A productive week with the Wheatcroft Collection Sd.Kfz.223 ready for its first test drive, original parts being restored for the Weald 223, and a fuel run to support upcoming test drives.
WEALD FOUNDATION SD.KFZ.223 AUSF.A (3. SERIE)
We’ve started restoring a set of original Atemschlauch – the gas mask extension tube containers – that were in very poor condition. Once finished, these will replace the reproductions currently fitted to our Sd.Kfz.223.
THE WHEATCROFT COLLECTION SD.KFZ.223
The leather gaiters and all the interior brackets have been fitted. We’ve also touched up any bolts that didn’t get painted, as a final tidy-up before completion.
Alex is now making the engine dipstick, which was missing. He’s working from photographs and drawings we have prepared.
With all this work done, the vehicle is now ready for its first test drive. We’re just waiting for a break in the recent weather.
FURTHER VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
On Friday, the team headed to the local airport to collect Avgas for upcoming test drives. This fuel will be used across all of our vehicles, but mainly for the Sturmgeschütz III and the Jagdpanther.
RESEARCH UPDATE
We’ve been continuing our research into the provenance of the Sd.Kfz.250/3 Ausf.B and have located some documents with allocation details. These findings will be shared with members in the coming weeks.
LOOKING AHEAD
Next week we plan to drive the Jagdpanther and Sturmgeschütz III out of the Collection Hall to give them a clean, and to take the opportunity to run them properly and get all the parts moving.
Tankfest 2026 is now just three weeks away. Members attending the event are encouraged to come and find us at the StuG III for a chat with the team.
