Blue Beauty from Malaysia

[wurlycorner]

What part does it need?

[prelude91]

Hi Simon, hope you've caught up with your beauty sleep. I'll be doing the reverse trip, plus an extra bit tues pm from LHR.
Did you fly in an A380? If so, any tips on the best seats to have? Especially for the likes of me , who'll be 'rowing with the slaves'!!!

[simonc]

Hi Wurly, apparently I missed you by 24 hours at H10ndr's place. I went over there last Sunday and came away with a majestic haul of goodies. They're all packed up and waiting to be shipped over as the folks at DHL gave quotes for shipping in the £ outrageous to £ simply ludicrous range!
Back to the Sol, well from what I'm told it's the entire mechanical system relating to the Trans-top. From gears to the prong things that come out and to be honest it's just knackered and beyond even looking at. Again, being here is the problem. I think if I had Black Beauty over there in Blighty it could be rescued but here....forget it!
Still, I keep it and give it a blast every now and then but I'm too in lust with the Prelude now so I'm afraid it's become something of an orphan child.

[simonc]

Hi Prelude 91. Yes sir, A380 Man-Dub then A380 Dub-KL. Lovely and so much more room than those crappy 777's which are well past their sell-by-date. There's a lot more shoulder room, the leg room is significantly better than than the Boeing and the way it's divided up means it looks kind of small inside, not some vast aluminium tube! However, I think you'll find because of the sheer size of the thing it's very comfortable as turbulence doesn't seem to affect it. I guess it helps flying at a cruise of 39,0000 feet keeps it way, way above the normal chop. Yes, I'm a big fan of the A380.
Put a request in your PNR for a seat "far-Forward-Window". Ideally ask for a seat in the "40's Section C" as then you'll be in the foward cabin downstairs (you'll get your drink and meals first as well).
In fact, I hope you don't mind but here's a couple of snaps from my flight home yesterday. (Hope this is not breaking any posting rules. If this is the wrong place Mods then please feel free to erase them) Enjoy your flight matey.

The cold drizzle of Manchester is far behind me!


This is a cool feature. A seat back view of the tail mounted camera.


I like this as you can see the contrail of the plane approaching.


A bit arty-farty but I quite like the blue shades of the sky.


This is nice as we're flying into dawn towards the Indonesian coast.


Just a nice shot I think.


And landing at KL. Welcome home!


Have a safe trip.

[simonc]

Hit & Run last Friday!

Look at these and weep gentlemen. I certainly am. Total ar*****e decided to swerve into a right hand filter lane just as I'm turning and execute a U turn across my bows. Bloody moron but so typical of the d**kheads that pass as "drivers" in this country. Granted is was only a glancing blow and the weird thing was I was watching it all unfold. I was thinking this can't be happening... but it was! He then U turned through red lights and there was nothing I could do to go after him. I tell you, if I had a gun I would have shot the scumbag and taken another moron off the road.
I'm bloody heartbroken and worried about the paint match situation over here. Luckily the wheel and tyre weren't walloped but as you can see, the inner arch thing is damaged and it's pulled the bumper down. While I was over in England I did buy some new headlights and indicator/sidelights from Tim so I guess the thing to do is wait till they arrive and repair everything in one go.
I cannot tell you how angry I am. Arrgghhhhhhhhhh! Year of the horse? Year of the horse's arse more like. Oh Lord, I hope this is not a warning of things to come.
Anyway, to share my pain and hopefully calm me down a bit, here's a few photos of my damaged Blue Beauty.

Horrible isn't it?


If I get my hands on that tosser I'll rip his lungs out.


Worried about a paint match


Bumper now pulled away


Got to wait for the new headlights and other things now


I hate driving the car looking like this


Well chaps, I guess my next update will be after the things have arrived and I'll post photos of the work in progress. Actually, next week is new brake week so if I can, I'll post of few photos of that particular job.
All for now, regards, Simon.

[wurlycorner]

What a bummer, sorry to hear this dude. Your best bet with that would be to get a replacement front wing rather than trying to re-shape, but I know that's not easy for you over there it should re-shape ok if you can't get a decent replacement one.

The bumper is cracked/split though, that's the most important thing. And don't worry about the inner arch liner, that will be absolutely fine.

It's an easy repair tbh, most difficult part of it will be getting the metal bolt/clips for the inner lining undone. They corrode and seize and when you try to undo them, they tear the plastic

[ADS1]

Really sorry to see this buddy, this is a beautiful prelude. I'm sure she will be perfect again soon.

[simonc]

Thanks Iain and ADS1, I'm afraid "bodging" is the way a lot of garages work over here so the point you mention about the clips could be a real problem. This week is also a stinker as far as being busy so I really don't have a lot of time to go faffing about looking for an honest bodyshop.
Still, my only consolation is that it could have been worse so I'll just have to grit my teeth while I'm driving it and pretend nothing happened.
Still fuming though.
Will be chasing the freight company today to see if my booty from Tim has been collected and is steaming its way eastwards. Once the lights, nostrils and indicators are here I'll be in a position to sort out the front end carnage.
Thanks again guys, regards, Simon.

[bb1boy]

Gutted mate. What are the chances you'll see the tw@ that hit you again?

[simonc]

Mate, if I see that di**head in a white Toyota Corolla with a dark blue smear down his right hand side you may see me on the BBC website. The story will be about a machete wielding Yorkshireman living in Malaysia that is now in police custody for brutal, car damaging related homicide!
I hope for his sake, is he is now a long, long away from this part of the world! Simonc is on the prowl!