That’s a Wrap

The LVT-4 recovered from under 30ft of mud last year has gone into hibernation for winter, although restoration work continues ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Crowland floods

On inspection it was found the original colour was dark green
pictures CBLA

To protect it from the elements during the cold and wet winter months, the Crowland Buffalo has been wrapped in a protective coat of plastic sheeting.

Chairman of the Crowland Buffalo LVT Association (CBLA), Daniel Abbott, said the amphibious vehicle would remain like that until the team could get a temporary, roofed fixture erected over it.

“I built a timber frame around it for now and we’ve wrapped it in plastic sheeting, but our goal is to try and get some sort of roof over it to allow guests to come to view it and so we can work on it,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we won’t be able to open it up for viewing without an appointment because it’s located in the yard of a business, but if interested parties get in touch, we’ll do our best to accommodate them.”

Daniel said despite the Buffalo being sealed up, restoration work had not come to a standstill. “The floor panels should be painted and finished soon – they were remade here in Crowland – while the gearbox is still with David Brown Santasalo and we’re hoping to get it back in January or February.

“All these markings form part of its history and we want people to see them.”

The Crowland Buffalo has been wrapped up for the winter
The Buffalo in the spray booth at Crowland Cranes

Members of the team all have work that they’re continuing with over the next month or two.”

He said recent restoration work had included cleaning and painting the cockpit. “We painted it a creamy white colour that the Bovington Tank Museum suggested. With the armour plating on, the cockpit is pretty dark, so the lighter paint is better visually for those inside. It’s looking really good.

“We also painted the armoured plating on the front, although have kept many of the markings that were already there. We’ve gone down the route previously suggested of not restoring it completely to save the markings as we don’t want to paint over them.”

When pulled from the ground last year outside the village of Crowland, Lincolnshire, the Buffalo was painted grey and Daniel said there had been some confusion as to what colour it was originally.

“When we treated it using a gel that the MOD use on their vehicles to stop them rusting, it revealed the Buffalo’s colour which was dark green,” he said. “The treatment also brought out more markings, where people were on board and scratched their names on the side. It’s quite remarkable what it has revealed.”

He said they were unsure if the names were scratched on during or after the war. “They could have been done during the Rhine crossing or even when it was in Crowland in 1947 during the floods,” said Daniel. “But all these markings form part of its history and we want people to see them.”

He said they were still appealing for help with the restoration work, which included the manufacture of a Perspex dome.

“There was a Perspex dome on top of the periscope hatch and we’re now looking for a company to manufacture one using the old one as a template. If anyone can help, we’d appreciate it if they could get in touch.”

As for plans this year to potentially recover a second Buffalo from the ground outside Crowland, Daniel said the next step would be for further scans to be conducted so they could isolate the best point to dig.

He said fundraising towards the restoration work and a museum building dedicated to the 1947 floods was still ongoing. “We’ve found what could be a World War Two POW hut that we’re busy trying to get for the museum building. If we manage to get it, we’ll move it from its current location and then rebuild it when needed, so hopefully, that works out.”

Daniel said “a lot” had happened since April when they first recovered the Buffalo and the achievements of the recovery and restoration team had been “remarkable”. “We’ve got to a stage that we thought we’d never get to, so I’m happy with the way things are progressing. This year we’ll be putting the gearbox, floor panels and engine back in, so there are exciting times ahead.”

The CBLA hopes to get its hands on what could be a World War Two POW hut to use as a museum building

Donations

Anyone wanting to contribute towards the restoration of the Crowland Buffalo should visit: www.gofundme.com/f/crowland-buffalo-restoration-museum