paperwork, and back to it !

Like seemingly everything in the world, things run on paper and for us its no exception, so after a two day break while we sort out paper housekeeping ( that's code for Paul being buried in a landslide of paper...but hey, we found him under the Volvo 202 parts manuals ...and ladies and gentleman ... he's ok !!)

so, back to it, and the very stubborn front bumper section ...note the drilling and cutting !....but progress is being made , just look at the pile of parts soon to be sent off for prep and paint !

The "twins"

we kind of call these two the "twins" as both went though extensive ground up rebuilds, and of course, they share so much of the family traits, like those big Straight 8 cylinder Rolls Royce Engines and the unique Alvis six wheel drive and 4 wheel steering drive lines.

Here they are on the way to their first public show in May of this year at Landsdowne Park, Ottawa!

Many thanks to our Hauling and Transport support, D and M Tilt and Load, who have worked hard with us to ensure on time service, no matter what odd ball request we have for them to haul !

mystery running board !

....well, its early Ford pattern , late '30s or 40's .... pretty well done too. So everyone? , whats it from ??!

I do have an affinity to early Ford Hot Rods .... so this feels good to see !

I'm sure its an interesting tale !

Friday Art Shot

Since I'm getting more intimate than I wanted  with the winch assembly right now .... as its preventing the Radiator lift out, its this Fridays "Art Shot"

...some leaks are bad, this one is good !

when she first came off the truck, she marked her spot in the CWHVS hangar by promptly dumping the contents of her engine sump on the floor, but, at least the engine spun freely ! Now, as we get ready to pull the rad, we are happy to see that by turning the oddly elegant brass drain cock, that nice clean bright green coolant came out !

but she of course is being reluctant again! We are happy its the rarer winch equipped version...but, like so many good things , there are drawbacks .....so, I have to pull the winch off before I can lift the rad,

The issue is that the winch drive shaft looks so much like a Pretzel, I'm looking for a bottle of mustard to go with it !...

....and the winch shaft goes through a tunnel in the rad....

with a little help from my "friends"

My partners here ! ...Basically, Snap On and Milwaukee tools save the day yet again!....I almost needed the whip and chair to get it to behave !

the Armoured Rad Louvers , although freed up and working, were VERY reluctant to "depart"!, but its out minus some rusty bolts!

I have more detailed Louver linkage pics if anyone needs 'em, just drop me a line and I'll put them up

now, rad , fenders and everything to the firewall is "easy" to get at. Working on armour has to be the most frustrating and satisfying stuff to work on ever.

Some of our stable !

Here are a few shots of other things we work on ! As you can imagine , a busy show and production season means LOTS of maintenance ! with our Belgian CVR(T) Scorpion in for a refresh and the rebuild of her Hydraulic steering system, and our Alvis Stalwart just fresh out of overhaul its been a busy start to the year.

last shot is our Mk 2/3 Ferret on a more sombre day, as she provided escort for our good friend, Mr Clive Law to his final resting place in Beechwood Military Cemetery in Ottawa

God Speed Clive.

supporting the Arts community !

...or, call it Movie Madness !

Part of our work as a Museum and Charity is to support as best we can, other Not For Profit groups in our area, and this includes TV and Film Production !

We were very lucky to work with some solid Tech professionals on this shoot for a "Pilot" , such a Seth from "Gunslingers", a Toronto based  production support company that supplies law enforcement and firearm rentals and advisors.

We went with two of our ex Austrian Army Pinzgauers, to frame a "somewhere in Eastern Europe" feel!

Note the sound rig installed in the RAD Van Pinz, with the Boom Mike put through the roof hatch !

hey ! there is an engine in here !

...with all the heavy lifting of armour , its nice to see an accessible engine ! so, with the deck off, and the rad shutters ready to lift Thursday , I started to pull off engine accessories to get further into her. Its got quite the horn support welded on the frame too....I has more weld than plate I think !

here is are couple of overheads !

overhead crane !

...best thing ever when you work alone most of the time !
 this makes the job fast and much safer . Note that the hinges are just solid with rust , as this is a two piece section !

Rat Patrol anyone ? ?

So, BIG discovery today !

as the WD-40 works its magic, some of the old paint is flaking off, notably the white hand painted ring around the hood star...revealing .... a Blue Ring under that !!

We know from markings research that the only time that a Blue Ring surrounded the White US Star was used , were the Vehicles that were prepared for Operation Torch in 1942, the Allied Invasion of North Africa to go up against General Rommel's "Afrika Corps"

So, Rat Patrol, or some Indiana Jones.......The Stories she has tucked away are fascinating .... so, I guess we are on number 2 of the 7 Veils.

The Onion Peel !

Crew Cab Floor out , and everything under it is all there and looking in good shape ... I do need to buy shares in WD-40 though!

its working its magic to get in tough spaces . Managed to save all the light metal floors for re-use, or to make templates for new ones !

Poltimore fair Con't !

....a we had great weather for the Poltimore, Quebec Fair, the great picture opportunities were EPIC!

These here courtesy  of our dedicated Cadillac Gage V-100 Driver, Terry Warner

Poltimore Fair , Aug 12

Here are a few shots of what the Society does when we are not spinning wrenches and busting knuckles !

Being close to the hangar, we had the chance to practice our convoy skills to and from the Fair Grounds too

Unlike many museums that keep vintage vehicles behind ropes, the Society tries to get the public engaged with these artifacts as much as possible  by getting people inside to get a taste of what its like to be in an Army Truck, or to slide down into the cramped spaces of a Turret in one of our AFV's, slew it around and get an appreciation of what it might like to spend hours, or days in one of these retired warriors

Friday Art Shot

Happy Friday !

The Open Door

Moving along with both doors stripped and removed , as well as both windshields, managed to save 90% of the hardware and all the window hold downs too!

Notice the difference in the drivers side hinge vs the passenger side, Driver side has a quick release pin system

also, the little set screw used to lock the doors armored shutter, is peened on the back, a simple and expedient way to make sure its not lost in the battlefield

Fuel tank out too, and you can see the "self sealing " tank material still working after 73 years, plugging holes !
floor is coming off too, and here is the monster parking brake !

fistfull of busted bolts ( sorry Mr Eastwood !)

well....as one of my music hero's says ...rust never sleeps...so out comes the grinder and torches and off with their heads ..... bolt heads that is....

so, working with fire and steel is so much faster than just steel....

a few more pre stripper pics !

Notice the Hand Painted Air Recognition Ring on the Hood ... this was applied after the US Invasion into North Africa to aid pilots from telling who were the "good guys "
the order was given to add these to vehicles already in the UK , being assembled for the D Day Landings....the plot thickens !

As you can see, its a very early model, as it just has the twin fuel tanks instead of the later 4 ...still...riding in a thinly armoured gas can .....not my idea of a great time with the  big "Cats" lurking in the Hedges