This week saw steady, satisfying progress across both Sd.Kfz.223 projects. With the major mechanical work now behind us on the Weald Foundation vehicle, we’ve been able to turn our attention to the smaller jobs that often get postponed – the kind of work that doesn’t stop a vehicle from running but makes all the difference to a proper restoration. Meanwhile, the Wheatcroft Collection vehicle edges ever closer to completion.
Weald Foundation Sd.Kfz.223 Ausf.A (3. Serie)
Following last week’s work on the suspension, Alex completed the reassembly after successfully repairing the universal joint. The running gear is now back together and functioning as it should.
With the engine still accessible, we took the opportunity to replace the fuel pump diaphragm. The old one wasn’t causing problems yet, but showed signs of deterioration – far better to address it now than chase a fuel delivery issue later.
Martin turned his attention to the air compressor, a component that often gets overlooked but was an essential piece of kit for the crew. These were used to inflate the vehicle’s tyres in the field if they lost pressure. Ours is completely original and, while it was in reasonable condition, had never been properly restored. Martin completely dismantled it, repaired the internals as necessary, then sandblasted and repainted it before reassembly. It’s now ready to be fitted in its home near the fuel tanks in the engine bay.
We also made a start on the windscreens, another job that had been waiting for the right moment. The frames were never fully completed – they still needed welding, glass fitting, rubber seals, and the wiper blades installed. The wiper blades and their handles are original parts we’ve held onto for exactly this purpose. It’s satisfying to finally bring these components together.
Alongside all of this, Alex has been machining the final parts needed for the pedestal gun mount. This is precise work that demands patience and accuracy – an excellent opportunity for our apprentice to further develop his skills on components where tolerances really matter.
The Wheatcroft Collection Sd.Kfz.223
Tom continued work on the gunner’s seat, manufacturing the seat back, seat spring, and height lock to complement an original seat base. Having already built a complete seat for our own vehicle, we had the drawings and experience to make this process considerably smoother. Those drawings were themselves developed from wartime photographs and unrestorable original parts we’ve collected over the years.
The vehicle is now tantalisingly close to completion. We’re waiting on a few original parts to arrive, and once they do, we’ll be able to finish what has been a rewarding project from start to finish.
Looking ahead
Next week, we’ll be investigating an ongoing issue with the dynamo on our Sd.Kfz.223 – despite our efforts, we still can’t get it to charge properly. We may need to consult on outside expertise to help identify the fault. In the meantime, we’ll reassemble the rear armour and remaining components, keeping the dynamo accessible from the interior for further work.
We’re also hoping to complete the windscreens for our vehicle and begin manufacturing the equivalent parts for the Wheatcroft Collection Sd.Kfz.223.
