How To: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car US Ordnance number 7373

[Big D]

Hi all,

A few more pictures of further progress on the hull today. We are getting there. The panel joints on the sponsons will just need a bit of fibreglass to really smooth them out.

Once all the plates are in place, the original welding beads will be replicated to give it the proper finish.

A question - the steel channel that was welded into place at the top of the sponsons and runs the length of the upper part of the sponson (you can see the outline where it was cut away); does this serve any other purpose apart from structural support? I wondered if cabling went through this channel but the welder who cut it out said there were no holes in either end.

Can anyone confirm please?