It was at the cost of a second week of my annual leave but it has allowed us to do something last minute. We have stayed at the Synchant Pass hotel before, it is owned by ex BBC people, not that it makes it better or worse, just makes for some interesting conversations. So we have booked in for three nights this week, plenty of history for us to catch up with in this area.......and we may do the trip on the Pan.
It will mean much of the return trip from the yard back to Fradley will done by yours truly with the help of Leia the dog.....I guess any scratches to the paint will then be only one persons responsibility.
Now the painting ....
What do you recon....very close., all the back end just about finished, including some stunning sign writing from Dave Moore. A small amount of detailing for the back end to complete it.
The boat now really has new owners ....
We were asked for our opinion on the issue of the back cabin portholes overlaying the sign writing.... we were happy to take advice. The old working boats were in part advertising hoardings for their companies and owners so the bigger the better for the lettering. We could have gone smaller and not been a tad infringed but we went on the advice and experience of the professionals so there will be a little over laying when the 'shiny' brass is put back on.... I think it will look great.
We also wanted to give the boat a little provenance so we asked for the boat builder's name and number to be added, once again Dave came up trumps with his setting out.
The extra work is for the front end. The principal of the painting was to put the detail in the back and front end. John is finishing off much of the detail of the front end as well as the roof and the well deck....
Just as I was about to leave Joe turned up with a car full of fenders, two tipcats, a small stern button and a nice tyre covered front fender..... I had a chat with him, he was indeed born at Fradley Junction. Dave Moore advised on NB Victoria. Joe's a great character, I really likes the way he is able to introduce a few expletives into the production process of fender making that are so natural and funny. A top chap, a nice option to give him some business and get some quality fenders on Percy.
Joe was happy to pose for a photo for my blog.... just got to creosote the fenders when they are on as John was less than keep to fit creosote soaked fenders to the boat !
Hopefully Saturday will see us back on board......
6 comments:
Where is Cobden Junction Nev? Not leaving Fradley I hope?
Looks fabulous Nev. Great choice of colours. Look forward to having a closer look when you're back on your mooring.
Stunning, Nev. So ... shiny! Perhaps one day when I pass you'll be in! I did wonder whether you'd have gone for a pun: Wells Fargo came to mind. But I think you've done the right thing. Look forward to seeing him/her/it in his/her/its new skin.
Hi Mandy.....it's a special place to Rachel and me, it may well challenge a few of the canal folk who 'know it all'. Hopefully a bit of fun. No plan to move on yet ...
John of course, we may need to do a bit inside now to try and match the outside !
Thanks John, some very talented people out there ! There is another 'wells' boat (no known relation) on our mooring so we kept clear of the wells name other that the owners names. I like the 'Halford Branch so we thought around that a little - I'll explain fully when we next meet
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