Driving the restored StuG III at Drivetanks.com in Texas

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  • Опубліковано 10 лют 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 855

  • @pain4157
    @pain4157 4 роки тому +10

    Greetings from Germany. Thank you for this wonderfull Video. Its nice to see, that you americans give so much love in our old Tanks.

  • @_Matsimus_
    @_Matsimus_ 4 роки тому +274

    This was amazing!! Congrats on your first tank drive!

    • @E0S1776
      @E0S1776 4 роки тому +1

      I remember the 1st Time I drove a Deuce and a half

    • @macman9832
      @macman9832 4 роки тому +1

      Sofi, if you ever come to Tampa let me know. i have a humvee and i have friends w/fun toys to drive. my buddy has a british FV432 apc thats a hell of a lot of fun to drive. lots of half tracks down here too

    • @Andrew-se4tg
      @Andrew-se4tg 4 роки тому +4

      Come to Ocala Florida instead, we have horses! The first ever fighting vehicle, lol

    • @bubazell1
      @bubazell1 4 роки тому +1

      If she comes to florida in general id love to see her drive both horse and apc lol shes awesome

    • @Andrew-se4tg
      @Andrew-se4tg 4 роки тому

      @@bubazell1 I agree!

  • @super19kh87
    @super19kh87 4 роки тому +76

    Drove an Abrams for 3 years. The first time was an absolute rush. Keep up the great channel content. Remember it’s all fun until you throw a track

    • @keithrouleau2398
      @keithrouleau2398 3 роки тому +2

      I used to work around tracked vehicles for a living and can absolutely attest to what you’re saying!

  • @guylawrance2216
    @guylawrance2216 4 роки тому +1

    The Stug III was beautiful to look at, very good at what it did and packed a real punch !
    ..........just like you !

  • @cvdheyden
    @cvdheyden 4 роки тому +1

    May the tank always be with you! 🤘🤘🤘🤘

  • @ralphjacobson8815
    @ralphjacobson8815 4 роки тому +12

    My first AFV was an M60A1. I think my smile was as big as yours (and it never got old, no matter how many times I drove).

    • @SirenHead00
      @SirenHead00 4 роки тому +1

      i finna get one of those on war thunder

    • @noahdavis3236
      @noahdavis3236 4 роки тому

      @@SirenHead00 which one? The one that gets slammed by Leos and T-54s or the one that gets slammed by T-55s, T-62s and Object 279s?

    • @SirenHead00
      @SirenHead00 4 роки тому

      @@noahdavis3236 the m60 im close to it lol

    • @noahdavis3236
      @noahdavis3236 4 роки тому

      @@SirenHead00 which M60 tho lol, last time I checked there was more than 1 in the American tree

    • @SirenHead00
      @SirenHead00 4 роки тому

      @@noahdavis3236 ik thats why i said “one of those “ lol

  • @GenScinmore
    @GenScinmore 4 роки тому +81

    Awesome! Very happy for you!

  • @robgoodsight6216
    @robgoodsight6216 4 роки тому +3

    It is good to see that some people can fulfil their dreams and have the possibility to drive such a tank!!!
    Simply excellent!👍👍👍

  • @harrypalmer728
    @harrypalmer728 4 роки тому +145

    You looked like a kid in a candy shop while driving that StuG

    • @soulessshadow5356
      @soulessshadow5356 4 роки тому +1

      It's hard not to be really, I've driven it too. It's so damn fun and while it definitely does take some time to get the hand of the controls..the only thing I can compare it to is getting to also drive the Leopard 1 and King Tiger. I wanted to drive the Panther "Deuce" they have there but it wasn't running at the time.

    • @USSAnimeNCC-
      @USSAnimeNCC- 4 роки тому

      Who wouldn’t lol

  • @dryshaved8684
    @dryshaved8684 4 роки тому +70

    Reaction from the person at the drive thru would be priceless

    • @jubisvaldo5450
      @jubisvaldo5450 4 роки тому +11

      A Uber trip in a Stug would be priceless

    • @danielaramburo7648
      @danielaramburo7648 4 роки тому +5

      @@jubisvaldo5450 perfect for Ubering in a Chicago ghetto.

    • @glhmedic
      @glhmedic 4 роки тому +4

      Bet they wouldn’t screw up ur order.

