Dave, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there ! So many products on the market don’t seem to work as well or be as long lasting as the equivalent ones in the past and is perhaps due to the elimination of the components now deemed hazardous (and righty so), but sadly were also the components that actually made them work and do the job as we all know ? (eg. Traditional paint stripper, LT pink etch primer, cellulose and lead paint to name a few). As you say a lot of preserved buses have the trim falling off, in some cases this may be partly due to poor installation or installation to a painted surface which has failed ? , but having worked on PSV’s old and modern it’s very hard to find an adhesive that holds up often heavy trim given the extreme temperatures and dampness a vehicle interior can get to in the middle of winter and height of summer, even the ones that state ‘high temperature resistant’ often fail after relatively few years. Perhaps also the expected short service life of modern vehicles makes the longevity of these products largely irrelevant saying that it’s always the trim that has been put on without any thought to access to fittings for future maintenance is always the hardest to remove without damage etc !

My bus number (if any): RML 2747

There might well be glues and sealants used in the building trade which may do the job. I went into a Leyland Paint shop once looking for windscreen sealant. The man told me they did not sell it but try CT 1, a sealant the trade uses, it worked a treat. don't get it on your hands though, wear gloves because only meths cleans it off, (or alcohol). After all, the material used in a lot of recent destination blinds, Tyvek, is widely used the building trade as insulation.

That’s a good point I’m sure a lot of the materials used in the building trade are suitable and often cheaper. In some cases though the modern adhesive can also be detrimental as I know of someone who has a lovely rechromed half cab windscreen similar to a Routemaster newly reglazed with modern bonding glue rather than the rubber sleeving. It didn’t leak and was fine until it broke and is now virtually impossible to remove the fragments from the grooves, even the glass company have turned the job down ! - The only possible solution is to heat it up but that could well distort the frame or damage the new chrome work - a real problem sadly.

My bus number (if any): RML 2747

I take your point, the stuff was a bit too good. Talking of Rexine, I seem to remember my sister's Sobell recod player,(with it's auto changer and VHF tuner). The large lid and sides had a rexine type covering.

As you say it was widely used to cover furniture as it’s hard wearing and original stuff is quite sought after in the antique trade apparently - hopefully not fireside chairs !

My bus number (if any): RML 2747

I may be able to help a bit here.

Back in the early 1970's I had to re-cover the interior of MLL721, my BEA coach. I used Evo-stick. Most of that has lasted the course now it's being restored "properly". I've had to use a blow lamp to heat the vynide to get the stuff off!

To 1990s, when we started on MLL738, we used vynide (produced by Wardle-Storey) and the glue they provided didn't last a couple of years. I called their rep round and he thought it could be polymer migration, some sort of chemical reaction. then he asked what adhesive was used, and that was the wrong sort. We needed to use a very high melt point adhesive that could withstand temperatures of over 200c. That is how hot it can get in motor vehicles in summer.

Later in the 2000's, GS67 was re-trimmed using the Ratchford's rexine. I used a spray on adhesive which so far has stood the test of time. I used the same stuff when MLL738 was done properly and that too shows no sign of lifting yet, and that was done about 6 years ago.

I also done RFW14 which has a mixture of a thick vynide on the ceiling and a thin railway grade dark green vynide on the sides. I don't think any of that has shown signs of lifting yet.

The knack seems to be to apply the adhesive from a spray gun, it has to come out like a spider's web, let it go off for about 15 minutes then apply it to the surface. I'll look up what the stuff is later.

Needless to say make sure all surfaces are clean and free from old adhesive. I'm about to do some today on an RT.

My bus number (if any): RML2532

I use alpha Adhesives S1922TF, 5 litre cans. also available in smaller aerosols, but a more expensive way to do things. you can get it direct from Alpha 01299 828626 or Boyriven 01624 771414.

Alpha bought out Dunlop Adhesives a few years ago including things like Thixofix.

My bus number (if any): RML2532

Thanks Roy that’s very helpful - it’s amazing how hot vehicle interiors can get to in the summer - certainly they right weather to do the job in not too hot, damp or cold for a change !

My bus number (if any): RML 2747