The aft ply-wood area being installed in three sections, the center section being installed with screws so it my be removed to inspect or repair the engine mounting frame.

     The aft area complete and primed. Note the hatch openings near the transom for the port battery access.

     Aft area with final coat of yellow paint.

     With the hull complete, I now needed to complete the AT-19 tail. Photo below shows me with the tail ready for covering. The tail is made up of two sections, the forward main section which comprises of a portion of a AT-19 fuselage, and the second, the AT-19 tail rudder.

     AT-19 tail in Royal Navy colors. (Photo courtesy of Bob's Aircraft Documentation)

     Tail rudder covered with cotton fabric. Photo was taken after applying the first coat of clear dope.

     Forward portion of tail with fabric on one side.

     Forward portion of tail with fabric completed.

     After three years of searching we finally found the automobile headlight ring that had been mounted on the windsled 50 years ago and this was no easy task. I started by questioning my father as to the origin of the light, he couldn't remember the make of the automobile but that it had to have been manufactured prior to the construction of the windsled in 1950. After purchasing a mountain of books on American automobiles I found myself no closer to finding the light. On one of my frequent trips to "Chicago Iron", located in Ashland WI. I was told that there was a barber in Ashland that knew a lot about old cars and that if anyone could identify the light on the windsled he could. Good, I went right over and showed him the photo of the windsled and he said that he didn't know the make of the automobile but there was a man that owns a salvage business named "Ray's Auto" and if anyone could identify the headlight he could, great I thought, and drove to Washburn WI. for a visit that would take just long enough for Ray to say, "There is a guy that owns a salvage business called "Rich's Auto Salvage", and he could tell you where it came from", wonderful and I was on the road again. After a great conversation at Rich's Auto, I found myself on the road in search of a man at "Simon's Auto" in Hayward WI. They directed me to an old barn that had a large supply of chrome headlight rings hanging on the inside walls. They said, "Just look through them all, we might have what you are looking for." After three years of searching I found not one, but two headlight rings with sealed-beam conversions identical to the one used by my father on the Russell windsled. The reason I couldn't find the headlight in any of the automobile books I had purchased became very clear when I looked over the lights. On the bottom of the mounting ring I found the name "K&D Lamp Co." I was informed that they manufactured custom parts for auto's that could be added by the owner, in this case, we believe it was from a 1942 "Nash".

     Ply-wood frame mounted to front of cabin.

     Frame covered with galvanized steel.

     Headlight ring was painted chrome, steel and ply-wood trim red.