Armortek

Can anyone confirm whether the drivers hatch handles are handed or is
the photo below of the Duxford T34/85 correct with the 2 handles the
same hand.
I dont know whether this one was replaced with whatever was available
or whether they were just saving stock or paterns at the casting
factory.
I have only found one other photo but that only confirms that the
left hand one looking from the front is the same,it doesnt show them both.

Cheers
Phil

My tank is exactly the same... both the same handle... makes it confusing when opening the front hatch in the dark!

Dave Bane
Eastern Indiana Tank Collection

Phil,
Scouted around. Have only found museum examples with the same asymmetrical arrangement. Makes sense in production terms. Have also seen two examples where the handles are missing from the dogs (latches) pehaps ground off to prevent drivers locking themselves in and defecting to the West
Not implausible that alternatives exist, but given the very conservative approach to Soviet production design, who would want to be sent to the Gulag, or worse, for suggesting a left and right symmetrical alternative!
Ello Tosh, gotta hatch latch?
cheers, Fabrice

Thanks Guys
Excellent explanation Fabrice,perfectly reasonable.
Thanks Dave for confirming it,is it possible to post a few close up pic's of the detail on your
drivers hatch
I cant make out from the Duxford pic's that I took whether that central triangular handle
is used for operating a sprung loaded peg when you pull down,or is it a ball catch.
Also how do the levers work for opening the periscope armor and how is the hatch latched open.
Cheers
Phil

Just to confuse it a bit more
I have just found 2 more pic's of drivers hatch handle handings.
One was with a left and a right hand and the other was with 2 handles of the same
hand,but the oposite hand to the Duxford T34/85.
They must have used what ever was available at the time by the look of it.
Cheers
Phil

Phil,

Looking at the dog casting, you have to wonder why they did not make one version and flip it before mounting it on the opposite stud. I came across a couple of pics that show differences in the stud too. Check out the various walkarounds on the Prime Portal website. This research problem is compounded by trying to identify bona fide wartime Russian hulls rather than post war soviet-bloc products, let alone restored vehicles in the hands of Western museums and collectors.

cheers, Fabrice

'Toadman' pictures, which are from the Jaques Littlefield collection shows a -76 with a left and a right handed lever and an -85 with two the same, right hand levers??

Thanks guys.
I think what ever way you put this detail on seems ok
Cheers
Phil

Here you go guys... pics of hatch...ALL PICTURES ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF TANK WITH HATCH OPENED.

This is the latch... to open a T-34 drivers hatch (from drivers seat) you must unscrew the hydraulic lock just off your left shoulder, then rotate the handles away from the hull. These handles (on the hatch which has caused all the questions) simply extend beyond the side of the hull. There are no special locks or areas to receive the handle. Then you pull the handle below that releases the hatch and allows the hydraulic cylinder to push the hatch open. You then screw the hydraulic lock back closed and the hatch stays open.



On the hatch is the vision periscope handles. These two handles control the large metal castings that lift up to expose the periscopes... right and left. There are various heights that can be selected by pulling the handle down, moving it along the arc and allowing a spring retainer to go into one of the holes. Handles on each side control each periscope. This is the right handle (left from the front)



Close up of one of the handles on the left side (right from front):



There is finally a lock that rotates and allows two metal plates to pull up and remove the two periscopes. This is that handle and the two metal plates that fold allowing access to the periscopes to remove for damage or cleaning.



Hope that helps.

Dave Bane
Eastern Indiana Tank Collection

Hello Dave

Keep these detailed photos comeing. Question for you. What is the angle of elevation and depression as on the kit there isnt a lot. Thank you.

lee

On Thursday we will be buttoning up the rear armor and putting the exhaust covers on... I'll check a full depression and elevation for you then...

Dave Bane
Eastern Indiana Tank Collection

Thanks for the drivers hatch detail dave,excellent and the working
discription was a great bonus.
Cheers
Phil