Diary of an Ordinary Van

[MrMPuk]

I did a job for a man in Portsmouth last week, we got talking about his work as a spray painter.

He works on ships in the dockyard , he says that navy ships are at sea for 7-8 months in salt water and come back with zero corrosion because of the rustproofing regime that his team carries out.

The paint helps but the sacrificial anodes play a bigger part.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrificial_anode

[Discobandit]

I did a job for a man in Portsmouth last week, we got talking about his work as a spray painter.

He works on ships in the dockyard , he says that navy ships are at sea for 7-8 months in salt water and come back with zero corrosion because of the rustproofing regime that his team carries out.

Well his team must have missed the ships that I served on. Spent more time removing rust than I care to remember

[Vee4]

It would be nice to be able to buy a brand new van, to assemble yourself, all parts to fit onto the shell and chassis, you could do your own corrosion proofing, it would be great.

I'm tempted to ask, "If we could do it, why couldn't Ford?"

When he worked for Ford at Southampton, they developed a Transit that would never corrode in the chassis or body, of course it will never see a showroom because the market would dry up if they did not fall apart. Back in 1990 it would have cost £500 extra to build one.

I have appeared in print saying that I would pay £500 extra for a Transit if it was guaranteed not to rust: viewtopic.php?p=418278#p418278

The paint helps but the sacrificial anodes play a bigger part.

Perhaps I should convert to amphibious operation ...

[Altransit]

I have a theory that if you were to run all earth wires back to a common point near the battery, instead of using the bodywork, then the seams wouldn't rust as quickly

The extra wiring would add weight, bulk and cost though

[Vee4]

I have a theory that if you were to run all earth wires back to a common point near the battery, instead of using the bodywork, then the seams wouldn't rust as quickly. The extra wiring would add weight, bulk and cost though.

Using modern control techniques, you would only need a 'ring main' around the van. With enough current flowing, you could have your own Maglev system!

[Vee4]

Party time again at Vee4's

There's always something to celebrate at Transit Towers - this time we're celebrating 10,000 hits on the Diary. It hasn't exactly 'gone viral' but hopefully it's lived up to its remit: to inform and to entertain. Thanks to everyone for contributions, encouragement and simply for visiting.

It's a virtual party, as before, so drop by any time you're passing on the Information Superhighway - we asked for a bypass but we have that running past the bottom of the garden instead. Take the exit by the big blue oval and follow the trail of rusty water. You will find that there's plenty of parking in the virtual front yard and the tea urn is bubbling with freshly boiled water. Bring something for the buffet, even if it is secondhand HobNobs.

The Tourneo courtesy bus is just setting off to pick up the special guest from the 19th century:

I've invited the artist James Whistler because he is well known for his witty one-liners. It is said that on one occasion, Oscar Wilde was so impressed with one of his comments that he said, "I wish I'd said that!", to which Whistler replied, "You will, Oscar, you will!". With a bit of luck, Wilde and Shaw (George Bernard) will tag along - we can find out what they know about Transits.



More to the point is Whistler's reply to the defence council, Attorney General Sir John Holker, when Whistler brought a libel action against the critic, John Ruskin, who had accused him of charging too much for a painting that looked like "flinging a pot of paint in the public's face".

Holker: "The labour of two days is that for which you ask two hundred guineas?"
Whistler: "No, I ask it for the knowledge I have gained in the work of a lifetime." *

Remember that next time a customer thinks you have charged too much for a job that they 'could have done themselves in ten minutes'.

Whistler also wins the prize in the 'Jimi Hendrix look-alike' competition with the above self portrait.



Jimi will be providing the entertainment and, for one night only, he's putting the band back together with Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. He will do requests, but only if he's asked for them.


* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Abbo ... skin_trial
The Official Jimi Hendrix Site: http://www.jimihendrix.com/uk
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimi_Hendrix
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimi_Hendrix_Experience

[ake]

Which trail of rusty water do I follow, there seems to be quite a few

[Vee4]

Which trail of rusty water do I follow

At least one of them goes via the virtual TESCO, where HobNobs are always on 'bogof'.

[Altransit]

He will do requests, but only if he's asked for them.

A one liner worthy of Whistler

[ake]

Which trail of rusty water do I follow

At least one of them goes via the virtual TESCO, where HobNobs are always on 'bogof'.

I thought we'd have a change this time, Garibaldi (spelling???) anyone

[Vee4]

I thought we'd have a change this time, Garibaldi (spelling???) anyone

An old favourite and a good choice. One of the trails of rusty water goes via the virtual Sainsbury's where they are on ½-price offer.

See 'Biscuit of the Week' at nicecupofteaandasitdown.com



Do read the feedback there for some interesting contributions.

Footnote: specular reflection http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflection_(physics)

[Vee4]

Still plenty left (a virtually inexhaustible supply):



'England' mugs were also on special offer, for some reason ...

[ake]

I'll just use my old JCB mug if its all the same to you Pass me another Garibaldi please

[madmark_50484]

Im a late arrival to the party is there still some biccies left for me

[Vee4]

I'll just use my old JCB mug if its all the same to you Pass me another Garibaldi please

I'll buy some 'Scotland' mugs next time they're on special ...

Im a late arrival to the party is there still some biccies left for me

Don't worry - we still have a virtual pallet load of Garibaldi and some real Mr Kipling Almond Slices. Now, don't start me on Kipling ...