Cab 11 C15 and 2A1 body - Page 4

cletrac (RIP) · #91 12-06-08, 00:24

I've been asked for measurements for a POW can holder so will post the pix here. This is an excellent holder off a Cab 11 with 2A1 box. The 2B1 I have uses exactly the same box and it looks like all the 15 cwts use the same thing.

cletrac (RIP) · #92 12-06-08, 00:34

I scanned the lid so if you print the pic full size it has to be right.
The body of the holder is made of 1/16" material and the rest is all 1/8" thick.

cletrac (RIP) · #93 20-08-08, 06:49

I've been trying to figure out what all would have been carried in an AAAT truck. From what I can see they had a crew of four. They had a Boyes in a wooden crate across the front of the box and the Motley mount with one Bren on early models and two or three Brens on later versions.
These excerpts from training manuals show how much ammo was carried. I can't find anything on how much Bren ammo they carried on the early trucks that didn't have the 100 round drum mags. They'd also have two bandoleers with 50 rounds each for the Enfields in the cab mounts. Add to that the cleaning kits and accessories for the guns and there's getting to be a bit of a clutter.

Colin Macgregor Stevens · #94 20-08-08, 07:16

The pilot model of the Ford 15 Cwt that was saved by Gary Moonie many years ago has been sold to Don Gordon of Victoria, BC, Canada for restoration. Included was the
2A1 box that Colin Stevens brought out from Saskatchewan.

Don has a good reputation restoring DND / CMP vehicles. At the MVPA COnvention in Portland, Oregon in August, he won a price for his restored C8A Cab 12 DND truck. He has also restored a C15A Cab 13 CMP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cletrac

I've been trying to figure out what all would have been carried in an AAAT truck. From what I can see they had a crew of four. They had a Boyes
>>>>>>>>>>> BOYS
in a wooden crate across the front of the box and the Motley mount with one Bren on early models and two or three Brens on later versions.
These excerpts from training manuals show how much ammo was carried. I can't find anything on how much Bren ammo they carried on the early trucks that didn't have the 100 round drum mags. They'd also have two bandoleers with 50 rounds each for the Enfields in the cab mounts. Add to that the cleaning kits and accessories for the guns and there's getting to be a bit of a clutter.

cletrac (RIP) · #95 21-11-08, 00:54

Here are some pretty good shots from Life magazine off another thread. There's an AAAT, then a cable 1, and a GS version.
On the AAAT you can see 4 cases of clips for the Bren gun on the drivers side rear fender. In the pass rear corner of the box is what looks like a roll of signal wire of some kind and between the cab and box is a camo net. I thought the thing near the gunner's left hip was for the motley setup then I realized it's a bayonet for a No 1 Enfield. I can't tell if it's a Chev or Ford or if a 4x4 or not. It does have a pintle hitch .
The Cable 1 is a Ford judging by the rear end and from the ride height I'd guess a 4x2. Notice no pintle hitch. What kind of setup is the soldier in the back seated at?
The GS is a Chev and note the cloth covers over the vent screens. They must be in dusty conditions! That's a roll of barbed wire on the push bar and the caption says they're loading ammo but those boxes look more like shipping crates for a Bren or Boyes or the like. What would that little contraption on the front of the truck box be for? It's not shown in the parts list.

cletrac (RIP) · #96 18-02-09, 05:15

I got my motley mount just about finished with a plastic Lewis gun then got to thinking that this setup with a Lewis would be more at home on a Cab 11 than a Cab 13 but I don't have a box for the C15.
I've been sandblasting parts for my C8 at my brothers yard on the warmer days but when it gets down to about -10 C I've been working on a 2A1 in my garage.
After poring over my photos and some basic measurements I've figured out that a lot of the measurements are the same as on my 2B1. All the sills are in the same place as are the wheel wells. This makes sense since the 2B1 was a direct replacement for the 2A1 and used the same mounting setup. The 2B1 is 10 inches wider is the big difference.
The strange thing is they didn't use standard width boards. The floor boards are 1 1/2 x 4 1/2 and the side boards are 1 x 5 1/2 for the most part. This means a lot of rip sawing. For the sides I rip 2x6s to 1.1 " thick then use a planer to get them down to the 1" thickness.
The cross sills are 2 3/4 x 1 3/4 so I have to start with 4x4s and rip them to size. The lengthwise sills are 3 3/4 x 1 1/2 so I need ti rip 2x6s down to size. After all this is cut to size then most of the boards need 1/4 x 1/2 grooves cut in the edges for the 1/4 x 1 joining strip.
I've made 4 garbage bags of sawdust so far and will likely get 4 more.

