Boys and Girls. Howdy from Madison, WI Been hanging around here on and off for sometime. I have finally made a deal with my uncle to get the old 1949 GMC pickup sitting out infront of my Grandma's barn for as long as I can remember. It still parked in the weeds but I'm in the process of getting it back to Madison now. I finally have a tiny garage that I can work on it. The truck used to be the old Muscoda Water and Light truck so it has a tool box bed on it. I'll pull that off and looking at doing a flat bed. I'm dreaming of a period rod that doubles as a shop truck. I guess we will see when I get it back here. Just a matter of time and money. I've never fixed/restored a non-military vehicle so this should be interesting. I'll be looking to you guys for help and insperation! I have a deep intrest in old cars and bikes so I would say I'm no expert in either. A little about me... I'm 27. I was in the Army for 6 years and now working for the State. I really dig all things vintage or retro. I've been a WWII reenactor for 3 years. I also do art as a hobby. Some of you guys might know me from the now defunct Custom Bicycles Forum that I ran. I know there were some HAMBers on there. I have my own website for reenacting and my art. Ares Studios .com Here is some of my hot rod art for S&Gs... http://www.aresstudios.com/Vintage.htm I'm also looking for other folks here in WI that are not billet builders. Also looking for any club info in this area. Any help would be great. Sorry no pics of the truck yet...Not till I pull it out of the spot its in. Shes not real purty anyway. Thanks Guys. Brian
"Hi to the FNG from Wisconsin" Hey Brian, Welcome. Cool art. You will enjoy the friday art show. Later, Mike
I'm helping my dad reconstruct a late 1800's log cabin not far from Muscoda- nice area - good luck with the truck and welcome. Jake
Hi...my dad moved up to Madison last year, so I visited this summer...nice town On that truck, how about leaving the toolbox bed on it, and paint it up to look like a municipal truck? or if it still has enough of the original finish on it, leave it as is, and have a "real" traditional work truck! just a suggestion...
I am from Brookfield IL, but i am going to school in Milwaukee so i am kinda a cheesehead. What unit do you reenact WWII with? I also reenact. I am with the 90th ID. We are a brand new unit. I actually just got our charter from the HRS in the mail the other day. What military vehicles do you have? We just got our M36 Jackson tank destroyer runnin. O ya welcome by the way! Lil Joe
How does the body and paint look , could you clear coat over the paint and keep it original? I think the old work truck are super cool.
Thanks for the warm welcome... The truck still has the Muscoda Water stencil on the door. It has a two tone pain job. Yellow/gold and black if I remember right. Would be cool to keep but it needs to much rust repair and straighting to keep the paint. I could repaint it in the same scheme. But like I said before plans can change in a heart beat. The boxes look like these. but alot older. http://www.warnerbodies.com/select_pro.html They are a differnet color also. Not exactly the style i'm going for. I do like the work truck idea as much as the shop truck but who knows. The boxes 1970s/80s square style doesn't really go with the rounded 1940s GMC look. I do know that the boxes weigh a ton and will make that poor old 6 work like a rented mule. I thought about making boxes that look older or go better with the truck. lil Joe, 1st/502nd PIR. Our unit website is here. Widowmakers 502nd Be sure to check it out. We have a 1944 Dodge WC52. Here are some pics before the restoration started. www.aresstudios.com/DodgeWeaponsCarrier.htm She is torn apart in my Dad's garage right now. He doesn't have enough time to work on it. Thanks again guys. Brian
I've never understood the whole war reenactment thing. It seems to me it would be a lot more fun if you used real ammo, I'd go watch that, from a safe distance. If the reenactments took place in real time they could go on for years, right? If you wanted to reenact the 100 year war, you'd probably be dead before it was over. Anyways, welcome.
Given the number of Wisconsin Boys on the HAMB... Is there a club in the area? Pretty sure that would be the best way to learn the skills I need to do the truck up right the first time. Also hang with some fellas that know about the stuff I dig. Someone let me know. Thanks Brian
Seriously, if we have war reenactments, shouldn't we also have prisoner of war ones too? Only the most rabid followers of history would volunteer for that assignment.
"People from Wisconsin are wierd. That can be overlooked though." At least you can spell "wierd" not like some guy's from Salt Lake City who shall remain namless for their own protection. Right Kris?? Welcome, nice art, be sure you contribute to the Friday night Art thingy. Keep the Patina on the Truck Bob
We don't glorify war...Just trying to honor the veterans and (try to) educate the ignorant public. Thats all. Brian
True. And I must admit I got a warm glow from seeing the vintage airplanes flying over downtown Orlando this weekend. If I'd have known there was a parade to honor our veterans I would've gone, and that's my ignorance and I feel bad. Do whatever makes you happy Brian, but I still don't get it. It was in the act of war that our veterans died, I would think that a reenactment could do nothing but bring back bad memories. I live in a neighborhood that's got a lot of Vietnamese living there, I'm not sure anyone could cajole them into acting out the other side. I would think that the best way to honor our veterans would be to join the armed forces and put your life on the line in an actual war. I'm sorry, I'm just a cynical asshole. Post some pics of your truck already.
speaking of missing i miss my dad, a veteran,been gone a long time, thursday is vets day thank a veteran for hotrodding, i know thats how it started
Hello from another FNG! Muscoda huh? Hell I used to live in Dodgeville (sorry to say) Glad to see more beer drinkin' cheese eater's on here. Get some pics of that truck up soon.....
[ QUOTE ] Do whatever makes you happy Brian, but I still don't get it. It was in the act of war that our veterans died, I would think that a reenactment could do nothing but bring back bad memories. I would think that the best way to honor our veterans would be to join the armed forces and put your life on the line in an actual war. [/ QUOTE ] If you reenact and sit and talk to the vets that are able to come out to the reenactments you would see alot of emotions from them. They tell stories and laugh and cry a little and we look like little kids hanging on their every word. They love to see someone wearing what they wore, carrying what they carried and giving them the attention they deserve. I have had family comw up to me after "grandpa" or "dad" talk with us for 30 min and say "I've never heard him talk about the war." The vets shake our hand, smile and ask to have their picture taken with us. THAT is a huge honor. I did join the Army as a Infantryman. I was in Saudi in '97 protecting our troops. Got out 4 months away from deploying to Iraq. Some say lucky me. Don't sweat it brother. I can come across as a dick sometimes also. No harm done. The pics of the truck will come soon hopfully. I LOVE seeing all the WI Boys in here! This is great. Brian
Welcome aboard! Think I'd keep the tool box, and any Power & Light Co. signage, too, if they're in half-way decent shape. Just my opinion, though. It's your ride, so do your own thing
[ QUOTE ] Given the number of Wisconsin Boys on the HAMB... Is there a club in the area? [/ QUOTE ] WI is a club!
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