    • @SonsOfLorgar
      @SonsOfLorgar 4 роки тому +3

      @@glhmedic or, they would be too awe struck to get it right

    • @mbr5742
      @mbr5742 4 роки тому +5

      Back in the 80s one M48A2GA2 crew managed not to refuel the thing. So on the march back from an exercise they had to field refuel. Our S3 was in the fuel station shop shopping for some sweets (he was a "shorter than the shelves" guy) when the platoon sgt (using a 4x4 to get there) came in, nodded to me (PFC) and then asked the station attendend "Do you have a high speed petrol pump? The normal ones are to slow for a tank!" The attendend was about "HaHa" when just at that moment the M48 walzed onto the fuel station tarmac.
      End result: The S3 went "a bit ballistic" (and the platoon sgt realized where he had seen me before...), there is not high speed petrol pump and yes, the extensible fuel hoses are long enough to get more than one to the tank.

  • @gwthornegate4188
    @gwthornegate4188 4 роки тому +6

    Love StuG 111s, built many models of them, so cool to see one driving - Thanks Sofi!

  • @whpruitt1
    @whpruitt1 4 роки тому +7

    This was definitely worth the wait, Sofi! Thank you so much for sharing your adventure

  • @janstan8407
    @janstan8407 4 роки тому +9

    WOW!! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU COULD DO THAT! Stug lll's will always be among my favorite German armor. I lived in South Texas for 2 1/2 years and the summer was around 110-115 F the time I was there. Then I lived in Austin, and it was 5 to 10 degrees "cooler in the summer. You have to "grow" into it.

  • @suryia6706
    @suryia6706 4 роки тому +21

    Tank commander guy: it's hard to flip a stug cause it's so low
    Sofilein: hold my beer!!!

  • @Andrew-se4tg
    @Andrew-se4tg 4 роки тому +1

    I'm so jealous Sofi! Stug 3 is my favorite assault gun! 👍😭

    • @spot1401
      @spot1401 4 роки тому

      I am kinda jealous of the tank

  • @michaelb7197
    @michaelb7197 3 роки тому +2

    Greatly appreciate the efforts of everyone keeping history alive, good health to you all, thanks Soph.

  • @AnotherAmateurAstronomer
    @AnotherAmateurAstronomer 2 роки тому +1

    A tall, lean model gets to drive a StuG! How neat! Thumbs up for Sofie the tanker! 👍

  • @foxtrotromeo25
    @foxtrotromeo25 4 роки тому +9

    Definitely the experience of a lifetime. I've seen that Stug at the Tank Museum, Bovington on Tiger Day X in 2018. Fabulous restoration. You did a great job of driving it!

    • @Sofilein
      @Sofilein  4 роки тому +9

      That's where I first saw it, too! Amazing restoration and such a crazy treat to be able to drive it. Didn't think that would happen in a million years lol

    • @foxtrotromeo25
      @foxtrotromeo25 4 роки тому +2

      @@Sofilein It was a range target that he brought back. Amazing job! I drove an FV432 APC a couple of years back. Same engine and transmission that's used in that Stug (easier to get parts).

    • @foxtrotromeo25
      @foxtrotromeo25 4 роки тому +1

      @@Sofilein I'll have to check my Tiger Day photos again. You might be in them!

    • @Sofilein
      @Sofilein  4 роки тому +6

      @@foxtrotromeo25 I've never been to a Tiger Day but I was definitely at Tankfest 2018 when she was

  • @MRFOURKAY
    @MRFOURKAY 4 роки тому +1

    That Was Epic , Congratulations 👏

  • @badcallsign4204
    @badcallsign4204 4 роки тому +33

    I lost steering in an MLRS once out in the field. It was a steering linkage bolt, so I know just what that’s like. 👍

  • @JoeDurobot
    @JoeDurobot 4 роки тому +7

    *Beautiful as always ... pretty cool tank as well.*

  • @theeaselrider4032
    @theeaselrider4032 4 роки тому +2

    I'm not sure I could give you enough thumbs up.
    Thanks for taking us along.

  • @abelincoln95
    @abelincoln95 4 роки тому +10

    First instructions- "We had to connect up the drives opposite, so left is right & right is left". Sofi nails it to failure!! LOL!!!

