M3 progress

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TopKick
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Re: M3 progress

Post by TopKick » Fri Apr 04, 2014 5:48 am

Half Tracks are such sexy beasts! 8)
"Keep 'Em Rolling"
TopKick

"Until it's melted down and turned into something else, or blown to Smitherines, it's restorable"!


steve1973
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Re: M3 progress

Post by steve1973 » Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:56 pm

More photos of the progress!! :D

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Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

mfrance
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Re: M3 progress

Post by mfrance » Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:37 am

question: what are you guys going to use for perimeter rail " early " style rolled channel or " later "angle iron ?

looking really good from where you started, excellent

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Re: M3 progress

Post by steve1973 » Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:01 am

We are going to have the perimeter rail bent up for us as original so the answer is rolled. They will be in 10 foot sticks. You need about 4four sticks per halftrack. My halftrack has angle made to look formed. I might change that and go with the formed.

Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

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Re: M3 progress

Post by steveo916 » Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:31 am

i bent up some for my halftrack and the first time i tried it i used 3/16" flat bar.
what i found is that flat bar will crack on the bend line. one of the bends has a close edge distance so a narrow bottom die is required and the flat bar just doesn't work as a result of its higher carbon content and how its made.
i then sheared out strips from a sheet of 3/16" plate and had no problems.
m16 halftrack

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Spec4Don
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Re: M3 progress

Post by Spec4Don » Sun Apr 06, 2014 4:52 pm

My perimeter rail was intact to the B-pillar so will just have to do the back portion. My throw some angle iron on to get by until after Tower Park.

Don G.
1942 M3 Halftrack Zelda MVPA # 31688
Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
Letorneau Model D-4 Airborne Scraper

G102
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Re: M3 progress

Post by G102 » Sun Apr 06, 2014 5:27 pm

We build complete Perimeter rails with the gussets,
All the necessary holes, and proper bends to fit the entire body
For M-2 and M-3 models
Gary

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Re: M3 progress

Post by steve1973 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 8:53 pm

Well guys, after four long years Don's halftrack restoration is, for the most part, done. All that is left is the front fenders, perimeter rail and the finishing touches. Great job Don! :D

Here is a video of Don having fun with his halftrack.

Enjoy!

Steve A.

http://youtu.be/srli7kQbu1k
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

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Re: M3 progress

Post by steve1973 » Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:33 pm

Don And I got the fenders on tonight and pulled ZELDA out for some photos. Yes ZELDA is the track's name. I will let Don explain that to you. Good Story. Any how it is as complete as it is going to get at this point for Tower Park. Here are some photos.

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OK that was the good news. There is some bad news. You know the saying one step forward, two steps back. Well, we have experienced a lot of that with this project. The latest in that is while we were hanging the first fender Don found a puddle of brake fluid under both rear brake plates which means both wheel cylinders are shot. :( No time to fix now so he capped off the line to the rear brakes and we will deal with that after Tower Park. To top that off I went next door to my other shop to find a puddle under one of my rear brake plate which means mine is leaking also. Sound like we will have to de-track both vehicles to fix brakes when we get back. Oh well, time for some fun first at Tower Park. :)

Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

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Re: M3 progress

Post by Tapper02 » Wed Apr 16, 2014 11:19 pm

Great works fellas....can't wait to see the tracks (and you guys too) next week!

-Tom
1944 Autocar M3A1 Halftrack
1944 Schelm Bros. M10 Ammunition Trailer

MVPA # 30507

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Re: M3 progress

Post by yd328 » Thu Apr 17, 2014 3:09 am

That is terrific work, now the driving fun begins. Should be great at Tower Park.

Gary
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M2A1 Half Track ( Undergoing Resto)
M10 Ammo Trailer

Kevin Lockwood
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Re: M3 progress

Post by Kevin Lockwood » Thu Apr 17, 2014 4:54 am

Really a sweet track Don. Congrats on getting her this far along.
42 Ford GPW
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked

brian in denver
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Re: M3 progress

Post by brian in denver » Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:34 am

grunt engineers TO&E ?? is this correct for ground pounders ? my sister unit, I was in the 9-15E
http://militaryresearch.org/5-17%2013Mar44.pdf

BB
keeping it strac here boss
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Spec4Don
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Re: M3 progress

Post by Spec4Don » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:26 pm

Right on Brian! A brother Engineer! I couldn't open your link but the 12th may have had a halftrack or 2 I found this in the 12th's history it was reorganized in 42 as Engineer Motorized Battalion. Anyway we were Mechanized and our compnay was attached to the 1st Brigade 8th infantry. So the best of both worlds WW2 and my unit! :mrgreen:

12th ENGINEER BATTALION



Constituted 1 July 1940 in the Regular Army as the 12th Engineer Battalion (Combat) and assigned to the 8th Division (subsequently the 8th Infantry Division). Activated 1 July 1940 at Camp Jackson, South Carolina. Redesignated 21 May 1942 as the 12th Engineer Motorized Battalion. Redesignated 1 May 1943 as the 12th Engineer Combat Battalion. Inactivated 25 October 1945 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Activated 17 August 1950 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Redesignated 15 June 1954 as the 12th Engineer Battalion (Combat). Inactivated 15 April 1995 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
1942 M3 Halftrack Zelda MVPA # 31688
Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
Letorneau Model D-4 Airborne Scraper

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Re: M3 progress

Post by Viking27 » Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am

Great looking track Don! Wish I was done, but not enough time for all projects.

Hinrik
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