As you may have guessed, the Camp Borden Hetzer is currently being restored by a group of volunteers to running status.  The restoration photos were taken in August of 2001, when these gentlemen (whose names I have misplaced, to my great regret) were kind enough to let me take a close look at the Hetzer while they were working on it.  It certainly seemed incongruous to enter a building at a Canadian Armed Forces base and find a German AFV being worked on by people in World War II German uniforms!

This shot through the aperture for the gun mount shows the frontal armour thickness to advantage.  On the inner surfaces of lower fighting compartment can be seen the bolts securing the suspension to the hull, while at the left rear is one of the fuel tanks.  Immediately inside the opening, at the bottom, are the linkages for the driver's controls.

A great shot towards the front of the fighting compartment, showing the bare bones of the interior.  The transmission and driver's controls are in place, but little else.  Note the internal gun travel lock at the top right of the photo.

This photograph shows the left-hand fuel tank in place in the engine compartment.  Some useful details of the floor can also be seen.

Here is the right-hand fuel tak.  Note the cutout at the front for the commander's position (!).  The wire leading from the top (also visible on the left-hand fuel tank) leads to the fuel gauges at the driver's position.

The two ammunition ready racks were off to one side, waiting to be replaced in the fighting compartment.  Each one holds five rounds in quick-release clasps.

This is a nice overall view of the right side of the main gun and mount, fully restored.  I was surprised at how the tapering portion of the saukopf was very finely machined, in stark contrast to the rough cast texture of the rest of the mantlet and gun mount.

Details of the 75 mm PaK 39 L/48 can be seen here; none of the detail behind the inner mantlet is provided in the DML kit, so all of this would have to be scratchbuilt or added using an aftermarket interior.  Note that the breech guard has not been added yet; it will be attached to the red primered strip just to the left of the breech itself.

The business end of the 75 mm gun.  Noteworthy is the threading on the end of the barrel for a muzzle brake; no cap is fitted.  The contours of the early gun mantlet can also be clearly seen.

Our final photo shows the left side of the gun mantlet.  From what I could see, the work being done on this Hetzer is of very high quality, and I look forward to seeing the vehicle when it is completed.  I sincerely hope that some of the other rare armoured vehicles in the museum's collection get the same treatment!