  • @RawPower7
    @RawPower7 4 роки тому +8

    The StuG have been my favourite AFV for many years, this was fun to watch. Nice panzer wrap you are wearing!

  • @williamwright3689
    @williamwright3689 4 роки тому +1

    Sof i just saw u drive the stug great job for your first time good for u and god bless young lady

  • @OverlandTT
    @OverlandTT 3 роки тому +1

    AS a life long tank fanatic this was awesome to see, best wishes from England UK

  • @alberta1st
    @alberta1st 4 роки тому +1

    Thank you so much Good Drive Ms Sofi!! 😍😉👍👋

  • @ElMountainMan
    @ElMountainMan 4 роки тому +7

    Sofi, you are a genuine badass. What an awesome experience! thanks for sharing this!

  • @tankboyful
    @tankboyful 4 роки тому +2

    that was great. gives you a real appreciation for what tankers in the desert had to contend with,
    operating those mobile ovens in that monstrous heat. good job Sofi.

  • @edirt
    @edirt 4 роки тому +18

    Sofie, it survived the war, you won´t break it 🤣😂
    But damn that was cool to see, and holy crap the size of the ceileing fan in the tent .
    Thanks for a great upload.

  • @burnthenight7980
    @burnthenight7980 3 роки тому +10

    I love your knowledge and your on going passion for history , such a wonderful sense of life and you glow like the summer sun , stay gold and keep that tank on course

  • @mitchellboone9917
    @mitchellboone9917 4 роки тому +2

    That was incredibly fun to watch, thanks for sharing.

  • @Robin6512
    @Robin6512 4 роки тому +5

    The smile says it all! And you are probably the best looking stug driver ever!

  • @Esa826
    @Esa826 4 роки тому +4

    Awesome video, it looks pretty nimble moving around the track. I'm so glad you had to chance to drive this machine :)

  • @alanbuehler3901
    @alanbuehler3901 4 роки тому +6

    I got the chance to drive the M4 Easy Eight back in 2017 at DriveTanks - what a great place! Quite a workout from the clutch. Also got to fire their MG34, MG42 and MP40. But the most fun was firing their 75mm German AT gun.

  • @TheTdub1981
    @TheTdub1981 4 роки тому +2

    Let's fucking GOOOO!
    this looked absolutely wicked

  • @micheldusard3058
    @micheldusard3058 4 роки тому +2

    Hello "Sofilein"! Thank you for this video, congratulations on piloting the Stug III, very successful! A French "fan" who loves your videos ...

  • @ray.shoesmith
    @ray.shoesmith 4 роки тому +1

    This made me so happy

  • @byronrudrow7938
    @byronrudrow7938 4 роки тому +2

    Well done! Looks like great fun. Love the flaming logo. You have an awesome collection of jackets! 👍🤣👍

  • @dariociamprone2633
    @dariociamprone2633 4 роки тому +2

    Amasing sofilein ! Gretings from argentina!

  • @blackstone777
    @blackstone777 4 роки тому

    Being a former Abrams driver, you never forget the first time driving. The feeling of that much power behind the controls is a rush. You also got to experience the joys of tanking: fixing a broken tank. Lol Congratulations kiddo! Never stop being adorable!

  • @Kayaz48
    @Kayaz48 2 роки тому

    I’m just so happy for you! I know how important and how much you looked forward to this!

  • @darryllavender7908
    @darryllavender7908 4 роки тому

    You are a lovely and lucky Lady to experience driving the STUG. Combining history with technology and making it a reality is awesome. I’m so jealous - that kind you for sharing this wonderful experience. Don’t stop educating and sharing with us!

  • @mikereger1186
    @mikereger1186 4 роки тому +3

    The real-life Tank Girl! Awesome :)

  • @jlew5545
    @jlew5545 4 роки тому

    Ummmm....Sofi......completely awesome.....thanks for sharing your video.....and all the hard work and historically meaningful effort of the crew at Drivetanks..