cletrac (RIP) · #97 19-02-09, 06:54

I got the sills figured out and bolted on the first floorboard today. I think I'll give the edges of these boards and the joining strip a liberal shot of linseed oil as I assemble them. This should preserve stuff a little better.

George McKenzie · #98 22-02-09, 01:15

Dave I use 2/3 Linseed oil and 1/3 Turpntine That preserves it and harden's the wood . George

cletrac (RIP) · #99 22-02-09, 04:40

George, that turpentine trick seems to be pretty common in these parts of the country. When I sided my house with log siding the guy I got it from said to use the 2/3, 1/3 mix for the first coat then use about a 9 to 1 mix for the final coat. It seemed to work pretty good.
Here's a pic of the completed floor. I had to notch the rear crosspiece between it and the floor boards for the mounting bracket for the POW can holders. Now I have to cut a rebate for the rear angle iron as it fits flush with the floor. Then all that's left is the wheelwells, the two piece sides, front, tailgate, and toolbox. Nothing to it!

cletrac (RIP) · #**100** 22-02-09, 23:26

Well, I came up with another bit of insight today. I wondered why the lengthwise sills on the 2A1 and 2B1 are 3 3/4 inches wide when the frames of the trucks are about 2 3/4 " wide. On my C15 the outside of the frame rails are 36" and on the F15A they're 34". With the wider box sills the boxes fit either version. I also measured the distance between the axle flanges and it's 65" on the C15 and 72" on the F15A.

David_Hayward (RIP) · #**101** 25-02-09, 08:01

Quote:

The pilot model of the Ford 15 Cwt

That was one of the 40? 1939 ordered Ford 15-cwt G/S trucks that predated the CMPs

cletrac (RIP) · #**102** 26-02-09, 02:27

Judging from the mess I made in the garage I must have accomplished something today. Cleanup can wait until I finish the wheel wells.

cletrac (RIP) · #**103** 28-02-09, 03:30

It might not look like it but I did clean the shop up but then got back at it again. The box is starting to take shape and is looking good. I'll have to try the Motley mount out for size one of these days. Maybe after I get the front and sides done.

BCBlitz · #**104** 28-02-09, 03:56

Looks great ! ......... thanks for sharing the pics .

wont it be great when the snow melts and we can get out of our CDN hibernation

George McKenzie · #**105** 28-02-09, 06:18

Hi terry I think we talked together at one time .Did you get your CMP from Fruitvale ? What are we going to do when we get all our vehicles restord ? Do you have a tool box and tire carrier ?Mike made a nice one .George

cletrac (RIP) · #**106** 02-03-09, 04:00

I put the Motley in the back and it looks pretty good. There's a couple of angle irons that go the width of the wheel wells to mount it using the same holes that the division boards use. I still have to do some work on the wheel wells, then the fold down sides and endgate and the tool box but the end is in sight at least.
When I was looking at the setup, something came to mind. When I'm done, will this be the only complete AAAT1 in existence? I know there's several Cab 11s with the 2A1 but I've never seen any mention of any with the anti aircraft mount in place. There's also some Motley mounts but none are in a truck except for the one somebody put in a C8. It'd be kind of nice if it ends up being one of a kind.

