B.M.M.O. Using Plastic Panels
Page 39
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OLLOWING the demonstration of the Midland " Red " S.14 bus on esday, Mr. D. M. Sinclair, general .nager, stated that the weight of the side in production form might be
• ther reduced by using plastic outer sels. Fibreglass panels are being employed
• replacement purposes and a pracal demonstration showed that a -ved panel of the material had :atly superior resistance to impact to 3 of 16-gauge aluminium alloy. The ing in weight compared with a lien alloy panel is of 15-20 per cent. 1 the cost is reduced by 25-50 per it. Semi-skilled labour can be ployed in the production of the sels and their surface is highly suite for painting.
1Ir. Sinclair forecast that the S.14 uld cover 11-2 m.p.g. more than a ndard vehiele. Regarding the weight ing of about two tons, he said that nufacturers had in the past erred by widing toogreat a factor of safety the structure of the vehicle. The
4 would be strengthened as found necessary by the results of the tests at the Motor Industry Research Association's proving ground.
Comparing the all-steel construction of •the S.I4 with the light-alloy bus built by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., Mr. Sinclair said that the latest vehicle had enabled a ton to be saved. One of the advantages of the metal structure was its greatly superior sound-deadening properties.
Although on rubber suspension, the units were not much lighter than the conventional type, the suspension systems employed enable weight to be saved on the frame structure.
A new double-deck bus weighing a ton less than the standard type has also been produced, the saving being achieved by numerous small refinements. The latest paint-spraying process employed by the company comprises the application of a single coat. A double-decker can be painted in 10 minutes.
[The S.M bus is described on pages
226-229.] t