Work on the chassis of the Sd.Kfz 223 chassis continues at a pace. The last of the levers for the suspension on the wheel stations are being repaired, blasted, primed and painted. The gearbox is next in line. It is being prepared to be fitted back into the chassis. The brake line material has been ordered and a counterpart has been located to rebuild authentic and safe brake line replacements for both the Sd.Kfz 222 and SdKfz 223. One brake line assembly kit is being sent next week to the counterpart to provide a proof example for us for approval. Thereafter all the missing or damaged brake line assemblies will be replaced with the hopefully now approved examples. The only matching flexible ducting that we have found after many months of searching has now been delivered. 50 meters of it – more than slightly enough for the 4 German armoured cars in focus.
The steering shaft for the Sd.Kfz 223 is being re engineered. It appears that the original was turned upside down to fit a later pattern angled steering box. Alternations were made to the steering shaft to accommodate the steering box. These will be removed, the steering shaft righted hopefully realising a recovered Ausf.A steering shaft assembly.
The orders have gone out for all of the replacement gummi metall buchsen or metal rubber bushes for the suspension on each wheel station. The oil dampers on each wheel station have all be serviced and replaced. Those requiring blasting and repainting and those requiring cleaning to preserve existing paint, have been attended to and are now fitted to the chassis. Articles on the subject have been published this week in Inside Track which provide detail behind these intricate parts.
