M2A1 Halftrack restoration-- dialup beware

[Paul S.]

Are there any recent sales of comparable (condition, etc.) halftracks that you can use to demonstrate recent or current market value? That will get you a new quote from the insurer if there are.

[alpaca andy]

The market seems to be going nuts, last few well known auctions they went as high as 150k. Thats ridiculous, id figure about 60k for mine

Are there any recent sales of comparable (condition, etc.) halftracks that you can use to demonstrate recent or current market value? That will get you a new quote from the insurer if there are.

[Peter Laidler]

Now............ Before you start on your next project Andy, what about this book.......?

Are you there Mrs Andy? Get Mr Andy a new ink cartridge and get him started!

[Gil Boyd]

Andy,
I have to agree with Peter about the book. It may seem like a real chore after what you have endured, however, before you forget some of the pain and stress, and before it starts to feel like a doddle, and you buy a Tiger Tank to do up next, put it down on paper.
Looking through the posts, you have so much you can simply write a paragraph or two next to each image as a step by step guide.
Not many private people take on such a challenge outside of tank restoration companies, so it would be a fantastic aide memoire in the years to come for those minded to seekl a similar challenge.
I'll assist............It was a bleak morning when I first set eyes on the green rusting hulk

[enfield303t]

A book would be very interesting however i wonder how many people would buy it. NO I am not trying to throw cold water on the idea but know publishers are always worried whether the costs of publishing will show a return with the potential sales of the book?

How do I know this, my good friends daughter (Oxford Ph.D) wrote a book and according to the publisher was the what he had been waiting his life for yet told her even though it was amazing but no one would buy it. Now to be told it was his dream to have it written yet unsaleable is what it is all about.

Not being a armour person I might buy a copy and if a person can afford to publish it themselves than maybe the risk would be worth the dollars it will cost.

I have found this thread so interesting and Andy did a amazing job of restoring the vehicle.

[Peter Laidler]

On the other hand Enfield 303 and Andy............. I wrote a book about a little known telescopic sight many years ago. This followed a 5 minute discussion with a No4T armed shooter who didn't have a clue how to adjust - or anything else now that I come to think about it his gummed up No32 'scope that was just another everyday tool so far as I was concerned. So I told him what to do. I even had one of the tools that he needed in my pocket! I self published 150. Sold out and so did another 150 or so just to satisfy the demand and a few back orders. Then had to do 300 and then 450 and then another 500. I gave up after that and let someone else take it on at a few pence per book royalties, on trust. Lets just say that that and then the next one paid off my house......

Everyone who sees your half track in the next 25 years WILL ask you a question about it. And your answer will be '.......here's a little booklet that answers every question you're going to ever ask'. That's ANOTHER sold!

[browningautorifle]

Lets just say that that and then the next one paid off my house......

He has a point you know. That and the stills of progression should sell not only for those of us whom require books for the sake of it, but those that may need to follow your example. Maybe 40 years from now...

[Claven2]

Andy, have yo ugot the canvas on the way to make her rain-resistant?

[enfield303t]

On the other hand Enfield 303 and Andy............. I wrote a book about a little known telescopic sight many years ago. This followed a 5 minute discussion with a No4T armed shooter who didn't have a clue how to adjust - or anything else now that I come to think about it his gummed up No32 'scope that was just another everyday tool so far as I was concerned. So I told him what to do. I even had one of the tools that he needed in my pocket! I self published 150. Sold out and so did another 150 or so just to satisfy the demand and a few back orders. Then had to do 300 and then 450 and then another 500. I gave up after that and let someone else take it on at a few pence per book royalties, on trust. Lets just say that that and then the next one paid off my house......

Everyone who sees your half track in the next 25 years WILL ask you a question about it. And your answer will be '.......here's a little booklet that answers every question you're going to ever ask'. That's ANOTHER sold!

i agree Peter, the point I was trying to make is the build should not only be described but should show literally countless color photos of the steps and as someone that was a partner in a print shop years ago color printing can be very expensive as is top quality paper.

Now putting the build and color images on a DVD/CD would be quite inexpensive and much easier to do. Think of viewing it on your large screen TV, it would be awesome. The first one would take time and effort, after that you could turn them out quickly and cheaply.

The build is fantastic and again not trying to rain on anyone's parade.

[Gil Boyd]

Enfield,
Take all your points on board having gone through exactly what you describe, or what I perceived was going to be a nightmare when I wrote my first of two books to fundraise for our Airborne Assault museum.
For someone who has never written a lengthy piece, probably like so many of us ex servicemen, I finally found it so rewarding and I'll try to explain why...

Our museum has all the artefacts behind glass these days. It was the constant cleaning of childrens finger prints each day on the glass that drew me to one exhibit and the true story I wrote about.
In one of the glass cases, is a stuffed copy of an alsation cross with a parachute strapped to his back proudly wearing a medal around his neck. "The Amazing adventures of BING the Parachuting Dog" unfolded. A dog that saved countless lives during WW2 who served with the 13th Battalion The Parachute Regiment, who was awarded the Dicken Medal the animal equivalent to the Victoria Cross for his bravery after the war.

I thought that if thousands of children found the stuffed dog interesting by leaving their mark, I could perhaps write a childrens book which may appeal to them.
Well it certainly did, and has made a lot of money for our Regimental museum.

So my point is, and something I have raised before on the site about retaining and sharing historical wartime information, if you do keep these stories to yourself, or expect someone else to write them and you turn up your toes unexpectadly, where does that valuable information go??
I like many, find computers mostly a blessing, in comparison to typewriters, until you do something wrong or it does something wrong for you, causing great frustration. Now My Windows 8 is great testament to that

However, as you identified, placing the story on a DVD is the way forward as costs do spiral on the production of colour images in books, the reason why I had most done in pen and ink to illustrate.
So Andy may consider that way as a great alternative and at least he can produce and sell just that amount that is called for, rather than having a stack of books sitting around and the costs associated with postage etc.
The build of this M2A1 is a great achievement and should I believe be recorded for history.

Mind you, who are we to tell anyone to do something, especially when there are only so many hours in a day along with work as well, and that decision lies with him, but I for one would buy a copy, because I marvel at men technically blessed with taking apart and putting back together such wartime pieces for histories sake on their own.
As it finds a new life and is preserved for the future all I can do is marvel at the achievement and wish I had been involved in bringing the old girl "back to life" after her splendid wartime service.
Post script.......from what I learnt in producing a hardback book, I have now completed my last softback book on "Myrtle the Parachuting chicken during WW2".

Story book on BING to follow narrated by a famous person.......now where is Speilberg when you want him??
Go for it Andy and good luck.