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| This
is the FV434 purchased from England
that we started out with January 2007. |
After
lots of grueling paperwork between 2 governments we managed
to import into Canada. |
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| It
took us over a week to cut everything away that didn't look
like a StuGIII. |
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| We
projected a StuGIII image onto plywood and traced it for measurements. |
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| Out
of 1/4" steel plate we started to fabricate the main hull
which is bolted to the bottom hull. |
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| Special
thanks to Brian and all other helpers. |
Engine
was refitted to the back of the new StuGIII. |
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| All
panels are removable just like the original StuGIII, i.e. fenders,
covers & cupola. |
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| The
engine cover was cut & installed with side vents. |
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Original
FV434 Radiator was installed
on right side of engine bay. |
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| Each
engine vent cover took one day to fabricate. |
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Thanks
to Peter & his Dad's lathe we
received great, heavy-duty hinges. |
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| The
mufflers are made & installed and the back is almost done. |
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| Fake
welds were made to imitate
the original heavy armor. |
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| Driver
Viewing Slit fabricated & bolted on. |
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| Slide
opening for main gun optic. |
Hatch
& shield for the machine gunner. |
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Access
hatches for steering
& breaking mechanisms. |
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| After
10 weeks of hard work we finished the metal fabrication of the
outer shell
including the main gun. Now it's ready for sandblast, epoxy-prime
& paint. |
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| Reassembled
after the painting process & first time out. |
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| A
lot of attention was spent on detail to resemble an original
StuGIII as close as possible. |
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| As
seen at the Battle Re-enactment weekend July 14 & 15, 2007
at Upper Canada Village in
Morrisburg, Ontario posing with the 15. Panzer Division &
the 2. Panzer Division Re-enactment Unit. |
We
are looking for spare tracks from a FV434 or FV432, original
German wire cutter or anything else pertainig to the StuGIII.
If you can help or have comments please call or email us at
Willys Acres,
ask for Markus: willysacres@look.ca
or 705-835-5739.
Our next winter project is a PanzerIII so we're looking for
another FV432 or FV434
and pictures from an original PanzerIII, website as well as
inside shots. |
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