2011 at the Hammond Barn

[Phil Waterman]

Hi

One of the problems I have found with this type of adapter is what grade steel and what resistance to corrosion? I had measurable corrosion rust with in a week of installing with plain water in the engine.

Simple solution, use a corrosion inhibitor from the start.

Cheers Phil

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Phil

Doing well I hope.

Grant and I are staunch supporters of POR 15..... Grant would not think of installing raw metal..... not without snadblasting to roughen up the surface.... degreasing.... followed by phosphate coating and final lifelong coating of POR 15..... and even for just testing the cooling system for leak before using new antifreeze..... we alwasy use left over weak solutions of coolant as it does offer some rust protection for the block and some lubrication for the water pump.

Changed the water pump on the old Massey last week.... really messy to get to....alwasy a build up of old very black deisel/dirt/whatever residue....had to remove the radiator, etc.

Rebuilding was a lot easier as the parts were clean...... new hoses new everything...... still testing the system with left over coolant.... she seems to be running fine with no leaks. We really miss the old girl when she is laid up as she serves as two truck, crane, push and drag vehicle, road maintenance log skidder....heck I even use it to till the garden once a year and cut the tall grass in the back field.

Off to a cottage for two weeks with Joyce.....practicing doing "nuttin" in preparation to retirement...... I get to drive the pontoon boat and suck beer and Joyce happily clicks away taking pictures.

...if only I could ever find that nudist camp I hear rumors about.... I might take up photography....

Bob

[Stuart Fedak]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Off to a cottage for two weeks with Joyce.....practicing doing "nuttin" in preparation to retirement...... I get to drive the pontoon boat and suck beer and Joyce happily clicks away taking pictures.

Bob

Bob,
Please let the Ottawa Rotters know when you will be having your stand down from the Gouberment consulting gig. I am sure all the Ottawa Rotters will be eager to toast this significant occasion with one of our own....... truly a CMP legend of the Ottawa River Valley........

Cheers!
Stuart

[Bob Carriere]

As of September 7th this year I will have been working for 51 years....... not a bad record......

I have worked for the Feds, municipal and provincial goverment, manufacturing in TO and in Ottawa. Officially retired in 1995 but it lasted only 2 weeks......

I have now been working temporarily as a 6 month term for 12 and a half years this August...... I now have 4 weeks holidays and have accumulated more sick leave credits than most of my young staff.....

I am probably good 'til the end of Sept 2011 and being threatened with another extension until end of March 2012........

I do find myself slowing down and am considering staying home next Summer....but then..... I have said that before.

When I retire I will buy myself a CMP as a retirement gift..... and certainly not golf clubs..!!!!

Bob
.... the energizer bunny!!!!!

[RHClarke]

Most of the activity at the barn has been limited to inside the barn. However, on Sunday Bob and Grant decided to take advantage of the hot weather to cut some fire wood for the coming winter.

Off to the big field they did go. They cut the seasoned logs into smaller lengths and loaded a 3/4 ton trailer with cut wood. While they attended to this important task, I spent the morning with the whipper-snipper cutting back the vegetation that threatened to engulf our south side shelters. After running out of cutting cord, I spent the rest of my time refitting tarps to various vehicles in both fields. The weird weather sure took its toll on the tarps this year. Two of the shelter doors had to be re-stitched, and one was deemed to be beyond repair. Replacement tarps will be needed, so it looks like another trip to Wright's Surplus in Kars. Hopefully Greg has a supply of mod tentage for sale.

Once Bob and Grant got back to the barn, Joyce treated us to a feed of BBQ back bacon sandwiches and beer. These folk know how to live! The conversation over lunch included talk about sea containers. My HUP measures 7 foot 10 from dirt to hatch cover on top and won't fit into a regular 20 ft sea can.

Some investigation revealed that there are 20 ft high cube for sale but they are more expensive than the 40 ft high cubes. Economics dictate that the 40 ft can is the way to go, but the issue is how to get a 40 ft sea can down the road to the barn. It won't go in by truck or tractor trailer. Bob mentioned that we could possibly jury rig a small truck to attach underneath at the half way point. Then we could use the tractor and the three point hitch to wiggle the can down the twisty trail. We are open to suggestions (and no, airlift is not an option).

After lunch I headed back to Ottawa to pick up the family and head north to Blue Sea in Quebec for a couple of days at a friend's cottage. These folks also know how to live... More later.

Photos
1- Bob the Dentist - filing teeth on the chain saw
2- Grant working on his project truck

[Jordan Baker]

Rob

For the shipping container, why not make up some brackets and put a pair of axles under it with some wheels? That way the tractor could tow it in

[Robin Craig]

Pardon the intrusion to the learned circle, but I feel I must chime in.

Container prices, especially 20ft units have been climbing in price over the last year.

Pick a good one.

Before it arrives put down 6" minus stone where the corner will go, in liberal piles about 4 ft in diam and about 2 ft high. This should be tamped as it is put down to achieve this height

Make up some forms and cast yourself a cube of concrete about 2ft square and about 18" tall.

