Otter in Paramaribo, Surinam

[nuyt]

Dear friends,

I have recently met the new management at the fort and they wonder if it is still worthwhile to rescue the Otter at all.

Does anybody have an opinion on this?

Kind regards,
Nuyt

[maple_leaf_eh]

Is it lost? Is it danger of drowning / stranded on a mountain top / being mauled by a dog / suffering from malnutrition? (Sorry, couldn't resist a little fun with the English language.)

If the vehicle is intact, of course it can be preserved. Doing something is better than doing nothing. New paint can arrest the rust cancer. Jacking up the axles so the tires are not sinking into the soil won't cost anything. Welding any loose panels or doors to reduce vandalism, is good. However, restoring an open air exhibit to roadworthy condition is asking a lot. Collectors with extensive workshops and tools can get frustrated when parts are missing or reference books can't explain a problem. In a small developing country, this is a very big challenge.

My advice to the museum would be to reduce the effects of weathering on the vehicle. Perhaps a covered shelter to limit the rain wash, cut back most of the UV rays from direct, and moisture trapping accumulated leaves and debris. Then apply some proper rust inhibiting paint. Finally, do the few steps mentioned in the second paragraph.

[nuyt]

Thanks Terry,

Some good info there.

I dont think making it roadworthy is an option at all. What I know of the vehicle is that it lacks engine and other vital parts. Just the hull and wheels remain. So painting it, fixing some loose parts and jacking up the axles again and placing the vehicle under some sort of roof would help a lot, I suppose.

Unless someone in Suriname has a loose CMP engine.

Nuyt

[welbike]

Hi all,

Found an interesting snippet on the Dutch KTR Forum, thanks Arjan,

It says here that recently 2 otters were rescued from the Surinam Jungle, and now in the Netherlands Zwijndrecht TRIS museum (TRoops In Suriname) see picture.

Otter_from_Surinam.jpg
Source: http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data...om_Surinam.jpg

Does anyone know anything more about this venture??

Cheers,

Lex Schmidt

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Lex,

Thanks for the heads-up. This is the first time I've heard about this. Here's hoping they are going to recover a Marmon-Herrington tank one day!

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by nuyt

Dear friends,

I have recently met the new management at the fort and they wonder if it is still worthwhile to rescue the Otter at all.

Does anybody have an opinion on this?

Kind regards,
Nuyt

Absolutely beyond hope. Sent its sorry carcass to me for disposal. I'll tinker with it a bit and bit, and maybe, just maybe get it looking like new again. It's been done with worse starting points!!

[austin tilly]

There are two Otters in Zwijndrecht at the museum. The word is that they won't be restored, but kept this way. The interior is completely gone.

Cheers
Arjan

IMAG0069.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/IMAG0069.jpg

IMAG0072.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/IMAG0072.jpg

Cheers
Arjan

[Stew Robertson]

Thats not bad I started with one a few years backthat we hauled out of a Yard in fort Erie Ontario and it went to the canadian war museum in Ottawa rolling vehicle ( no motor or drive line) I will try to find the picture and post it
Stew

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Found some more pictures of one of the Otters at the TRIS (TRoops In Surinam) museum in Zwijndrecht: http://www.triskontakten.nl/tris-museum/

They date back to 2010:

242_640x480.jpg 859_640x480.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by austin tilly

There are two Otters in Zwijndrecht at the museum. The word is that they won't be restored, but kept this way. The interior is completely gone.

Arjan notified me of a photo showing one of these Otter wrecks after it was restored:

284107699_2168348356648144_5431177184767611313_n.jpg

[Ed Storey]

Fantasic work on the Otter restoration.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Looks like both wrecks were restored:

418111966_2073270646343466_1022661059571284535_n.jpg