1. My friend Alistair (who had previous experience doing
this), can be seen here putting a largish 'Fife' on the removable tailboard of
MPE29.
MPE29 - Putting 'Fife' On!
Putting MPE29 into Fife colours was, as explained elsewhere, due to the availability of Ayres Red paint, rather than any kind of plan. However, having put the vehicle in these colours it looked odd without insignia, so it was time to get some for it. We took a picture of the former Fife insignia to a local sign company, and they scanned it in to produce a fairly close replica.
1. My friend Alistair (who had previous experience doing
this), can be seen here putting a largish 'Fife' on the removable tailboard of
MPE29.
2. A closer view of the 'unveiling' of
the Fife vinyl that we put on the tailboard. Practice makes perfect when putting
these on to avoid getting air bubbles under them (not unlike wallpapering), and I
was glad to have Alistairs help. (I also help him with things he owns so it
balances up.)
3. Part one of the job completed! This
vsnap shows the back of MPE29 complete with insignia on the tailboard. We started
with the biggest vinyl because we thought it would take the longest, but it wasn't
too bad. Two to go!
4. The other two vinyls were in cream,
and were intended to fit on the wide part of the red stripe that goes round the
middle of the vehicle in this livery scheme. Here is the second one being put
onto the nearside, and it turned out to be a perfect fit!
5. Part two of the job done. The company
that created the vinyls did them using a computer, so they are all exactly the same
shape, despite being in two sizes and different colours. The nearside vinyl pictured
here is in about the right place for a Fife Y-type in this livery.
6. A look at MPE from the front nearside
corner, showing the nearside vinyl in its correct position on the Ayres Red stripe.
It was the perfect finishing touch to this livery.
7. The last lap - Alistair prepares to
peel off the backing paper on the offside vinyl. as can clearly be seen in this
vsnap, an air intake grille had been fitted to the front of the stripe when it was
modified as a Recovery Vehicle in 1981, which meant that vinyl had to be put on a
little further back than would have been the case on an unconverted Fife Y-type coach.
8. A complete view of the offside with the
new vinyl applied. Despite not being in quite the right position, the insignia actually
looks very good. (To me anyway!)
9. To end this selection, a view from the back
offside showing the back vinyl together with one of the side vinyls. Altogether a neat
and tidy job!!!
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