The original body design is a timber frame covered in sheet steel. The timber is screwed together in some places and coach bolts used in others. The sheet steel is nailed to the timber. I followed the original parts down to the amount of nail holes in the tinware. I wanted to be as faithful to the original as possible. Oh dear.
The timber work went together well once the original construction was worked out. There were some unusual joints (to me not being a carpenters ring piece) to master. I started to find out how roughly/quick these bodies were put together originally. One side of the body was 25mm longer than the other and the curved roof sections were a different profile each side.
I decided to use a tape measure and a square, something which must have been rationed when this body was originally made.
I did have problems finding enough slotted wood screws and also square nuts for the coach bolts. My new hobby developed, hunting thru glass jars in old blokes sheds.