"Falaise" Otter number 2

[James Gosling]

It originally came from the collection of Michel Leloup who owned the Falaise museum in Normandy. For many years it was at his woodyard near Aigle with another Otter, his Panther and the remains of several other vehicles.
When this closed down it was moved up to the museum and was stored behind the museum. On his death it went into the auction in May.

Mr Leloup rescued many vehicles from around Normandy and he told me this was one of them. It has bomb damage to the roof, a shrapnel hole in the drivers footwell which you can see from the photo and also the fuel tank has exploded.

Big question now is what to do with the damage?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by James Gosling

Mr Leloup rescued many vehicles from around Normandy and he told me this was one of them. It has bomb damage to the roof, a shrapnel hole in the drivers footwell which you can see from the photo and also the fuel tank has exploded.

Big question now is what to do with the damage?

James,

Good to see you have it in the UK now! Re. the damage, I like your idea to restore it and preserve the damage (as discussed during "Beltring-on-Sea"). If that proves impractical - or impossible to drive - I would carry out the repairs as they would have done during WW2 as per the REME manual provided by Richard. They would still be very visible and serve as a poignant reminder of the damages of war.

Hanno

[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