Maxson M45F Preservation Project Starts

[ferdockm]

Mark,

Any luck finding the electric lines that go from the solenoids to the connectors on the trunions?

Thanks

[docofcloud]

I have pics of mine if thats what your reffering to, as soon as i get some photos on this site i will show you if it helps

[mkoloc]

Doc, did you ever get those pics?

[mkoloc]

Back at it finally, after a short couple of year pause with moves, relocations etc. Starting the final completion of my quad mount. Fabricated a new battery tray, one on the left as your looking into the back of the quad. The existing one was swiss cheese, but the one on the right was like the day it was made. Also fabricated1 battery hold down post out of square stock as I was missing one that had come off the left tray as it was so rusted. Will post pics tomorrow.

[mkoloc]

Picked up 4 replica 50's from John C in Baltimore OH, and 4 more tombstone ammo cans today. The 50's are set up with the firing solenoids, gas bottles, boards etc mount in the tombstone cans after the rollers are pulled. John's 50's are BEAUTIFUL and he builds them to accept original barrels. Excellent detail, to include stampings on the sideplates. His 50's are a quality product!!! He also makes the mounting pins, front and rear and they are parkerized and beautifully machined to include knurled end's. I'll post pics as soon as I can.

Also installed my new winch cable and original hook and chain a couple of days ago. Did it with my army of one, which worked well up to the point of the last few yards ... need some help with that tasker so the last few yards are not rolled on the drum as neatly as I'd like. I'll grab my neighbor this weekend and have him manage the clutch while I rework the last yards of the cable evenly on the drum.

One thing I noted when I started winding the new cable on the drum was the internal drag brake was set to tightly. She heated up very quickly. I had changed the oil and greased everything but never thought about adjusting the drag. Needless to say, I pulled the front armor off the winch housing and tore into the adjuster. After working it thru its adjustment range several times to loosen things up, I reset it, she works nicely. That old Tulsa, is one he!! of a winch.

[mkoloc]

Some pics as promised. Just dry fitting the 50's to make sure all the new pins work. Rear pins needed a bit of tweaking but fit nicely now. Front pins will need to be turned down a smidge or the mounts opened up a bit. Sons of guns (50's) are heavy when mounting but I like the look. Have to weld my battery bracket on the turret deck, and then it will be time to start putting the rest of the goodies back on and in the turret. Photo shoot is scheduled for 25 Sep with the weather day set as 1 Oct.

Also doing some work on the M10 Ammo Trailer. I know, I jump around a bit but sometimes there's a short hold on one project as I'm waiting for something in the mail and I start working on something else on my list. Fuse box needed a coat of paint and some metal straightened out on the lid and the new (homebuilt to standards) wire harness needs install. Of course I needed to finish up the electrical box 1st and it components (Blackout switch, Intervehicle cable socket) and its now complete so I can hook up the wires before installing the components back into the box.

Labor of love!

[Kevin Lockwood]

Looking awesome Mark.

[mkoloc]

Thank you Kevin ..high praise from the Master !!

[mkoloc]

Ok steady progress to the point that the turret is mounted in the track and I attended my 1st show, a local group that gets together every Friday in a parking lot, approx. 100+ cars. Needless to say we made quite a "splash" with the crowd when we showed up with the track and 42 GPW. Overwhelming crowd response, even with a display board of information I could not keep up with the questions. Just Plain Loved it. I am doing the Hagerty Magazine Picture shoot on Wed the 25th so I need to finish the wiring on the M10 Trailer this weekend. Pics of the turret etc. and at the car show. I had all the weapons, to include my Garand's, Carbines and Thompson. All are original and fully functional.

[mkoloc]

More Pics:

[mkoloc]

Ready for the Magazine shoot tomorrow! My pup Jillian is ready to!

[Corsairone]

Hi Mark,

Looking great! I was wondering if your contact that made your .50 Cals would
be interesting in make a set for my Quad? If so I would appreciate his contact info.

Thanks
Dave Etchell

[mkoloc]

Dave, PM sent.

[mkoloc]

Kevin Lockwood sent you a PM. Please let me know if that's something you stock.

Mark

[mkoloc]

ALCON: Attended a National Car show last week Fri-Sun, with 2700+ vehicles. Out of the top 50 awards we took 1st place and even brought home some $ to offset our costs!! We stole the show period, and had many vendors/ collectors showing cars there state that in all the years they've attended they had not seen the crowds we had at our display. Also took the 42 Ford GPW as part of our display.

It was the best fun I've had in a long time, and validated everything I believe about the public's interest in these unique and historic vehicles. Had to talk the group into letting me bring it to the show as they believed there would not be a lot of interest. Assured them that it would be a crowd pleaser and now they hope that I'll attend next year! Some pics: