Colorado Melons

What started out as something people would cringe at when they saw it under construction, ended up being quite the crowd pleaser.  If I were to offer any advice to anyone considering a similar build, it would be,

“Don’t do the chop and section at the same time if you’re not sure of what you’re getting into. It could be very easy to lose your motivation and give up from seeing just the cab in eight separate pieces. Do one. Get it solid. Then do the other.“

In NJ, blue lights are reserved for Firefighters
and you have to have a permit to run one.

I no longer own this vehicle, but some of the images and their descriptions below may help understand why I don’t relate to people who say they don’t have the resources to do something – whatever that something is that they may dream about.

I understand that some people choose to focus on the obstacles in their way instead of the goal. Some people will even continue to throw obstacle after obstacle in their way so they’ll always have a reason not to progress. I’m not going to try to change anybody else (it’s enough work to focus on myself), it’s just that I don’t relate to it ;-) …  It may not happen in the time-frame we’d like, but if you don’t keep at it, it won’t happen at all:

 

Click the images below for a larger version.

I picked up the ‘58 from this really cool guy up near Denver Airport. He was honest and friendly from the moment we met him.

The interior is all truck… just the way I like it: Push button starter
on the floor, big steering wheel, vacuum wipers (pssssh, pffft), and an
emergency brake lever you can sing along with as you go down the road.

The engine is a straight-6 and will probably last forever. About
half-way home on the 40-50 mile trip two more cylinders must’ve kicked
in. I couldn’t believe the sudden surge of power.

The PTO worked when I got the truck but the dump pump needed to be rebuilt and remounted before the bed would dump. The box may someday become a stake body, and then again it may not.

The first shot of the underside is looking forward. The drum brake at
the rear of the transmission is a little hard to make out, but you can
see the PTO shaft on the left and the pump hanging on the right. The
center pic shows the dual dump pistons, the frame label and spare
carrier. The shot on the right is obviously from the front facing the
rear.

You know, it’s been said that a good deal is when both parties walk
away happy. I’m thankfull that I purchased this truck from Mike. He
really went out of his way to take care of us and we appreciate it.

More later as the truck improves (it may eventually go back to being blue).

I went up for my first tailwheel session on 26 January 2002 in a restored 1947 USAF L-16 with
Tony Markl,
a remarkable educator and pilot. Before I took the 1st lesson,
someone made a comment to me about how the only time tailwheel planes are different is on the ground…
That may very well be true if you’re flying something like a converted 172, but this was an entirely
new experience for me.

As a matter of fact, my piloting experience had thus far been limited to traditional, side-by-side Pipers and
Cessna 150’s & 172’s. I’ve read that the tandem seating arrangement of the Aeroncas doesn’t leave you with that
“man trapped in an airplane” feeling but at 6′1″ & 220 lbs I really didn’t expect to have all the elbow & leg room
that I did.

The whole of the experience is definitely “grass-roots aviation”. It’s difficult for me to articulate,
but you’re mentally sharper and there’s more of a feel for what’s going on:
i.e. You pay attention to the wing & horizon for bank and pitch.
It’s not like you’re going for a ride in and airplane. Its more like the craft becomes part of you.
After a couple of seconds, you won’t be thinking about controlling the plane – you’re thinking in terms of
what “I” am doing.

I won’t attempt a written description of the actual instruction at this time since I wouldn’t
do it proper justice. I had originally planned to take tailwheel training to get the
endorsement, but I’ve learned to realize that people like Tony Markl only come around once in a
lifetime. If you’re planning on getting your tailwheel endorsement, this is the man to see. I plan
on returning as often as he’ll allow… I’m becoming a better pilot & my head is in a better
place for having spent time with this man.

You may read about and/or contact Tony at his website:
Tailwheel-and-Fabric-Spoken-Here.com.