"Falaise" Otter number 2

[James Gosling]

Hi Hanno,

At the moment it looks like it will be driveable as is, If a little breezy! However I do like your suggestion.

I will post some pictures of the damage tomorrow so you can get a better idea.

James

[tankbarrell]

It's always a tricky one. I don't agree with those who leave range damage and say ''it's part of the vehicles history'' when they have restored it to an in service condition, i.e. before it's time as a target.
Similarly, removing real battle damage seems a shame but sometimes it can be too bad to leave unrepaired.

I like Hanno's suggestion, not something I'd considered before!

[maple_leaf_eh]

Leaving range damage is like not repairing after a car accident or years of neglect. It was not "earned" legitimately. Battle damage is another category altogether. For example, some fellows I know are working on a Saracen armoured car. It suffered from split welds, water ingress and rust damage. But, after priming they found a bullet-like gouge in the plate beside the driver's hatch. This vehicle was used in Northern Ireland, so it is not unimaginable that some unhappy Irishman fired a shot at it.

In the case of the Otter, I like the suggestion replicating the Battle Damage Repair techniques. The inventive use of existing or salvaged parts to make urgent repairs should be the story, not the question of how it was damaged.

[Ganmain Tony]

Strewth James, you're a glutton for punishment!

Well done, its certainly in the right hands what ever you decide to do

Must be starting to get a bit chilly over your way now too

[James Gosling]

Hi Tony,

The day I picked it up, we woke up to snow on the ground and a 5 hour blizzard. Most unusual for Normandy! I think I beat my best loading time that day, 30 minutes from ramps down to loaded and strapped ready for home. A bit warmer with you I think?
James

[Robin Craig]

Congratulations on your trophy and thank you for being the temporary custodian of such a great piece of history for future generations.

R

[eddy8men]

nice project, good luck with it.
the battle damage raises a good question as to how to go about restoring it. I left some of the damage on my cromwell turret from it's time as an artillery target as I thought it added a bit more interest to the vehicle and it just didn't seem right to grind it off and bog it up. there's a strike on the turret roof where it meets the vertical side armour and a piece of the round has been sheared off and is lodged in the gap. not particularly historical but interesting non the less.