Renault FT – Restoration – Eight Years In
A Long Journey It is eight years since we decided to attempt to restore a WW1 Tank. This week that ambition comes one step closer…
June 23, 2017
A Long Journey It is eight years since we decided to attempt to restore a WW1 Tank. This week that ambition comes one step closer…
Photo focus on the StuG III interior during restoration This photo focus is a continuation of the internal view of the StuG III . .…
Photo focus on the interior of the StuG III during its restoration This photo focus is a brilliant insight to the workings of a StuG…
Rethinking the Numbers Analysis of the FT armour plates after heat treatment delivered a significant breakthrough. The FT assembly number is 994. This is only…
Working the Numbers Further research into period photographs and archive documentation posed more questions about the viability of the numbering theory. The primary hull provider…
The End of the Paint Debate Our previous piece on the Renault FT and TSF interior covered the crew cabin area below the turret. The…
Success! Part 1 covered the trommelhalter or top cover for the PT 34 doppeltrommel double drum magazine. The other key component now that the ‘horse’…
Discovery of three heavy rectangular metal blocks. In stripping the turret down we discovered a number of counterbalances or weights, which are quite specific to…
The next in our series of 360s! See the internal of the Sd.kfz 251 in detail. Find it under “Collection . . . This article…
Our new acquisition The 3 Serie Sd.Kfz 223 is the last to use the doppeltrommel or PT34 double drum magazine for the MG34. The later…
Road wheels reveal substance hidden for years… The process of cleaning the road wheel yielded yet another surprise. After removing decades of grease and mud…
Photo focus on the StuG III’s gun mount These photos were taken of the gun mount after its initial restoration before it was installed in…
Analysis reveals interesting technique The Tank Museum’s rare prototype Renault FT road wheels were in very good condition. This condition was surprising given that the…
Exploring the Differences Our previous piece on gas mask holders alluded to differences we have discovered in the various gas mask holders we encountered over…
Research Continues One of the defining characteristics of the Sd.Kfz 250 le. SPW, the Sd.Kfz 251 halftrack and the Sd.Kfz 222 and 223 armoured cars…
Searching for Lost Information The main identifier of when and where our Sd.Kfz 251 Ausf.D mittlerer schützenpanzerwagen was produced has been lost. This is the…
Identifying the Correct Pieces Part 2 discussed the dimensions of the instruments recorded from the surviving 4 Serie Sd.Kfz 223 A in the US Cavalry…
What do They Mean? During our research into the various projects we have undertaken, we often come across information, markings or items that we are…
Nearing The End Our deadline for the project to complete the restoration of the Renault FT and TSF is end of 2017 / early 2018…
Finding a Survivor Our 4 Serie Sd.Kfz 222 le.Panzerspaehwagen has no internal loading plan listed within the STT report covered in our last piece. There…
Our Analysis Confirmed Study of classified reports on two armoured cars within the Tank Museum archives has provided additional confirmation of our analysis of the…