Tiger 1 and Panther Cupola Questions

[Mike Stannard (toyrific)]

Hi Guys

Need a little help on a few aspects of the late cupola for the Tiger 1 and the Panther cupola. Any help would be appreciated.

Tiger 1 Late Cupola
There are square stand off nuts around the inside of the cupola between each periscope, these I have deduced from a drawing are to hold a ring around the cupola interior, this I figure is for forehead rests when using the periscopes. I have not been able to find a real picture of this ring and would like to know if my assumption is correct and how the rests were fitted, were they individual rests in line with each periscope or did the complete ring have a cushion. A real picture would be a great help.

Real picture of stand off nuts.


Drawing showing ring.


Panther Cupola
Question 1
Anyone have a picture of the cupola hatch interior, trying to find out what the center of the head cushion looks like as the drawing I have shows a hole in the center, I guess to give access to the hatch/arm securing bolt.
Question 2
In the first picture there is a clock dial, what was it for, it does not seem to appear on all cupolas. Behind the dial is a cog, did this part rotate for some reason. It appears that the dial is engraved in the metal, can anyone confirm.
Question 3
What was this part for, it looks like it could be a turning mechanism for the clock dial. But there is no handle, is this part complete in the picture or is the lower part missing. Picture of complete part would be great.
Question 4
Is this part of the cupola, if so what is it used for.



Question 5
Does anyone have the complete drawing below showing the bottom part of the hatch lifting/locking mechanism.


Thanks for the help in advance.
Mike

[Kent Wiik]

Ok Mike, there vent my Sunday...

Tiger:

To my knowledge the ring was made of a thinner steel strip with cutouts bended down to every square stand offs.
Look at this Tiger II cupola as they are the same as the Late Tiger I.
My fair guess is that there was individual rests like at the Panther cupola.


Panther:

Q01 - As seen in your drawing the head cushion was pressed up with a big washer seen here in this poor photo.


Q02 - Yes it is a clock dial and it was rotating so the commander would see in what direction the KwK was pointing. The text in this photo says all.

And here is a photo how the shaft was connected.
Please note that this is to the early drum cupola but the principle is the same to the later one.

The shaft was connected to your Q03.
As this clock dial might be a gem and expensive for you to make I think at least I can be without it to keep cost down, as it is almost invinsible from outside.
If you add it I think you shall make it fixed with the number "12" pointing forward as making it rotating is out of the question.
Please note it was white numbers on black background.

Q04 - This part was called "Halterung for Sehrohr", mounting for periscope, and was used to hold the 1,83 meter long stick periscope TBF 2 or the v-shaped one. This was to my knowledge only fitted on Befehls- and Beobachtungspanzer Panthers.

Q05 - here is a better (?) drawing showing the handle.
I have had photos of the real thing as one was for sale on EBay but I seem to have lost them somehow..


Hope this was on any use for you.
Cheers
Kent

[Mike Stannard (toyrific)]

Hi Kent

Thanks, that's just what I needed, periscope masters are done so you real periscope should be on it's way home soon.

Mike

[Roland Wallick]

I believe the 'clock dial' is a bearing compass used for orientation and target acuisition.