New to the Shilo Museum:WW1 Cadillac Ambulance

[rob love]

So have made some progress thanks to 12+ hour days. Just about to wrap up a 14 hour day now. Still have two days to go before I have to drag it over to the main museum for a display on the Somme. Just about all the woodwork is done, I still have to assemble the bows for the cab along with the header bow. Also still have to make a tie rod between the two headlamps so I can hang the 1912 license plate (which of course would never have made it to the Somme, mind you neither did this truck).

That should leave me a whopping full 24 hour period (who needs sleep after all) to manufacture a tarpaulin. I have a brand new Juki waiting in the textile room, along with a great selection of "common sense" turnbutton fasteners. But I have to admit time is getting tight. Of course, the bosses want to see the upholstery done too, but unless they invent a day between Wednesday and Thursday it isn't likely going to happen.

Anyhoo, here are some shots. It will get a final paint to even up all the touch ups in the morning, so hopefully the smell of fresh paint will be gone by the Friday opening, although it may well be masked by the excellent smell of new canvas.

By the way, I did take a shortcut by making the back door out of oak plywood, as is the firewall. The sides are all tongue and groove, as are the front doors, but the rear door was made up of about 8 pieces, and I am just too exhausted.