The half track build

[Dalboy]

A slow start to the day I needed to cut the bonnet section out which I had cut the grooves in yesterday the best tool to do this was to use the table saw and mitre saw. So the mitre saw set up and all the angles cut at least I now had a shape to work with.
Then out came the table saw so that I could run this along the to longer edges leaving a 1/16" thick by 3/16" piece along them also by tilting the blade I was also able to cut a 1/16" X 1/16" lip along the back edge.

A good clean up of tools and saw dust from this simple operation was next on the agenda along with going through all of the bits of wood I had been using and sort it out and store all the bits I no longer need at this time. Just surprised how many pieces I had ready for bits of this build and still had to prepare more. Start to put this away and see another piece that will be useful for another part hang on should I not be clearing up.
This is the pile that I had along the side of the lathe and under the bed bars cleared most of the thicker stuff that as far as I could make out will not be wanted again as most is now thin pieces.

Tidy up done time to glue up the bonnet to the cab side panels, I have a small engineers square which is idea to hold the parts at right angles to the bonnet.
The next three photo's are of it all assembled

I decided to make the jerry cans only one shown on the plans the three handles are doweling just glued in place and I thought this would not look right so I bedded them into the body after cutting away a small section below where they sit. I am now glad I did as I believe it looks better then what is shown and for not much more effort.

And to finish did a quick dry fit and have to say it is looking pretty good even if I do say so myself.

 

[n0legs]

Brilliant, bloody brilliant =D> =D>

 

[Dalboy]

Brilliant, bloody brilliant =D> =D>

Thank you glad you like it still a bit to do. The small detail bits can take up a lot of time.

 

[Dalboy]

I don't know why but i never seem to get a lot done but still seem to be working on the half track for a long time.
Started to day by making the piece that runs along the floor and hold the steering column and gluing this to the floor. When that was dry enough I glued the seat console that I had previously made onto the floor as well as drill a hole for the last of the gear sticks.

Time to add the braces to the lower side of the bonnet these needed a little fettling.

I looked at the drawing for the steering wheel which showed them using a pre made one and modifying it not having one I went for a home made one but with the added darkwood grip and as you can see it is not too large and this alone took over 2 hours to make. It still needs a little touching up. May have gone a little OTT.

The last three pictures show it in position but not yet glued 1 because it needs a little more work and 2 did not want to break it off while I did dry fits of the bonnet assembly as I progress with that section.

 

[CHJ]

I looked at the drawing for the steering wheel which showed them using a pre made one and modifying it not having one I went for a home made one but with the added darkwood grip and as you can see it is not too large and this alone took over 2 hours to make. It still needs a little touching up. May have gone a little OTT.

It can never be over the top, why would you not be proud to show your dexterity and skill, doing that in a day let alone two hours + in itself is a feat few of us could manage without the finesse of presentation.

 

[AES]

An absolute +1 for what CHJ said Dalboy. It's what I said the other day, the mark of a real craftsman.

AES

 

[Dalboy]

Thank you Chas and AES.

Getting down to making some smaller pieces now and then will need to tackle the tracks but will first need to make some jigs as I plane to cut the links in batches of ten.

 

[DTR]

Amazing work so far =D>

 

[Dalboy]

Thank you DTR.

More cutting and measuring today they all are only smallish parts but seem to take forever. The first photo is the parts for the front grill and the second is for a ditch roller that is attached to the front bumper which aids the front to roll up a ditch instead of just digging in

Managed to get the grill assembled and noticed that the front grills needed a little touch up with sandpaper(did not see it until I looked at the photo's) so that will be the first job tomorrow as I don't want any rough looking parts on this build I have invested too much time to get sloppy

And the front grill just resting in place to give an idea how it looks.

I have built this in sections and treated each as a separate project being mindful that it still needs to match the part next to it all these will be finally glued after applying the finish as this will make it easier to reach all of the parts.

 

[Dalboy]

First job today was to finish the front grill by sanding it and tidying it up, all I need to do to that is make the front lights to attack to it. Once that was done I got around to assembling the front roller assembly and in the process managed to damage on of the pins so a quick trip to the lathe and 5 minutes later a new pin.

I thought that it seemed a good idea to start the window surrounds . I applied the dark wood around the top followed by the lighter wood around the window this brought me to what you see. Once the glue has dried fully I will sand the top back flush with the frame and also the little I left sticking out this makes sure that everything is a nice tidy finish.

This is all that got done as I had a surprise visitor another woodworker I had not seen for a year so the rest of the day was talking about woodworking so nothing else got done.
Great to see you again SteveF

 

[Dalboy]

I should have taken these yesterday showing the roller attached to the front.

