A milestone week in the workshop, with the Jagdpanther moving under its own power and our Sturmgeschutz III firing up for the first time in years.
THE WHEATCROFT COLLECTION SD.KFZ.223
The team continued working on the windscreens, using the parts Martin machined last week, bringing this vehicle ever closer to completion.
JAGDPANTHER
Following last week’s successful magneto service, the engine deck is now back on and the Jagdpanther is mobile once again.
We adjusted the right-hand steering brake cam and clutch – a known issue we decided to address while the vehicle was receiving attention. With these adjustments made, we reversed the Jagdpanther out of the Collection Hall to test the steering, before driving it back in.
Unfortunately, our yard doesn’t offer enough space for a thorough test, but we’re pleased with the progress. We may have an opportunity to put it through its paces properly before too long – watch this space.
STURMGESCHUTZ III
The real excitement this week came from our ‘Black Sea’ Sturmgeschutz III, which hasn’t been driven since a Members Open Day in 2016. It was briefly run in 2020 during filming with James Holland, but this week marked the first serious attempt to bring it back to full running order.
We began with the basics: inspecting the carburettors to ensure the floats weren’t stuck after years of sitting, fitting two new batteries, topping up the water, and replenishing the gearbox oil.
Then came the moment of truth. We primed the float bowls, and the StuG fired up straight away – a very satisfying sound after all this time. However, once the primed fuel ran out, the engine wouldn’t continue running on its own supply.
We removed the fuel pumps, stripped and cleaned them, and refitted them. They’re now pumping, but not delivering enough pressure. The investigation continues – we’re not yet certain whether the pumps are the root cause, but we’re working through the possibilities methodically.
RESEARCH UPDATE
Away from the workshop, our latest Inside Track article is now available for members, revealing all our latest research into the provenance of our Sd.Kfz.223.
We’ve also made a breaking discovery: documents that further link our Jagdpanther with the 116th Panzer Division, including new details about its delivery and unit assignment. We look forward to sharing this research with members soon.
LOOKING AHEAD
Next week we’ll continue working on the Sturmgeschutz III until it’s fully ready to run. With the fuel delivery issue identified, we’re hopeful of a resolution soon.
