PANZER 111 / IV CUPOLA & TURRET HATCHES

[John Fitzsimons]

I am working on my Panzer IV at the moment but thought this may be of interest to panzer III owners also as the cupola is the same.
The kit cupola has many problems. I hope to fix some of them but still retain the basic cupola.
I hope to add vision port interior detail. How functional they will be is not yet decided.

First I need to replace the view port covers. Kit covers are for the bin.




















Next I will make the vision block holders and clear resin inserts.

[Ian Rodney]

Hi John,

Great news to see someone like yourself taking on the Panzer III & IV Cupolas.

Although I don't have a Panzer IV, but do have a unfinished Panzer III kit, sitting waiting for my full attention once I have finished my present T34-85 kit!

My Panzer III is about three quarters finished but I left off completing the cupola with all it's details like the covers and vision blocks etc.

I would be interested in a set of covers and functional interior vision blocks holders and clear resin inserts etc for my Pz III.

Looking forward to seeing how you go about making the interior parts etc.

Cheers Ian

from Glasgow, Scotland.

[John Fitzsimons]

Thanks for the interest In. Ihave some research to do on the vision blocks then to decide how to proceed.

[Iacopo Di Giampietro]

Hello John.
I would like to join the words of Ian Rodney: It is nice to see your works for tanks such as the Panzer III and IV.
Not only Tiger-King Tiger and Panther man lives!

I am interested in all those components which can increase the detail of the original cupola for the Panzer III, starting from the vision port covers!
Then, as they say where I come from, it all depends on price.

Congratulations for your work and good continuation: I hope that these pieces will be available soon!

Ciao,
Iacopo

[John Fitzsimons]

Thanks for the nice comments. Hopefully get started on internals soon. The Panzer III is quite well catered for already but the cupola needed something. Also i will look at a comander seat. I would love to do some parts for the panther but it's difficult not having the model to ensure the parts fit well.

[Stephen White]

John - it seems a long time ago but I put quite a lot of stuff into my build log, particularly about size, position and internals. I used the original tech drawings in the Trojca book. Stephen

[John Fitzsimons]

Thanks Stephen. I know your Panzer II build well. I have some food drawings of the parts. I know you made the full framework also. I do not know If I will go so far but maybe. I might contact you for some help if that's ok.

[Adrian Harris]

A word of warning - I'm sure Mark will be able to confirm - but in a posting here:

http://www.armortek.co.uk/Forum3b/viewt ... 798#p28798

Mark states:

"The cupola size on the new Panzer IV has been adjusted and the profile has been corrected."

The Panzer III cupola was oversized, so it would be worth testing your Panzer IV parts in a Panzer III cupola to see if they're compatible.

Adrian.

[John Fitzsimons]

Anybody out there with a panzer III willing to test? I will work on the panzer IV then if sufficient interest make parts specially for the Panzer III. Thanks for that Adrian

[Christian Steinhauer]

Hello John,

I can test it for you, if it' not to expensive for you to send it to ermany.
I will send it back on my own costs.

[Ian Rodney]

Hi John,

As you know I have a Panzer III and much closer to you than Germany!... which would keep the costs down posting your Panzer IV covers. I would be willing to try them out, so it's up to you!

Just send me your email address and I will give you my delivery address.

Cheers Ian

from Glasgow, Scotland.

[John Fitzsimons]

Thanks Christian and Ian. I will send Ian a couple of covers to try. I doubt they will fit based on what mark said about reworking the cupola for the Panzer IV. Maybe Armortek or a customer might have a Panzer III cupola that I can use as a template.
Ian, my email address is johnfitzsimons@msn.com
Send me your address and I will post parts to you.

[John Fitzsimons]

The covers have been test fitted to the Panzer III. Although very close fit in width the profile does not match that of the Panzer III cupola. It would be necessary to make completely new covers.

I will complete the parts for the Panzer IV first. I am currently waiting for drawings of the interior fittings.

When the panzer IV parts are complete I will consider if it is worthwhile producing the parts for the Panzer III based on level of interest. Unfortunately the Panzer III parts would be of interest to current Panzer III owners only as any future release would not use the same cupola which has been revised and improved since.

If there is sufficient interest I will design a set for the Panzer III also.

[Ian Rodney]

Hi John,

Hope my test fittings and pics of your Panzer IV covers helped you out with the different sizes of the Panzer IV & Panzer III Cupolas.
Although the width seemed fine, but the profile does not match that of the Panzer III Cupola.

I would still be interested in parts you might design a set for the Panzer III Cupola, but depending on the level of interest from current Panzer III owners that have the larger type cupolas and want your excellent covers.

Cheers
Ian
from Glasgow.

[Iacopo Di Giampietro]

Hello John, thanks for the update.
Your speech is more than acceptable.
It all depends on how many pieces you be able to accomplish, and then the price you then be able to propose to the users who are interested.
As already mentioned, I would be interested, but we need to see how many other people are, and how much would it cost a set of Covers.
As always I apologize for my bad English.