The armoured hull is now within days of completion as the team fits the remaining upper front panels – bonnet and the driver’s visor area. The visor area will require considerable stitching together given its poor condition when secured by us hear at the Weald Foundation.
This is most complete original armoured body we have had to deal with in our armoured car projects. The end result of over twenty five years of collecting will enable a very original Sd.Kfz.261 5.Serie to once again emerge from the shadows. The current task is the repairing of many cracks in the bonnet for this armoured car (see lead image) and reinstating the strip lost of the top end of this wonderfully original panel.
Other 3kg Ladung cases have been secured which will be crucial in us being able to complete the fitting of the stowage boxes on all of our le.Pz.Sp.Wg. – the Sd.Kfz.222 4.Serie, Sd.Kfz.223 3.Serie and the current project Sd.Kfz.261 5.Serie. These will also allow us to accurately create authentic copies of these very rare cases.
On the machining front our team has been pursuing the spring retainer fabrication for the Sd.Kfz.261 5.Serie utilising the various CNC work centres. Replacing some of the tooling has been an issue given the task at hand – now remedied. A few very important artefacts are awaiting delivery. More about those when they arrive.
Have a good weekend everyone!!