  • @edcrosbie4651
    @edcrosbie4651 3 роки тому +1

    "The tank is still upright" 😂😂😂 omg i would have been probly more impressed if it wasnt😝 congrats on getting to drive one! 😳

  • @TheKulu42
    @TheKulu42 4 роки тому +1

    Your great experience with that Stug brought forth so many memories. I've been aboard a B-17, a C-130, an Abrams tank and the ballistic missile sub U.S.S. West Virginia in my lifetime. Like your lovely Stug, none of them could be described as roomy or comfortable. But I'd wouldn't trade those experiences for anything! I never got to drive any of my craft. (Did get to push the button the fires a nuclear missile, but it wasn't hooked up so that doesn't count. Hope you keep having drives the rest of us can enjoy and envy! :)

  • @yeahiknowimcute5830
    @yeahiknowimcute5830 4 роки тому

    Definitely on my bucket list. Thanks for the video!!!!!!

  • @martinjrgensen8234
    @martinjrgensen8234 4 роки тому +2

    Awesome vid. So much fun to see how happy you look.
    Also you look hella snazzy in that jacket ❤️

  • @Pau_Pau9
    @Pau_Pau9 3 роки тому

    There is something so nifty about the Stug!

  • @greghudzik3770
    @greghudzik3770 4 роки тому +1

    You do some neat stuff, Sofi. Thanks for sharing.

  • @OlSgtLove
    @OlSgtLove 3 роки тому

    Sofi, I'm going through all your videos to see all you have done and I love tanks and Armor Vehicles...plus love history ❤!!!! You are so very Lucky !!!!! Wow !!!! Love your channel ....

  • @stricknine6130
    @stricknine6130 3 роки тому

    Just found your channel. You just drove one of my favorite WW2 vehicles. STUG! It's awesome you got to do that thanks for the video.

    • @Sofilein
      @Sofilein  3 роки тому +1

      Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

  • @corporalbloggins1069
    @corporalbloggins1069 4 роки тому

    Congrats. Glad you enjoyed yourself. My first experience driving a tank was when I learned to drive a Leopard 1A4 MBT. It was an experience of a lifetime.

  • @Aware_of_myshelf
    @Aware_of_myshelf 4 роки тому

    I just found this channel and she is wifey.. 😍 and she loves tanks! I’m in love haha! Lots of cool info on these beasts!

  • @MGB-learning
    @MGB-learning 4 роки тому +7

    Looks like you got a great workout and had "Tons" of fun.

  • @johnknight7296
    @johnknight7296 4 роки тому +8

    AWESOME! New thing on the bucket list!

    • @neoplan6116
      @neoplan6116 4 роки тому +1

      Did this a lot of years ago on a private driving ranch here near Berlin on a T55A ARV - will never forget this, so do it!

  • @henriknilsson7851
    @henriknilsson7851 4 роки тому +2

    Now this had to be some serious fun! Another place to hit my next visit to Texas!

  • @MichalKaczorowski
    @MichalKaczorowski 4 роки тому +2

    Such a good looking beast. And Sofilein is nice too ;)

  • @notsurprised4549
    @notsurprised4549 4 роки тому +3

    Great vid, thanks for sharing, although you did forget to take out that Anti-Tank Gun at 15:35 !!

  • @neoplan6116
    @neoplan6116 4 роки тому +9

    "After we went back to the shop" - Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner 😉😂🤣😂

  • @hansgennrich2828
    @hansgennrich2828 4 роки тому +4

    Enjoyed the Stug and watching how it handled for you.😎

  • @keithrouleau2398
    @keithrouleau2398 3 роки тому

    AWESOME! Loved the video experience of you operating the STUG!

  • @aaronm9478
    @aaronm9478 4 роки тому +1

    So awesome! What an amazing opportunity! 😁 You're a BADASS!!! 😎
    You have the most amazing hair in the universe! 🥰🥰🥰

  • @MrLeo2A6
    @MrLeo2A6 4 роки тому

    Thanks Tank Dork well done and thanks for sharing your experience

  • @thesteve625
    @thesteve625 4 роки тому +2

    Very cool! Seeing you driving a actual tank is priceless. I hope you get a chance in driving other tanks in your life time.

  • @moargrave
    @moargrave 4 роки тому

    Honestly, first few seconds of a video were already more than enough to like it. StuG just makes it better.

  • @49BigPoppa
    @49BigPoppa 3 роки тому

    The restoration vids are outstanding, John took scrap metal and brought it back to life

  • @DavidSmith-ss1cg
    @DavidSmith-ss1cg 4 роки тому +1

    Great job! To get to drive an almost-tank that's a pretty good tank destroyer! Good going, Tank Grrrl!

