The finding of the commanders left side hatch panel was told in #7.
I had already had replacement a panel produced by a firm in Melbourne’s south east using the cut-off right side piece as a mirror patten. They wanted $713.00 for one cut to shape with a garnet/water jet process. The main cost was the setting up of the computer program for the water jet machine. I had a brain wave and had 9 produced for only $130.00 more. I needed only one for the left side but quickly sold the other 4 sets (Left and right). One went overseas and selling them gave me some extra restoration money. I had them made slightly over size as no two Lynx hulls would have been cut exactly the same way. They needed trimming on the bottom and rear sides but the top and where they met the front armour was correctly cut with the correct angles. The surrounding panel then only needed trimming at the bottom and rear to suit each vehicle and the placing of the hinges and the bullet splash strips on the inside. All the holes were drilled during production as well.
Here is the new panel welded into place with all holes etc in place.
Buried for close to 50 years didn't do too much damage.
It was amazing that even the light weight splash guard was not rusted through.
A bit of heat soon broke the rust and I was able to remove the hatch opening mechanism, lock plate and splash guard.
Rick