Once on site have the container placed on top of the stone piles.

Then using a jack, raise the container and "slide" the concrete cubes under the corners. Use wood or preferably steel plate to shim the unit level. now you have a generous air gap underneath and somewhat level

Next clean the roof of any loose paint and apply roofing tar sealer.

Take a couple of moulded roof vents from the local hardware store and either in the sides or the door, where ever you have a large flat space, cut an opening to surface mount it. Put metal screen material over the opening and then using self tapping screws and a generous spooge of a propietary sealant screw the roof vent on.

Now you have a breathable rodent free storage unit with no building permission required as it is a "temporary" structure under most municipality building codes.

Keep container mounted on the corners is how they were designed to be used. If you keep air flow underneath the floor support beams last a whole lot longer.

Keep vegetation down removes moisture as well.

We have 4 on site and they are all mounted like this.

The two that were shot with a matte green paint blend in against the trees behind quite nicely from 500 metres.

Will try to post some pictures between making hay and building a dry stone wall this week.

R

[RHClarke]

I am not sure what Grant and Bob were up to last weekend. I opted to stay home on Saturday to enjoy the rain. Sunday had a hit of sun, so I decided to give Mike Calnan (AKA Gunner) a hand at the Swords and Ploughshares Museum in Kars, Ontario. Interestingly, Kars is in the southwest corner of the great city of Ottawa, but it takes 35-40 minutes to get from my home to Kars via the high speed route, highway 417/416. Taking the country roads adds about 10 minutes to the trek.

The order of the day - weed whacking! As the attached photo amply illustrates, the weeds have enjoyed Mike's absence. Four hours later, the main row of display trucks, the entrance and exit to the barn, the side field row of display trucks, and a few of the main field displays were wrestled from their green captors. There is probably another four hours of weeding required, but that can wait for the next opportunity.

Once in a while, it is good to give back to those who have helped others in the hobby - even if it is just clearing away displays.

[RHClarke]

The family decided to spend Canada's 144th birthday in small town Ontario. We visited Kemptville to watch the Calnan Canada Day Convoy finish its parade. A quick stop in Kars to visit the S&P Museum was followed by a pizza dinner in North Gower. We watched an incredible fireworks display and then headed for home.

I spent Saturday at home relaxing while Grant decided to do some grounds maintenance. He cleaned out some of the overgrowth in the vehicle park. Grant also moved his rolling frame into the barn to start the assembly process.

I got to spend Sunday morning at the barn. Both Grant and I decided to finish clearing away the foilage that had overgrown most of the vehicle parks and around the shelters. Armed with gas powered whipper-snippers, we cleared away the mutant growth caused by our incredibly wet spring. As the temperature hit 29oC and the humidex pegged, we called it a day around 1PM.

Bob was busy with domestic chores so we didn't see much of him this weekend. If the temperature drops on the weekend, we may get some work done on the trucks. If not, I'll bring some beer to keep us from dehydrating.

Photos.
1 - Vehicle park - post haircut
2 - More of the same
3 - Jesse armed with a drawn feather on guard at the S&P Museum

[Stuart Fedak]

Originally Posted by RHClarke

The family decided to spend Canada's 144th birthday in small town Ontario. We visited Kemptville to watch the Calnan Canada Day Convoy finish its parade. A quick stop in Kars to visit the S&P Museum was followed by a pizza dinner in North Gower. We watched an incredible fireworks display and then headed for home.

Rob,
If you have some pictures of the Calnan Canada Day Parade, how about posting some of the photos. Because we are in the parade, I never get to see how all the vehicles look. In the Kemptville portion of the parade, there were 6 Iltis. Gilles had 4 of his fleet, plus a mule. Mike's portion was about 5 vehicles and the guns........ Not sure, but that may have been the largest number of vehicles in a while. Greg W. had his Iltis out for the Merrickville section.

I look forward to the day when some of the trucks from the Hammond Barn join in the parade. The other CMP and MIL vehicles from the Ottawa region are more than welcome to come out for the Canada Day events.

Cheers!
Stuart

[RHClarke]

Originally Posted by Stuart Fedak

Rob, If you have some pictures of the Calnan Canada Day Parade, how about posting some of the photos. Because we are in the parade, I never get to see how all the vehicles look. In the Kemptville portion of the parade, there were 6 Iltis. Gilles had 4 of his fleet, plus a mule. Mike's portion was about 5 vehicles and the guns........ Not sure, but that may have been the largest number of vehicles in a while. Greg W. had his Iltis out for the Merrickville section. I look forward to the day when some of the trucks from the Hammond Barn join in the parade. The other CMP and MIL vehicles from the Ottawa region are more than welcome to come out for the Canada Day events. Cheers! Stuart

Stuart, Alas, I did not take any photos of the trucks. There were two reasons for this - one, I kind of take these things for granted these days, and two, when I said end of the parade, I meant the very end - at the paintball property.

