More progress on the Side Tanks

As we approach the end of September 2025 Paul Orrells writes:

The two bottom floor sections and the two front sides of the tanks have returned to Minehead following shot blasting.

The small items which had been removed from the old tanks have also been shot blasted – these have now been painted in red oxide and put away for the time being until they are needed.

The floor sections were then suspended in the air so areas for further welding could be masked off prior to applying the first coat of the 2 part epoxy coating.

The two front sections with the curved ends have also been coated – on the inside (water side) with the 2 part epoxy and on the outside with red oxide. We have done it this way because we found on T2061 that it was very difficult to get a good finish of topcoat over the epoxy, so building up layers of gloss paint over the red oxide should result in a better finish.

With the areas masked off, Buzz should continue welding into October to include joining the two bottom plates together.