NewOldWood

Had a little issue with alignment and had to reshim the cowel to get the roof to where it needed to be. I used the original wood to get things lined up, that's why the passenger front door is on the car. With that out of the way, I got the door headers, B pillars and sills done, and am working my way around the drivers rear fender. There are five pieces of wood finger jointed together to make the finished piece, which will be the bottom piece of the quarter panel.

Marine grade Fir plywood would be a good choice. Or White Oak if it was originally a solid wood floor.

These are sills for a 41 Cadillac that I made and the original sill that I had to make them from. Computers just do what they are told, they don't compensate for rotten, missing, or warped wood. Even if the equipment to do that exists, it is going to be impractically expensive. Even in the case of custom wood bodies there are problems with working with an unstable medium such as wood that CNC operators would likely not have encountered. Building car bodies is a unique combination of art and accuracy. I have a friend who can freehand carve beautiful lifelike figures out of wood but who cannot make two pieces fit precisely together. I learned to do this type of work by doing it and as far as I know that's the only way to learn it. I have been doing it for a lot of years and so far have have found no one to pass the trade on to.

The metal is just temporary to hold the roof up while the paint work was done. The roof will be supported by the B pillars and quarter panels, which are all wood.

The boat is up near Birmingham getting the finish sprayed on. Wont have much other than assembly once I get it back. There will be updates. You're still plugging away, and that's what counts. You'll get it done one day, and all things considered I don't think your rate of progress is anything to be ashamed of. Your approach seems to be well thought out and in my opinion the workmanship is better than what I've seen come out of some professional shops. I would like to see it when it's done, I'm sure it will be exceptional!

As you probably know, T&C wagons were 41 and 42 only with similar but different wood. I've built one of each, the 41 with poor quality/incomplete wood, and the 42 from the 41 wood. That was the one that had me questioning my sanity. Not sure that question was ever answered...... I'll be posting updates once a month or so, stop back in once in a while and have a look!!

This was a complete car so I have pretty good pattern wood to work with. I've done a couple of these in the past so don't expect too many surprises.

I may be wrong but that looks more like a Campbell body than a Cantrell to me. The B&W picture is a Cantrell boby, the color picture is a Campbell. The Cantrell has a much more square top back corner. The front of the roof is taller on the Cantrell and the front door glass is shaped differently. These are both Power Wagons, both Cantrell and Campbell made bodies for Dodge.

All original except for some cockpit trim pieces of which I needed 12 and only had 10. Turned out to be a good use for the old worn out brass prop shaft. This is one of the new ones compared to one of the original cast pieces. Everything has been rechromed.

Sanding is done, finally....Hardware was installed for the trial run and have all but a few interior pieces stained. Have to finish up caulking the deck seams. then put it back on its trailer and send it off to the spray booth.

Have we talked about this? I've done a couple of these, can't imagine the T&C is any worse.

I have used steel woll to dull a finish in the past and have been pretty happy with the results. Make sure the varnish is thoroughly dry before you do it though.

Kind of like a christmas tree, just put the bad spot into the corner where it can't be seen and it works just fine!! Someone changed the head on this engine and left that piston in it?

Cool truck! I like it better without the visor.

The planking is all installed and plugged, now the fun starts. I'm offering free lessons on the finer points of block sanding a wood boat hull. The opportunity of a lifetime, and at absolutely NO Charge!!! Dont let this one slip by!!!

A little late but..I have used a 3/4" wide anti friction tape I got at Mcmaster. Stick it on the bows just like masking tape and put the slats over it.

Does it look like it might have been installed at one time and removed by someone?

Hercules has built well over 100 of these cars and this is the first time I've seen this problem. They are still in business, Cecil is a good guy, you should get in touch with him.

Thanks, I'll put that on my list.

Any official N.W.C. presence at the show? I've never been there, thinking about making the drive, anyone else going?

No, they bend pretty easily. There isn't anything on this boat that gets steamed.

Hershey has been on my to do list for too many years. I'm overdue for a little break in the routine, so thinking seriously about a road trip. What the event looks to be is a three day swap meet and a one day car show. I'm not shopping for anything in particular but I'm sure that I can entertain myself at the swap meet for at least one day. But, is there anything else happening? I definately want to be there for the show, but if I spend the day Tuesday at the swap meet and see everything I want to see, what am I going to do till Friday? I quess I would probably rather show up early and have a little time to kill than show up later and wish I had more time to look around.

You're on a roll! What are you going to fix next?

Yes. With the exception of Ford, which used Hard Maple, every other car body I've seen has been Ash.

This might be a little diffferent than some of the electrical buggery shown so far, and admittedly a type of repair that many just are not equipped to pull off properly, but in my world this is difficult to forgive. And what it should have looked like. I have seen quite a bit worse, this is just one that I have a picture of.