Sd.Kfz 223 and Sd.Kfz 222 Ausf A – Fitting the Plaques -Schmierplan & Dueseneinstellung Schild - Inside Track | Renault TSF Tank Kent

Reproducing accurate copies of these two very rare plaques requires careful planning. The two brass plaques for driver’s instructions in the Renault FT had to be redone 3 times to achieve a good end result. The differences between the hulls of the 3 Serie Sd.Kfz 223 Ausf. A to the 4 Serie example are being uncovered a step at a time as we delve deeper into the research for our armoured car projects. Our earlier piece on the different armour profiles between the 3 Serie and the 4 Serie warned us from the outset to expect more breaks in unexpected areas. The plaque artwork for the dashboard is now complete. This was covered in an earlier piece. The challenge now is to research the plaques and the area in which they are positioned in detail. Our research to date has shown there are differences in the schmierplan between the Typ 801 and Typ 801 v lines.This was proven by the detailed schematics showing the greasing plan in D 664/5 of 3 Mar43 Einheitsfahrgestell I Geratbeschreibung and the equivalent manual for the Typ v. Access to various internal images showing this greasing plaque and the Duseneinstellung plaque have enabled a visual comparison of the differences albeit from grainy images. Comparing the size differences between the plaques has proven relatively straight forward given the research within surviving 3 Serie and 4 Serie Aufbau (superstructure). Measuring the rivet holes fixing the plaques to the base on the wall of the superstructure proved very interesting. Plotting the holes on the backing panel proved the Schmierplan and Duseneinstellung plaque sizes are no different within the 3 Serie and 4 Serie machines. What is different are the backing plates. The 3 Serie example is tacked on whereas the 4 Serie example has been laboriously welded on. See the attached images. The shadow of where the backing plates had been tacked on is clearly visible on the 3 Serie images. Having plotted the dimensions of the rivet fixing points of the plaques we turned to the perimeter of the plaque and how deep the edging was around the perimeter. The results were then compared to other plaques/plates of the armoured car range. The size of the plaques and positioning of them is now determined. What remains to be done is the uncovering of the text, font and size of the detail on each plaque together with the technical drawing on the Schmierplan. This process will have to repeated for the 5 Serie typ v for our late Sd.Kfz 223 Ausf.B.

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