1st Hussars and Holy Roller & Perry Kitson

[tankbarrell]

8000 hours. I restored my Sherman from a range wreck to fully restored, including rebuilding the engine in a little over half that.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by tankbarrell

8000 hours. I restored my Sherman from a range wreck to fully restored, including rebuilding the engine in a little over half that.

Compare the result of 8,000 hours of work spent on CT152655 (left) and a little over half that on Adrian's T-146309 (right, and follow this link):

[Hanno Spoelstra]

See these interior scans of Holy Roller:

http://fanshawetv.ca/holy-roller

[Ed Storey]

More like what is left of the interior after 'restoration and preservation'. Heartwrenching to see the butchery that was done in the name of preserving history.

[Bob Carriere]

Did you ever take a peek inside the Churchill bridging tank at the CDN war museum????

It has been gutted......totally....... engine, ramp firing mechanism, seats, fire fighting extinguisher system, bins, engine bulk head, external fording air and exhaust extensions, etc......... and "they" claim that was the condition it was in when they got it.... no parts saved in the warehouse..... you would think the complete power pack of the flat 12 cyl. Bedford engine could have been saved and displayed on a stand!!!!..BS

I have pictures of all the inside when it was found in Kemptville....... along with a twin brother....... and I was there when it was moved to the Annex on Sussex and dumped in the late Friday afternoon traffic on Sussex Street.

I did save one of the track links that was laying around ......also there were the heavy 3 inch armoured cables used to fire the rockets and extra girders to hold the front ramps partly erect.....and boxes of heavy bolts. The second Churchill tank was cut up for scrap the following Spring along with the whole scrap yard.........but that was the yard owner's prerogative.

Sweet memories ......... Early Winter 72/73

[Perry Kitson]

I have been around this project for a number of years, and after reading through the posts, I feel more correct information needs to be put forward.

Estimates were submitted to the Regiment for preservation ($60K to $70K), this included crane, trucking, sandblasting, painting, wheel and track replacement as well as properly removing the interior to be stored for possible use for a future restoration of the tank.
The estimate for restoration to running (not including rebuilding the fighting compartment) was $120K to $130K. This would obviously include rebuilding the entire drive train as well as radiators and electrical system.

The project was quickly taken over by individuals who did not want to see this machine restored to running. Interviews were done throwing out ridiculous sums of money said to be needed for the project. All BS.

Fanshawe College, Militex, General Dynamics, Facca Fasteners, Fastenal, Roestenberg Welding, Xtreme Metal Worx, and Industrial Tire, Rho Can Machine, here in London, in the end supplied all paint, sandblasting, fasteners, steel, some fabricating/machining, perishable tooling, gases, welding consumables and abrasives, work space and some transportation.

[Perry Kitson]

The T41 rubber block track that was on the tank before preservation, was actually fitted to the tank in Borden after it's return from Europe. Photo's show T54 steel chevron track worn on leaving the vehicle park in the Netherlands.
The road wheels had the tires removed and new rims pressed on, preserving the original spoked and solid wheel configuration.
As for labour hours committed to the project, it would not amount to more than 2,200 hours actually spent on the tank itself, and that was with mostly non or semi skilled people doing the work. I have no idea how the project managers came up with 8,000 hours. Probably the same place they got $500,000 to restore to running.
I personally think this project was a once in a lifetime opportunity that was terribly squandered with all the help and support it had from companies in the area. Donations of material, parts, equipment and work would probably be around the $120,000 mark.

[Perry Kitson]

Crane costs were in excess of $45,000 for the lift out of and into the park, (resulting from the city's refusal to let the crane into the park) a lift from the street with a 400 ton crane was required.
A running battle with terminology on this project was an issue. The managers always called it a "restoration", when it was only a gut and preserve.