  • @TheFunkhouser
    @TheFunkhouser 4 роки тому +4

    WOW.. a lot of woman would be saying - Driving my first Supercar ...it's the INCREDIBLE F-150, Lambo etc whatever.. But youre a step way above them!

  • @1701enter
    @1701enter 3 роки тому

    That was good fun. And your delivery is much better not rushing and so much more interesting well done

  • @kirkmooneyham
    @kirkmooneyham 4 роки тому +12

    Absolutely disgusting that the BATFE forced the purchaser to destroy that L/24 gun like that. It's a historical artifact, and while there are some others in existence, they aren't exactly just something you can go to the local store and buy. Were they afraid it would be used in a drive-by?

  • @bluntdanieldb
    @bluntdanieldb 4 роки тому +4

    "Fruit fly arms"😂😂 definitely a memorable experience, good on ya!

  • @Hurry_Revive_Me
    @Hurry_Revive_Me 4 роки тому +2

    That is so awesome!! There's nothing like maneuvering a track vehicle over terrain :D

  • @joeconti4469
    @joeconti4469 3 роки тому

    I love the Stug!!!! Especially when I play World of Tanks!!! Great video!! What an experience!!!

  • @jimiorezzoli
    @jimiorezzoli 2 роки тому

    That was really enjoyable though probably not as much as it was you. Gratz and thanks again for bringing us along for a truly awesome ride!

  • @jsullivan9238
    @jsullivan9238 3 роки тому

    Was I the only one whose blood turned to ice when that AT gun appeared?
    Looked like great fun Missy. Well done Jon! StuG Lief Yo!

  • @KernowekTim
    @KernowekTim 4 роки тому +3

    Righton! Really great to 'feel the vibe' from your enthusiasm! Achtung! Die Panzer Jagerin kommt !

  • @ljt3084
    @ljt3084 3 роки тому

    Awesome set up they have there.
    I drove an Abbot, fv 432 and a chieftain at Juniper leisure in England.
    The Abbot was really hard to steer one way as the gun is off centre it literally takes both arms to turn left.
    The chieftain was awesome. You lay down, its auto and the steering is so light. The power was massive. Feels like a race car on acceleration.
    But none of them was a stug.. Very jealous, Stug being my favourite vehicle of WW2. And you got to fix it too! I would have paid just to work on it.
    Thank you for filming this.

  • @raczstar
    @raczstar 3 роки тому

    You're one of the most awesome people on the Internet. A big fan here from the Philippines :)

  • @paulnapier6573
    @paulnapier6573 4 роки тому +2

    Nice going Sofilein ! They finally get something nice, and you break it.
    Your cousins must have hid there toys when you came over.

  • @anonimails
    @anonimails 4 роки тому +1

    Just discovered this amazing channel!! Quality content and a beautiful soul!

  • @RBRCH
    @RBRCH 4 роки тому

    That must have been an amazing experiance! Very nice to watch, thanks for sharing! 👍🏼

    • @RBRCH
      @RBRCH 4 роки тому

      Hi Sofilein, the book you recommend, does it cover the Ausf.G as well?

  • @stevesloan7132
    @stevesloan7132 4 роки тому

    I have never seen the inside of a stug 3 before. Built a model of one as a kid. Neat lookin' things. Thanks!

  • @Батя-ц3ч
    @Батя-ц3ч Рік тому

    Beautiful LEDI !!!!❤❤❤❤❤

  • @soulessshadow5356
    @soulessshadow5356 4 роки тому

    I did not know you were in my neck of the woods! This is literally my backyard(I live about 8 or so minutes up the road from the DriveTanks facility), and I've spent a lot of time there. They are some of the coolest people with some of the coolest vehicles. I've been in the Leo 1, M1 Abrams, M4 and Easy 8, as well as this Stug III in the video, a Panzer IV, and a King Tiger all because of Drive Tanks!

  • @glassdash
    @glassdash 3 роки тому

    This might be my favorite tank after playing war thunder. Hiding in a shallow crater one-shotting enemy tanks while incoming cannon fire glances off my top was good times. Keep on stuggin'!

  • @jimbo9305
    @jimbo9305 4 роки тому +160

    "The ATF made me cut it. Those guys are jerks." Indeed. ATF should be a store not a government agency.

