Recovery of existing and fabrication of new chassis to body brackets for the Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie and the two Sd.Kfz.223 3.Serie bodies continues. The rear half of the body for the Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie has just been fitted to the chassis to allow for the positioning of the body brackets to be bolted to the U clamps on the chassis. Fiddly work but very necessary that this is done correctly and carefully. See the video on Facebook of part of this process.
Earlier in the week both rear fender supports were completed. The front fenders are next in line once all the fender supports are finished for the Sd.Kfz.223 3.Serie. Preparations are underway for the curved metal sheeting with rolled edges for the fenders.
The gun mount for the Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie is progressing (See lead image).The co axial MG mount is underway. All the parts have been soaked allowing the disassembly process to be a little easier. Painstaking work involving a myriad of small parts all having to be freed up, removed, cleaned and ultimately primed, painted and reassembled. The last part of this work is still a way off.
The required components for the next step towards completing the plate visors for the Sd.Kfz.223 3.Serie Aufbau bodies are with us and will be picked up within the next downtime in the Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie project. We are awaiting a number of other small fittings from our pattern maker for the plate visors as well. This week’s Inside Track is focussing on a very rare survivor from one of these plate visor assemblies – the glass vision block. The early narrow type – the first we have come across.
Sd.Kfz.261 5.Serie. The rear cross member is not yet ready to be completed. We expect that this will be in hand later next week. The metal rubber bushes for the suspension / wheel assemblies have been sourced and will be with us in a few weeks. Only the suspension springs and pins for the wishbone assembly are now outstanding. Our spring specialist is currently busy with our previous tasks and will get on top of the new spring project once this earlier work is completed.