I do have it firmly in my mind that the Metal Mistress will join a future Calnan Canada Day Convoy. I just have to get to work on the old girl, but since this project is a labour of rusty metal love, I am taking my time, so it may not be next year or the year after, but eventually, the 45 HUP will be road worthy, insured and plated. See you then!

[RHClarke]

Sunday morning was hot and humid. The perfect time to complete some welding on the HUP roof. But before the welding started, the roof had to be raised somewhat. After placing a level across the back of the roof, I noted a 1/2 inch gap between the bottom of the level and the center of the roof. A jack was placed under the center inside portion of the roof and the gap in the center closed up. However, a significant gap remained on the passenger side under the level. By this time, Bob had joined me at the barn. After getting the low down on his great vacation, he provided some well appreciated advice on how to fix the gap.

The solution to the pax side gap was to relieve the support bracket on the inside of the truck. Three slots were cut into the metal using a grinder with a thin blade. The pax side roof was jacked up and the gap closed up nicely. I took the metal slightly higher with the jack so that when it settled, the gap should dissappear. The slots were then welded over and the jack released. Not surprisingly, a very small gap remained, which was deemed acceptable and good enough for gummit work, etc...

Next, the lip flanges were tack welded to the hatch opening. Then the hatch was thrown onto the roof to test for fit. And fit it did. By this time Grant had joined us at the barn. He had dug up some interesting service bulletins with regard to the gusset plate reinforcements for the rear frame rails of the late model HUP.

Lunch time caught up with us, and I headed back to the city. Normally I would have joined Bob and Grant for some growlies and to eyeball the waitresses at the newest Rotter restaurant, but I had a friend laid up in the hospital in Ottawa to visit.

The next step for the HUP is to refurbish the sliding hatch cover. It needs new rollers, a new gasket, two new support arms and some metal work for the hatch proper.

Once that is nailed down, the HUP will get a light sanding and will magically turn green by summer's end. At least that is the plan this week.

Photos:
1. Mind the gap.
2. Another view of the gap.
3. Inside support relieved.
4. Bob's version of tubular bells.
5. Hatch with cover installed.

[RHClarke]

The weather has been way too hot and humid for outdoor work. Grant has been busy assembling/fabricating components for his wireless truck. Bob had been away on vacation, and I kept busy at work in air conditioned bliss.

Grant had the barn to himself on Saturday and formed the welcoming committee for Bob's return to reality. Sunday was a short day given the heat. I fiddled around with the Prototype's sliding roof mechanisms inside the barn. After a quick and gentle sandblasting, some cleaning, and a good measure of patience and WD40 the brass blocks on the actuating shaft rotated again for the first time in decades. The locking devices on the handles remain rust welded in place, so they were left to soak until next weekend.

Bob and I discussed the need for more permanant shelters for the trucks. The latest wind storm damaged three of our shelters. The Ted's truck shelter got displaced three feet east and two feet south. Its door panel got shredded and will need replacement. Bob's shelter displaced to the south, and my Prototype shelter's door zipper ripped.

The discussion centered on buying sea containers and how they would be arranged. If another container makes its way to Bob's place (I am looking for one in the local Ottawa area), we plan to park them parallel to each other and span the gap with enough steel to support a lean-to roof. That way we can park some trucks between the containers.

If you happen to know anyone who has containers for sale in the Ottawa area (at a reasonable price...), PM Bob or myself.

Photos:

1 - Hatch holding and opening devices
2 - Brass block showing set screw

[Stuart Fedak]

Originally Posted by RHClarke

The discussion centered on buying sea containers and how they would be arranged. If another container makes its way to Bob's place (I am looking for one in the local Ottawa area), we plan to park them parallel to each other and span the gap with enough steel to support a lean-to roof. That way we can park some trucks between the containers.

If you happen to know anyone who has containers for sale in the Ottawa area (at a reasonable price...), PM Bob or myself.

I think Coehn & Coehn have some containers for sale. I have seen some signs on Highway 15 near Perth as well...... What you need is a plan for a good gravel base and installation of a few sea containers all at once. My own preference would be a 20 or 40 foot unit. For a 40 foot unit I would put in a door part way to get better access to the rear. As has been mentioned before, the key is to get a good gravel base and get the bottom hinges out of the water/ice. Wire the unit for lights (hook up a generator when needed). Space them out and bridge over the open area for additional workshop/storage space. Good gravel between the units to drain out any water (install drainage weeping).

I picked up a gas driven compressor a few years ago. Good portable unit that drives all the main air tool that I use. Ideal for this sort of use, and in my yard. With a good gas electrical generator/gas compressor you can use air tools; plasma cutter; do welding and sand blasting........

I think there would be interest in the Ottawa area for a CMP condo. Depending on the number, get a business plan and get some commitment ($$$) for installation. I think some sort of a 5 or ten year lease arrangement would be appropriate.

Cheers!
Stuart