The chassis from the Brittany Sd.Kfz 223 continues to receive attention. The rear engine rest has been fitted, all the damaged or stopped bolt mounting points have been cleared and re threaded. The gearbox casing has been cleaned and all the bearings and bushes have been recorded to make up a large order together with those required for the differential. The casing for the differential has been cleaned and is now ready to be painted pending the paint analysis results for the gearbox and differential from our paint conservation partners at Lincoln Conservation. The side armour including the door and the engine decking have been repaired and are ready to be reassembled. A further steering wheel has been located for this armoured car matching that of the 4 Serie Sd.Kfz 222. This will require repair and attention once it arrives and will be brought back to the same condition as that of the Sd.Kfz 222.
We are waiting for the results of the chassis paint analysis to start painting the chassis for the Sd.Kfz 223. This will allow the reassembly of the chassis to commence as the chassis has been fully repaired now. The front hooks, water pumps and angled steering for this vehicle are having patterns made and will be back with us as soon as the casting and machining are in hand.
We spent the first few hours on Monday cleaning up after a very successful SITREP event on the armoured cars. The roofing project continues which has taken longer than expected. Another facility is to follow which will allow the collection to expand. This will house all the armoured cars (German 4 wheeled and the SARC Marmon Herrington MKIIIs), the Schwimmwagen, Kettenkrad, Stoewer and Kfz 21 Cabriolet.
Welding continues on the Sd.Kfz 261 chassis. This has taken a few more days due to the fact that the micro repair work to remove the corrosion has been done using original material from the chassis. The very detailed work to recover the very corroded area at the front of the chassis allowing the front wishbone assemblies and drive shafts to be fitted in exactly the same position has been painstaking.
