2011 at the Hammond Barn

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

,,,, any ideas....?

Buub

Buub,

Are the doors off the last type HUP, the plush commander / staff car?

H.

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Hanno

Totally unexpected find amongst the cab 13 assorted parts.

They look like HUP doors..... and to my knowledge only the last 45 model had the built in windows...... the top section is held in place by tapered screws typical of the factory set up..... they are buried in there so could not see all the details.

Will have pictures later today.

Bob

[RHClarke]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Hi Hanno, They look like HUP doors..... and to my knowledge only the last 45 model had the built in windows...Bob

After looking over the doors today, I believe them to be off a Heavy Utility - Personnel but not the late '45 HUP model. The doors are the earlier model with the "sunburst" reinforcement pressing on the inside panel. The late model '45 doors have the large metal lubrication and electrical (if memory serves) schematics screwed to the inside of the door on the flat upper part of the panel.

Best guess - late '44 or early '45 HUP doors.

[RHClarke]

Mother Nature is playing games. This morning the mercury only went down to 2 oC and by noon, it was up to 10 oC, making for excellent working weather at the barn.

My morning was spent with my Bronco hinges. After a careful measuring, I cut off the excess length from both sides of the hinge. Once this was done the MIG welder was put to use to fill in the original holes in the hinges. Bob arrived just after the first hinge got shortened and he supervised the welding procedures.

Grant made his appearance shortly after and got busy inventorying his latest treasure trove - the high school CMP. Bob headed off to cut some more logs for the coming winter, and I helped Grant off-load the truck.

At noon we piled into Bob's Ford for lunch in Rockland. Bob decided that we three grubby types should sit down for a nice breakfast meal, so he found us a Bistro to eat at no less. We are used to folks staring at us, but today was different - I guess we didn't fit the profile of the Bistro's regular patrons... We sat in the back of the restaurant and chatted with a nice lady sitting at the next table, who turned out to be one of the co-owners. She was very nice and her staff were very friendly - even with Bob's teasing and joking.

On the way back to Hammond we discussed the weather situation, and surmised that what we don't get in November, we will surely get in December to April. In any case, the weather was fantastic. Back at the barn, Bob mounted the winter tires on his truck and changed its oil. Grant continued to catelogue his newly acquired parts, and I decided to rescue a set of HUP rear fenders from the body sitting on pallets in the big field.

Photos:
1 - Comparison - original (long) modified configurations - top view
2 - Comparison - side view
3 - Before shot
4 - After shot - prior to dressing
5 - Prepped for plugging the original holes

[RHClarke]

Not so long ago, we recovered a HUP body from the deep dark woods. Brian Gough put us on to it and even showed us where it resided. Now it graces the back field waiting its turn for restoration. I have a desire to add an ambulance to my project list. The ambulance appeals to me because I have yet to see one - restored or otherwise.

The HUP fenders were rotting away from the moisture, so it was a good idea to remove them and store them in a drier environment for future use. Most of the fender bolt heads twisted off with the rachet and socket set, but others had to be chiseled off. This took about an hour to complete. The fenders were bent somewhat, but this was nothing new. Back at the barn it took about 15 minutes to straighten out the fenders and to bang the metal back roughly into place. I'll finesse the metalwork later this winter.

One fender needs some cosmetic work, but he other needs a good amount of patching. They, along with the other two project trucks will keep me busy this winter.

As is usual this time of year, it gets dark early. So I headed back to the city to get my MLU fix. A good ending to a great day.

Photos:
1 - Fenders - condition as taken off the body
2 - Fenders - side shot
3 - Fenders - post surgery (read hammer and dolly) - showing heavy damage
4 - Fenders - still more work required, but in much better shape

[Stuart Fedak]

Not that I have ever used one, but this seems the sort of reason for getting an English wheel for making fenders........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St0hb6vjfTM

Perhaps BoB can add one to his collection of toys for Christmas......... I wonder if starting with one of the fenders from Princess Auto would speed up the process........

Keep up the good work....... I just tarped up the Iltis in the back... no more work on it until the spring time......

Cheers!
Stuart

[Bob Carriere]

I can always ask......BUT.....

....... who will show me how to use it.....?

.....working on soft aluminum compare to 12 gauge CMP fenders is VERY different......

..... I have seen 3 day course offered in the US for $1000..... and they are beginners courses.......

......... I fear you need some natural instinct..... like an artistic flair..... like a scupture would have......

....tried my hand at body work years ago...... with tons of bondo....finally got one side fender done smooth..... real nice........ but was never able to do a matching reverse curve on the opposite fender.......

....... I will admit to my limitations...... that is why I love working CMPs....sheet metal is thick.... easier to butt weld..... you can use a big hammer and work out your frustrations..... most panels are flat...... original welding is not always neat ..... so easy to surpass in what we do..... most bends are 45 or 90 degrees.....

I actually used a large English wheel at Centennial college in the 80s..... teacher was an old panel beater from England.... tons of sheet metal tools had been donated to the college by a patron ...... the English wheel was a massive cast C shape device that was over 8 feet tall.... in 3 months I did manage to make a boat shaped spare tire wheel well for a 39 Desoto.... from 6 seperate small sheet metal pieces....... not really applicable to CMPs but it was fun.

Ah to be young again......

Bob