How To: C15a Wire-3 restoration

[Jordan Baker]

Some small progress was made the other day. I restored the data plates for the truck. I gave the plates a light sanding with very fine emery cloth to remove some of the oxidation. Once this was done the boarders and data fields were masked off. I then gave the plates a few light sprays of flat black spray paint. I used a brand called Testors. I find it goes on very fine since its intended use is for the plastic hobby world. I left the plates to dry for a number of hours. Once dry a hobby knife with a chisle blade was used to simply remove the paint from all the raised letters.

[Jordan Baker]

It's been a bit since my last update. Mostly because I've been working away on the 10cwt trailer. Today one of my Chiefs was over so that we could roll some beads on a good for his hotrod. Anyway short end of a shorter story I got him to help me out putting the offset edge along the cab roof rear panel. It's been bugging me since last fall to get it done but I just never really felt confident using the roller on my own. Well seeing how easy it went with his hood and using that as practice we setup the roller on my big work bench. It gave us enough room to feed the sheet in and also let it come out the other end. After a few trial runs on some scrap we had figured out the spacer blocks to get the right depth. Once we started rolling everything went very smooth. Next up will be getting the panel fitted and welded in. Then I plan on cutting the window hole and rear comms hole.

[Jordan Baker]

Just another picture

[Jordan Baker]

After working hard at the 10cwt trailer to get it done in 14wks I'm now back at the CMP. Today's project was to get the rear panel for the roof bent to shape and tacked on place. I have the right side bent and fitted. Next up is doing the final cutting and fitting for the left side. Once it is welded in I will cut the hole for the rear window and the wireless box pass through hole.

[Jordan Baker]

For rolling the sheet to match the roof curve I ended up using a 20lb fire extinguisher. I simply held it in place with one hand and pulled up the sheet with the other. A few passes and things worked out really well.

[Jordan Baker]

More work has been done on the roof. Ive begun welding in the rear panel. Slow work due to clamping, drilling a hole and welding as I go. For joining the upper seam I had been using some blocks of hardwood wedged under it to close the seam. However it was very tedious to get it just right. My new plan is to pickup a pair of the long reach visegrips. Cut the working ends off and then weld in some extensions and weld the ends back on. That way I can pinch the metal together as I go.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Lovely work Jordan! Thanks for sharing your experiences with the bead roller, clamping, welding and forming; excellent work.

Alex