pump leaking, reassuring to have the water temperature gauge working and the doors have lost most of their rattles with the re-furbished hinges and frame strengthening.

Should soon have the Nivex petrol gauge working courtesy of Morris Parry. I'll save the full story for later. And the brake servo still needs some adjustment.

So, with renewed confidence we look forward to a much happier summer with her than the last two.

Robin.

[Dilambdaman]

Modestine's new home - lucky girl!

Photos to follow!

Robin.