The recent show on the German Elephant tank overhaul was really poor quality.

They kept calling it an overhaul of the vehicle. All it was, was a cosmetic cleanup of the tank exterior. The only thing refurbed was the tread and replacing some missing sheet metal on exterior and gun tube support. Plus plenty of new paint. They call that an overhaul?

Nothing was touched on tank interior, drive train, engine. It was just a "make it look good" for the tourists exercise.

The one comment on the interior, was they had to make sure no deadly materials were remaining inside like tritium in the gauges. Tritium was not used at that period, and if it had, 70 years later tritium would not be an issue, it has a pretty short half life. Radium was used to night light gauges, and that could still have been a problem. This kind of error showed that the folks doing the work were really good mechanics, but did not have the background or expertise to do a real restoration.

The older tank overhaul episodes had extensive rebuild efforts resulting in the tanks being put back into operating condition.

Even the Smithsonian with their aircraft, which by law cannot fly their collection, put entire restored aircraft back to correct mechanical condition.

I knew something was going to smell bad when the start of the show announced they had 5 weeks to "overhaul" the tank.

The Army wanted a pretty shell as a tourist attraction. OK, it was their dime. But that's what the show should have called the effort, not an overhaul. The only word I can think of is "shame" on the military channel for not calling it for what it was.

I have not seen the episode but having spent hours inside and outside of that Elephant at Aberdeen I would have to agree that a 5 week cosmetic clean up would do little more than make a pretty outside.
The amazing thing is that the Elepahnt uses a diesel elecric drive just like modern diesel engines and the parts are all there! Down to the rubber belts to the motors. The example they have was captured in Italy and the only other example is in the Kubinka Museum outside Moscow.
I was lucky enough to take about 120 detailed shots of the interior and at the time ( Late 80's) the rear crew hatch had broken at the hinge welds and the interior was suffering from exposure but the tank itself was complete.

I know after 1996 the tank was removed and I was told it was going to Georgia for a restoration but I guess it went uder cover there to be fixed. Having spoken to Dr Atwater I belive he will do what he can to keep the collection in the best shape he can under the circumstances