Zeph's Dodge VC1 Command Car Restoration

[zepher11]

Worked on the other side of the body today:

[Ernie Baals]

On the VCs
The command cars and carryalls had the hood number in white on the underside of the hood,
And had a license plate on the rear with the registration number on it
The pickups had white hood numbers on the outside of the hood, like later trucks.

[70th Division]

Hi John
Here is a great video with a lot of VCs in it
You can see how dark the paint is
Keep up the great work!!
Ernie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1jhnSQ ... YLZkifgeEY

Hello Ernie,

That is the greatest Dodge video I have ever seen !!
Thanks for sharing !!


Best Regards,
Ray

[70th Division]

Hi John
Here is a great video with a lot of VCs in it
You can see how dark the paint is
Keep up the great work!!
Ernie

Love that video Ernie! Interesting. I note that the VC's have the registration (hood) numbers in white on the outside of the hood. I know originally they had the registration numbers on the inside of the hood. I was going to only mark the registration numbers on the inside of the hood, but may rethink that now.

Hello Zeph,

I would agree about adding white hood numbers after seeing Ernie's Dodge video !!
You don't want a naked Dodge !!
Great video, very inspirational !!

Best Regards,
Ray

[70th Division]

I am still working a little on the VC1. The weather has been epic with the rain. Zero rain last year, so got a lot done. This years seems to rain every day. I can't roll the body out to get a lot of sanding done. I've done a bit in the shop, but it gets messy fast.

Trying to hide the zillions of weld marks. I'll make is smooth eventually, but it'll be pretty wavy. Will need to add a lot of accessories to hide the body sides. This is a shot of the good side today:

Hello Zeph,

I am happy you are back to work on this CC, and hopefully the California drought is over !!
I notice additional items on your wall, like aircraft recognition charts, looks great !!


Best Regards,
Ray

[Ernie Baals]

The squareness of the rear wheel well always surprised me,
it is such a contrast to the smooth lines of the rest of the truck

[zepher11]

On the VCs
The command cars and carryalls had the hood number in white on the underside of the hood,
And had a license plate on the rear with the registration number on it
The pickups had white hood numbers on the outside of the hood, like later trucks.

Ahhh...that I didn't know!

[zepher11]

Hello Zeph,

I am happy you are back to work on this CC, and hopefully the California drought is over !!
I notice additional items on your wall, like aircraft recognition charts, looks great !!

Best Regards,
Ray

Hi Ray, yes always adding something new to the shop walls!

The squareness of the rear wheel well always surprised me,
it is such a contrast to the smooth lines of the rest of the truck

It is interesting they rear wheel wells aren't curved.

[chibobber]

John,
Jones'n over here for an update. Did you get the monster painted?
Bob

[zepher11]

John,
Jones'n over here for an update. Did you get the monster painted?
Bob

Hi Bob,

Trying to get to it, but Spring has hit and I've been trimming and mowing now. Plus, seems like I have to help someone every day as everyone thinks I have all this "extra" time on my hands. I've made the recent commitment to start saying no...well, at least I'm going to try.

I really wanted to get a few days of clear weather to do some sanding on the body before it becomes hot, but I think I missed that as we'll be close to 100 degrees in a day or two. Off to mow my Aunt's 10 acre field today and tomorrow. Another un-paid handyman duty of mine.

[chibobber]

John,
Thanks for the reply. Screw up a few things and people will stop asking . Just kidding. Have a great weekend.
Bob

[zepher11]

John,
Thanks for the reply. Screw up a few things and people will stop asking . Just kidding. Have a great weekend.
Bob

Hahaha...that's a good idea! Have a great weekend as well!

[wc56daveyboy]

That video link that Ernie sent you


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1jhnSQdKx0

What’s that truck at 3:34 on the video?

Looks like a 3/4 ton open cab with a 1/2 ton bed abd rrar fenders

Must be a prototype

[zepher11]

That video link that Ernie sent you


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1jhnSQdKx0

What’s that truck at 3:34 on the video?

Looks like a 3/4 ton open cab with a 1/2 ton bed abd rrar fenders

Must be a prototype

Looks like a prototype to me too. Looks great as a 3/4 ton pickup. The standard pickup bed was likely abandoned for the extra storage the 3/4 ton open cab bed eventually produced has...with their built in seats for the troops as well.

[zepher11]

Finally! Had some time today to continue trying to smooth out all the welding warpage and stitches on the VC1 body. On the recommendation of someone I talked with the other day, I bought the Dewalt 20 volt orbital sander. OMG! It's a game changer.

The Dewalt orbital sander Instantly obsoleted about $2000 in pneumatic tools and sanding discs as well as another $1,000 plus in hand sanding blocks and rolls of sandpaper I had been stocking up on when COVID hit. I was thinking I still had at least a few weeks of work to add body filler and try to smooth out the body. Well, did it in half a day with the Dewalt sander. Wow! Bummed I stocked up on all that other sanding material, but happy the new technology is easy on my body. Pretty amazing.

Now I'm ready to coat this body in sandable primer to fill in the zillions of imperfections. Hope to do that this Friday morning at around 5am before the heat hits: