Naruto

Really nice to see this! Good thing that you restored the multibank, most will just put in a radial. Great workmanship! I am interested about the condition of your 3-piece transmission. Ours is a one piece transmission and everthing was as good as new, due to all the oil that was still in there. Thought maybe the 3-piece could be more troublesome by sweating oil? We get some new rubber on our wheels. A company in the netherlands makes them cause till today the same wheels are still used in our harbors. What was the main problem with your wheels?

We were not planning to take deacs to Normandy, only our Halftrack M5. We’re planning to go with 7 people (in British uniforms) in the halftrack (ages from 21-44 years, no 8 years old ) We were thinking to join up a group (like www.normandyevents.com) that arrange accommodation and permissions. But I think my question is answered, Halftracks (armoured vehicles) are allowed with the right permissions

Hi all, don't know if this is the right place. But we have the idea to go to Normandy this year with our halftrack m5. Now we heard a rumour that no armoured vehicles is allowed, is this correct? Anyone who has more information regarding this? thx Ivo

Thought I could post this up. It's their first testdrive

New update Ernest worked on the aircleaner covers. http://www.priestm7b1.nl/

For me it's a little different, I got enrolled by my father’s hobby. When he was around 16 (I think) he was interested in cars (born in 1961), his dad came up with the idea to let him restore an ww2 Jeep not some race car, because it's saver Due to speed limit etc. When he restored the Jeep he got more and more interested in the ww2 and other vehicles. After his first Jeep he restored another one and started with an Halftrack m5 international. Then my sister was born and a little I was also born. So he got less time for the hobby. He stacked the Halftrack but still drove around with the Jeeps. My mom and dad even married in this Jeep. When I turned 16 I was of course interested in the ww2 vehicles due to the events we attended. Also on that time I learned some restoration skills (restored a crosser and jamathi). So the idea was to start with the restoration of the halftrack m5 with my dad, Ernest, Glenn and myself. By the years I learned more restoration skills and also about the ww2 especially about armored vehicles. We had still the wish to restore a Sherman one day. And in 2003 we got a Priest (which is based on an m4a3) now were still working on that and want to get it running next year. Also the Halftrack is now almost finished. Due to engine problems it took us a while. We had an event in Ijselstijn and were almost ready to go with the Halftrack. But then on the first test drive we had a big engine failure. After that event we did some minor work on the Halftrack but lost our motivation, but nowadays we got our motivation back and it runs great so now we can finish it. Also to point out is that I was in the beginning a little more interested in the mechanics and vehicles of the ww2, but then after a while you want to now more about what happened and in what conditions there was fought. We now also have an website with our restoration work: http://www.priestm7b1.nl

New update, we made a lot of progress. Engine bay is looking neat now with aircleaners. The top of the aircleaner was almost completely rusted away, so we had to fabricate a new piece and with some old good pieces. Still have to neat it up and make an valve in it (like the original) for in winter use (valve opens to enginebay so hot air will flow in the aircleanders). check out the site http://www.priestm7b1.nl

Made some photos of the interior our finished Humber mk4. Though I could post them up here for other people. Sideline: BESA is not mounted (stacked in weapon locker), also all bullets are inert and 37mm is deactivated (all license acquire).

Hi Niels, Nice pictures, had contact with Jim. Sadly didn't had the time to make some photo's since the humber is packed for storage. Will try to make some photo's upcoming saterday. Ivo

I hope soon Things starting to look good, only downside is the bogie wheels. Found out that the shafts that hold the arms for the wheels are to corroded to use. So that will take the progress a bit back due to finding new shafts and bushes etc. So we leave the bogies for now and go further on the engine bay, no problems in finding work Greetz

Hi all, Some of you may know but we are currently busy with the restoration of a Priest M7B1 Self Propelled Gun. The Priest is based on a M4A3 Sherman tank with a 105mm Howitzer canon. We have a website with a lot of photo's of the restoration work; http://www.priestm7b1.nl This is our last work at the engine compartment, we're using new steel. This is how it looked when we cleaned the Priest, before the resto starts Greetz Ivo

Very nice article, thanks for sharing! and above all great rescue, any movies coming up? of starting the beasties

Hi Joris, That sound great! We're currently trying to get the Priest running again. We only focus on the running gear for now (bogie wheels, tracks, drivetrain and engine). It's still a lot but not as much as a the little details. Our idea is to get it running in january. So I think we will be present with our Priest in 2010

Hi all, I have joined the forum found our own webpage on the internet. Saw also the screaming ducks banner. Joris we had a great time in Hemmen, good memories! The site is updated, it is now in english and we are working on the Priest again, so more updates are coming! http://www.priestm7b1.nl/ Greetz Ivo