WIP Panther/Tiger Cupola, Tiger Loaders Periscope

Mike Stannard (toyrific) · Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:19 am

Hi Guys

Here are some samples and information on some work in progress, I am publishing this now as I want you all to be aware of what will be offered in the future. These items will be available in about 3 months subject to my ability to keep up with orders and make the masters for them.

Panther Cupola.
The master I am working on is far from complete, the periscope holes have to be squared out and a lot of interior and exterior detail still to be made. All parts will be fully functional were possible. There appear to be two types of mounts for the periscopes in the cupola, I do not know which came first. The first two pictures of the real cupola show the interior and what appears to be some sort of mounting tap at the base of each periscope recess. I have not been able to find pictures of this sort of mounting. The second two pictures show the type of mounting that I will be making for the cupola. These are hinged brackets/clamps that hold the periscopes in place. These will function just like the real ones. The cupola will have a working hatch cover, not sure at this stage if I can get it to work using a screw thread and the handle. All detail of the hatch mechanism will be included.

Tiger 1 Late Cupola.
The master for this is only at the basic turned stage, this will have all detail and as functional as I can make it. The securing clamps for the periscopes will be designed on the ones in the picture of the real cupola interior.

Tiger 1 Late Loaders Periscope.
No masters made yet but the drawing and real picture give you an idea of what it will look like.

Cupola Periscopes.
No masters made. This type of periscope was used in the Tiger 1 late cupola, the Panther cupola and for the late Tiger 1 loaders periscope. I have a real one of these kindly loaned to me by Kent Wiik which I will be using to model these in 1:6 scale. These will be in two parts like the real one so glass prisms can be fitting, which I will have made if there is enough demand. Like the glass prisms already made for the Tiger 1, I will need a minimum of 100 units to do this, as there a 7 in each cupola this should not be a problem. To make these fit correctly and have both the cupolas and periscopes correctly scale I will be making the rubber water tight seals that goes between the cupola and periscope housing. I will also offer these as a top part only so they can be fitted to the existing Armortek cupolas for external look only. However the existing holes in the Armortek cupolas will require being file with square corners to fit them.

I hope to be able to offer all these parts as assemble items and kits. The main cupolas will be made of high quality cast resin with photo-etch and cast metal parts. I am not able to give and prices at this time.

To help me figure out my first production run you can post here or e-mail if you are interested in any of the parts. No commitment to buy until I publish prices.

Regards
Mike

Tim Bowman · Post by **Tim Bowman** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:09 am

Hi Mike

Excellent, I was about to start detailing out the inside of my cupola. I figured you might be doing something in that area but didn't know when. Now I know. Looks great!

I'll await pricing when you are ready.

Thanks

Tim

Martin Cohen · Post by **Martin Cohen** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:27 am

Count me in for Tiger I (mine is a Mid)

Doug Pinkerton · Post by **Doug Pinkerton** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:38 pm

Hi Mike,

I'd definitely be interested in a super detailed late Tiger cupola with periscopes. Please put me down in your list of 100 potential buyers.

Mike Stannard (toyrific) · Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:21 am

Hi Doug

Just so people do not get the wrong idea, it is not a hundred cupolas I need to sell, it would be nice. It is 100 glass prisms I would need orders for to be able to get them made. That's the minimum I can get made and with 7 in each cupola it should not be a problem, as I would only need to sell 15 cupolas with glass prisms to make a 100 plus.

Mike

Alvin McCall · Post by **Alvin McCall** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:22 am

Mike You can add me to the list

jseverett · Post by **jseverett** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:06 am

Mike,
Add me to the list for the late Tiger 1 cupola + glass prisms.
Thanks, Jim

Mick Manning · Post by **Mick Manning** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:22 pm

Mike you can add me for late Tiger Cupola and glass prisms.

David Gray · Post by **David Gray** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:36 pm

hi mike put me down for the tiger cupola and glass prisms

thanks
dave gray

Kent Wiik · Post by **Kent Wiik** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:01 pm

As Mike is taken so long making the cupola periscopes and my real one has to spend such a long time in Las Vegas with all those temptations I decided to get me another as well

This one is the same as the other but interesting to see is that it is black.

This one is in absolute mint condition and they were probably black as new, and turning browner while used (just my 10 cents).
Also note the beige sealing - something for us rivet counters to add.

Cheers
Kent

Mike Stannard (toyrific) · Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:38 pm

Hi Kent

Is the silver part at the top of the join another plate of some sort, the one I have from you does not have it. Any chance of a photo of it from the top/ bottom. Sorry I have had it so long, but so many things to make and do, I really do feel like a one man band playing both ends against the middle, someone did say patiences is I virtue, I am glad all my customers have it.

I think the color of the one I have is original, no sign of fading, ware or discoloration. My guess is it is just a color change of the Bakelite.

Mike

Kent Wiik · Post by **Kent Wiik** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:08 pm

Hi Mike,

Here comes photos

I think there is a metal plate on yours as well but It is a bit more rusted then this one

It is not made of aluminium as it is to heavy.
It was used for instead of the bakelite take the punishment from the periscope fasteners.

Please note this prism is in one piece, has a cut and is painted silver on surface not being seen threw.
Think the cut has something to do with the cupola periscopes being tilted.
Did not dare to remove the other half as I would have broken the other visor sealing.

Mike if you wish you are in everyoneâ€™s interest free to dissect the periscope.
Just use something to ease up the rusted screws first

Cheers
Kent

Martin Cohen · Post by **Martin Cohen** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:49 pm

Your efforts to help us learn about these pieces parts are really appreciated. Could you provide to me detailed measurements of the glass prism (dimensions, angles, etc.)? Possibly some sketch?

And could you make detailed notes about the reflective and antireflective coatings. You mention a silver reflective surface, possibly painted over on the air side in black for example. Maybe there are some surfaces coated with a purplish tint, this would be Magnesium Fluoride antireflection coatings - these might or might not have been applied, depending on when the part was made, how rushed they were to finish, availability of the chambers and supplies needed to deposit them, etc.

Thanks,

Martin

Kent Wiik · Post by **Kent Wiik** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:51 pm

Hi Martin,

Hope this helps:

The angles you have to scale from the drawing as it is accurate.
The bakelite is 5mm thick and the measure is taken outside bakelite.

DonÂ´t know about the silver paint but on what 4 sides it is located (seen in the drawing)

Cheers
Kent

Martin Cohen · Post by **Martin Cohen** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:16 pm

Hmm, thank you. I will see what I can extrapolate from what you provided. Any information you can add about the angles of the faces, relative to one another will be helpful too since this prism appears as though it was made to work while inclined, so it is not as straightforward to duplicate without that info - unless I guesstimate and run the design on a Ray Trace program.

Maybe Mike will be able to offer additional information from the unit you loaned to him too?

Regards,
Martin