Started by spending 1/2 - 3/4hour cleaning up the front windows now that the glue has had a good time to set this included filling any small gaps like along the bottom window member. The first one is what it looked like yesterday and the second after the clean up

As well as installing the centre upright, not being happy with the but joint of the centre piece as it is only 1/16" thick I added a 1/16" square section behind so that it covered the join. I think it looks like it should have been there

The next job was to make the front opening protection shield this I decided to have in the open position this took quite a bit of time due to the tiny size of the hinge and other parts.

Next I cut out the side window protection panels and the step for either side.

 

[Dalboy]

And some photo's I took just for fun and taking some from different angles. These show where I am as of the end of today yet still more small parts to make which adds to the overall model

 

[SteveF]

lucky enough to see this in the "flesh"
attention to detail is just fantastic

Steve

 

[Dalboy]

lucky enough to see this in the "flesh"
attention to detail is just fantastic

Steve

Thank you Steve great to see you again

 

[Dalboy]

The day started well with the gluing of the front grill to the main engine bay. As can be seen from the first photo's not a perfect fit but only along the top so now is a good time to show the before and after photo's and to explain how I deal with this without getting glue stains on the wood.
How I deal with this is not by mixing glue and sawdust in the normal way as I find this tends to leave a slightly darker repair.
When the two parts have dried enough to be handled I spread a very fine layer of glue along the repair and wipe off the excess and again while this is still wet give everything across the repair a good sanding this prevents the glue soaking into the wood but llows the glue to stay in the small crack and the fine sawdust from the sanding is pushed into the glue. This I find leaves a near invisible join except in this case as the woods are slightly different colours but still no obvious crack showing. The first two photo's are before and the third and fourth after.

As some know from previous posts the step and mudguards I had already made and stored now was the time to fit these, first the step and let this dry enough to handle this now gives me a reference for the mudguards even though these where made as per the plans I always find that a little fettling is needed to get a good fit. This took a little time.

Onto making some of the bits for the model OK who forgot to get the glue yes you guessed it the wife but only because I forgot to ask her too Well at least I get to cut as many pieces as I can so looks like plenty of glueing on Sunday as I am at my woodturning club tomorrow.
The last picture you can see all the little sub assemblies, by doing it this way it makes it easier to work on smaller units that a larger whole unit this will also make it easier to apply a finish when it comes to it.

Looking through the plans it will not be too long before I do the tracks which I am leaving until the last job but it is all the little fiddly bits that seem to take the time.
I can hear some cheering that this is nearly finished.

 

[AES]

I seems a shame to pick on something particular to comment about amongst this display of excellence, but I remember a while back you commenting about not being fully satisfied with the steering wheel. In the new "collection shots" above I now see it again, and as you said, you have further improved it. It now looks absolutely superb - along with the rest - and again, that jerry can sticks in my mind.

First class, museum-quality work Sir.

=D> =D> =D> =D>

AES

 

[Dalboy]

I seems a shame to pick on something particular to comment about amongst this display of excellence, but I remember a while back you commenting about not being fully satisfied with the steering wheel. In the new "collection shots" above I now see it again, and as you said, you have further improved it. It now looks absolutely superb - along with the rest - and again, that jerry can sticks in my mind.

First class, museum-quality work Sir.

=D> =D> =D> =D>

AES

Thank you AES
Yes you are right I did say I was not satisfied with the design of the one on the plans so made my own design. I am still not 100% sure about the jerry can now that I have seen a picture of the real thing but it will remain as is for the moment while I think about it. The plans show it as I have made it except for the handles which I did change. Having said that I think that I can change them without having to remake them completely as it is the pouring spout that needs looking at so will have to sleep on it before making up my mind.
I have taken a day off of the build today and spent it at the woodturning club watching a demonstration, which was very enjoyable. While there I did manage to buy some spray finish for the half track, as well as get a first in one section of the turning competition and a second in another and if that was not all won the raffle for a £10 Axminster tools voucher so I had a great day.

 

[SteveF]

did the yew bowl take first?

it deserved to

Steve

 

[Dalboy]

did the yew bowl take first?

it deserved to

Steve

No that took second and the blue rimmed one took first.

 

[Dalboy]

Anyway back to the build today started by making three tools a axe, a shovel and a hammer. I made all the heads first and then moved onto the handles which I used dowelling. All of these I made a tenon on the dowel to fir into the heads.

Next on the agenda was some side boxes only to discover that I made a left and right but only needed one.

Moving on to the lights I decided to add some highlights by putting a darker wood as the light and keeping the surround the same colour as the main body. The larger ones were not to bad as they are 1/2" diameter but the little lights are only 3/16" diameter so the insert was under 1/8" which can be seen in one of the photo's.
I have included a photo of the light assemblies with the lights nearly ready to be glued together.

Now to cut out the parts for the jerry can holders and start assembling those, they can sit overnight to dry fully before any more work on them.

Nearly forgot to add that I cut all the squares which are to represent hinges not in any photo.
Does not look very much but a lot of it was very small bits, it does not help when you keep dropping the centre of the lights right in the pile of shavings from the lathe.