I am getting enquiries about periscopes and periscope prisms for the Tiger 1 & 2, Panther and Jagdpanther. I have in fact posted details about these periscopes and where they were used, but it still appears to be unclear to some, or they have not read the posts. I will now try to explain these again and give links to my original posts.
Firstly there are two types of periscopes used on German tanks, a early type referred to as Type 1 and a later type referred to as Type 2. These are two entirely different periscopes and have different shaped glass prisms.
Type 1 has two separate prisms housings and two identical glass prisms.
Type 2 is made of two parts, but was issued as a single unit with a single glass prism as far as I know, I do have a real one on loan from Kent Wiik, but have not opened it to find out if it is a single prism.
I offer both types of periscope which were used on all series of the Tiger and Panther, I have produced real glass optic prisms for Type 1. I have made acrylic prism for Type 1, samples only at this time. I am still working on making acrylic prisms for Type 2.
PP01. Real Glass Working Optic Prism Type 1 (2 units required for complete periscope). Price $50.00 per Unit
These are available for order, but I need 50 units confirmed orders. I currently have 30 tentative orders, need another 20 to make a new batch.
PP02. Plastic Acrylic Prism Type 1 (2 units required for complete periscope). Price $5.50 each
PP03 Plastic Acrylic Prism Type 1. Work in progress. No price at this time.
Two types of prisms
Type 1 Periscope.
Type 1 Periscope Prisms
Type 2 Periscopes
Type 2 Periscopes Prisms. I am still working on how to fit these as a complete glass will be difficult to fit as white metal shrinkage is effected by many aspects, this shrinkage may only be a few thousands of an inch, but will effect the fitting of a set size prism. The Type 1 periscopes were not effected by this as the housings are two units which are held together but the periscope mounts. The Type 2 is a single unit once assembled and the housing has to fit perfectly over the prism and with varying shrinkage of white metal this will be hard to achieve. My plan is to make the acrylic prisms in two parts, these can be glued in the top and bottom of the prism housings and then assembled as shown in picture below. This will give the look of the real prisms, but they will not work.
Type1 Periscope
Tiger 1
Driver and Radio Op Hatches
Loaders Periscope Fitted March 43 to July 43
Tiger 2
Driver and Radio Op.
Sturmtiger.
Driver, 2 periscopes and one commanders rotating periscope.
Ferdinand and Elefant
Driver 3 periscopes and cupola 7 periscopes.
Panther
Ausf D Early Driver x 2, Radio Op x 2
Ausf D Late Driver x 2, Radio Op x 2 and Loaders Periscope
Ausf A Driver x 2, Radio Op x 1 and Loaders Periscope
Ausf G Early Driver x 1 Rotating , Radio Op x 1 and Loaders Periscope
Jagdpanther
Driver x 1, top deck, 2 rotating and 2 static.
Type 2 Periscopes
Tiger 1
Late type cupola 7 periscopes. Loaders periscope from July 43 on.
Tiger 2
Cupola 7 periscopes and loaders periscope.
Panther
Cupola 7 periscopes.
Hope this helps you all figure out what was used where and when. For more information, pictures and scaled plans visit the following post about periscopes.
Tiger Periscope Link: http://www.armortek.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=856
Panther Periscope Link: http://www.armortek.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=857
Acrylic Prism Link: http://www.armortek.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1074
Tiger 1and 2 Loaders Periscope Link: http://www.armortek.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=846
Real Glass Optics Link: http://www.armortek.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=282. Offer listed in this post no longer available.
Some periscopes had different mounting brackets on different tanks, several periscopes are mounted were the interior cannot be seen. I do offer external parts only for these periscopes positions.
Regards
Mike