    • @jimkomola787
      @jimkomola787 4 роки тому +16

      I've heard accounts of the ATF requiring people to cut resin-cast machine gun replicas in half.

    • @richardscales9560
      @richardscales9560 4 роки тому +5

      Your man the atf are jerks for not wanting an active 75mm gun trotting around :D

    • @freedom_323
      @freedom_323 4 роки тому +30

      the ATF are organized thugs for politicians to abuse, just like the fbi...both are archaic institutions that need to be eliminated then DHS can assume any actual duties either had

    • @richardscales9560
      @richardscales9560 4 роки тому +3

      @@freedom_323 oh America, never change :D

    • @jimbo9305
      @jimbo9305 4 роки тому +5

      @@richardscales9560 Yes. There's an active 122mm imported from Russia and an active 75mm from Germany in America. And I'm sure there are many more out there. ua-cam.com/video/jC8QluMMELU/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/T7fhBm1ouSU/v-deo.html

  • @Trinxxy
    @Trinxxy 4 роки тому

    Yesssss Sofi!!! 💜 I wanna drive a real tank!!!

  • @thesanityassassin9976
    @thesanityassassin9976 4 роки тому +1

    Amazing ... thanks for sharing such an awesome experience Sofi

  • @frankbodenschatz173
    @frankbodenschatz173 4 роки тому

    Great video! Now let's see you in the JagdPanther before 131!
    Keep up the fantastic work Sofi!

  • @wadejustanamerican1201
    @wadejustanamerican1201 4 роки тому

    Congratulations, what a wonderful opportunity.

  • @ecarlate
    @ecarlate 4 роки тому +2

    nice that you had that luck to drive that nice stug.
    remember me when the tank were racing with the jeep in my army time lol.... we always lost against the tank

  • @larserikolofosterling2338
    @larserikolofosterling2338 Рік тому

    Wow, I'm glad I found this very nice UA-cam video. Sofilein you are so luckey to get to drive it.
    Me, I've built a Tamiya 1/35 scale model of the stug III, Ausf C.
    And that's quite ok.
    Keep em' coming Sofilein !

  • @HE-162
    @HE-162 4 роки тому

    I got to drive this(and nearly run over my phone), when it was back in England before it was sold. Spending a quiet early English morning helping the owner prep the stug to run, and then having as much time as my girl and I wanted to climb around and all over the crew compartment, free to take as many pictures as we could. It was absolutely a dream to have a combat vet stug all to ourselves in the idyllic English countryside, with no rush and no crowd. Then getting to drive it for a minute was incredible. I was quite scared to give it gas, being a $2.5m tank, but my girl was not and just laid into it...in case you think girls cant drive lol

    • @HE-162
      @HE-162 4 роки тому

      You can actually hear in the video why I was a bit prude on the gas initially. The diesel in it absolutely SCREAMS before it gets moving...it feels like you’re doing something wrong. Sofi sort of does it too but having someone in the tank on radios guiding you would quell that fear. I was alone in it with the owner 20’ away giving me hand signals 😂

  • @Welder6131
    @Welder6131 4 роки тому +2

    What an awesome experience! Added to bucket list!!

  • @mikepette4422
    @mikepette4422 4 роки тому

    Not having the original engine is entirely understandable ! Of all the parts of a tank the two that always acted up the most were engine and transmission. Imagine getting your hands on the original Maybach HL and having to then keep it running ! I'm sure that was hard enough when the tank was new and engine parts were being made but now it must be utterly impossible. Well done just getting her going and keeping her going so we can all see this absolute beauty

  • @TheGamingPile
    @TheGamingPile 4 роки тому +1

    Such a cool video :) never realise how complex they were inside until you see something like this!

  • @bradoconnor9868
    @bradoconnor9868 4 роки тому +1

    You made my day, go the mighty stug and tankgirl!!!

  • @egbertdefatt262
    @egbertdefatt262 4 роки тому +4

    Glad you had such a good experience, reversed steering and all. You'll definately have more swagger in your step after coming out of that. Nice thing about tanks; they are meant to run over stuff. I like your almost Panzerwaffe crew jacket. Thanks for another fine video. If you ever need a spare crewman, give me a yell. :-D