George McKenzie · #**107** 02-03-09, 06:00

Things look great Dave I just had a though that if you want a one of a kind you can put some bullet holes in it . One of the things about a one of the kind is you can never get an original picture of one . I have never found a picture of my five window cab DT969 wrecker or the RCAF Fordson tractor that I have . george

Alex van de Wetering · #**108** 02-03-09, 10:55

Excellent work, Dave. Great to see the 2A1 come to life in your workshop.

It would be nice to see it fully finished with the Motley in place.

Alex

cletrac (RIP) · #**109** 10-03-09, 04:13

I put the angle irons on the bottom of the seat legs. The seat bolts to the angles and the angles bolt down in the division board holes. You can move the seat ahead or back using these holes but any pix I've seen has it mounted on center anyway.
On checking out some of my 2A1 pix I see that the Canadian box has more metal edging on the panels than the British trucks. I had to take the sides off to put the edging on them. I started making the side hinges so should start on the top side panels tomorrow.

cliff · #**110** 10-03-09, 06:44

That is looking really good. Fantastic work mate

cletrac (RIP) · #**111** 12-03-09, 05:49

I made a couple of hinges today and wouldn't have dreamed that it would take almost 3 hours to blacksmith them into shape. It's hard to get the bend in the right place but the next ones will go quicker. Only 6 more to go.
I included a pic of the side folded down since I haven't seen one in all my pix and had to see how it looked. I also made a division board and put it in place. None of the Motley pix I have have a division board in place but it looks like it would be a good idea to keep any of the kit from tangling with your feet when you were rotating the seat. In the holes I've got it in there's just room for your feet.

Alex van de Wetering · #**112** 12-03-09, 11:54

Dave,

Excellent work! I have said it already, but I will say it again; it's very nice to see the box and Motley come to life!

Alex

Mike Timoshyk · #**113** 13-03-09, 06:32

It is great to see your project from start to date...I am looking forward to seeing a coat of paint and it sitting on your truck....bloody marvelous.

Cheers

Mike

cletrac (RIP) · #**114** 21-03-09, 21:58

I'm working on the endgate now. The box is going to be fairly heavy by the time I'm done.
I attached the wartime pic from this thread.
http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...ad.php?t=12615

Mike Kelly · #**115** 22-03-09, 02:35

david

that body appears to be a close relative of the ubiquitous British 15cwt GS body that was built in various forms 1934-45. Some of the MCC variants feature a trap door like opening over the rear axle diff region. The Canadians tended to simplify the design , and Canada went over to the all steel type very early on , it took til around 44 for the British to build a steel version as on the C8 .Just think of all of the trees and forest they used up . The British wooden bodies have myriad bolts and fittings ..like a mechano set.

The GS remains I have here were made using 7/8" boards.
Mike

cletrac (RIP) · #**116** 22-03-09, 03:03

Mike, I have a piece of a side board here and it's 1" thick. This is probably a good thing since they don't make 1/8 x 7/8 flat iron like you'd need for the panel edges. I've compared my pix with your drawings and a lot of the stuff is the same, especially the hardware.
I can see why they went to metal boxes so soon; there's probably 10 times the labour involved in the wood boxes. One thing for sure though, when I'm done it'll be unique with that Motley mount in the back.

cletrac (RIP) · #**117** 23-03-09, 02:58

It's looking better all the time.

Hanno Spoelstra · #**118** 23-03-09, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by cletrac

It's looking better all the time.

Yes it does. Excellent work, thanks for sharing it with us!

- Hanno

cletrac (RIP) · #**119** 31-03-09, 04:25

I got quite a bit done on the endgate. It still needs the angle iron edging on the top and the sheetmetal around the step holes.

cletrac (RIP) · #**120** 31-01-10, 04:41

I decided the Lewis needed some details. I modified a Bren bipod to make it fit and have the legs swing back instead of ahead. I've got a couple of sling swivels off an Enfield that I'll use and a peep sight off I'm not sure what. The sights on the gun wouldn't have worked with the double row magazine so I'll make a cartwheel sight setup. I'm also making a brass catcher but I have to get to a heavier sewing machine to handle the canvas. I'll post more pix when I get more done.

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