American Aero restored a Hetzer ambush tank to include the restoration of its 88 cannon and the fighting compartment.

Fabricating shells Since the Hetzer had all of its shell racks, wooden replicas were fabricated and painted to resemble the originals

Transport to Owner Once completed the Hetzer was loaded and tarped for transport to it owner

Paint Scheme The tank was prepared for the original three tone paint scheme worn by Hetzers late in the war

Hetzer Arrives When the Hetzer arrived, it was in need of final paint inside and out, some final fabrication of interior parts and the fabrication of a breech which would fire black powder blanks

Paint Scheme The Hetzer is in its finished paint scheme

Breech mechanism Since the handles and other parts were missing from the breech, new parts were fabricated like the originals

Mantlet restored and painted

Restored gun and mantlet The gun and mantlet were built up along with the fabrication of the electric trigger

Gun cradle handles in the fighting compartment New handles and a trigger mechanism were fabricated

Loaded and Covered

Loaded and Covered

Fighting compartment and breech When the exterior was in its final tri-color paint the fighting compartment was completed with final fabrication of components, faux shells, paint, breech and operational electric trigger

Unloading the Hetzer

Installing Gun

MG-34 Gun mount and shield The cradle, armor shield and turning handles were missing from the tank. Using drawings and photos of original parts a new mount was fabricated and installed