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Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 8:41 am
by Vince Cutajar
Yesterday I thought of something that I can add to my late Tiger 1. It is the cupola cover or umbrella.

I have been searching for a photo of this item to see if it's difficult to fabricate but no luck yet. I also have the impression that somebody posted a photo here recently but also no luck in finding it here.

Can somebody kindly tell me where to find these photos?

Thanks

Vince

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 10:03 am
by Riny Koks
Something like this?

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 12:48 pm
by Marco Peter


I need to lookup my pictures for Ed too so when I have time...

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 9:08 pm
by Vince Cutajar
Thanks Riny for that photo. Is that your handiwork?

Thanks Marco. I guess that is where I saw it recently. Totally forgot about it.

Vince

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 2:27 am
by Riny Koks
Not my work, its from Michael's fantastic Tiger 332.
I do not have the skills to do this 😢

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:50 pm
by Vince Cutajar
Another question.
Is the material for the cover sheet metal or canvas?

Thanks again.

Vince

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 2:43 pm
by Ed Groenenberg
Vince Cutajar wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:50 pm
Another question.
Is the material for the cover sheet metal or canvas?

Thanks again.

Vince
On the Tiger at Militracks it was cloth / canvas.

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 4:33 pm
by Vince Cutajar
Thanks Ed for the info.

Made a rough 3D model to see what will be involved in fabricating the frame (green colour)
Cupola Umbrella v1.jpg
Cupola Umbrella v2.jpg
Cupola Umbrella v3.jpg
Frame to be made with 2mm diameter round stock. I still have to see if I have enough material for it. Trying to avoid having to buy the stock online as it has become really expensive to import things.

Vince

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 9:13 pm
by Ed Groenenberg
Vince Cutajar wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 13, 2023 4:33 pm
Thanks Ed for the info.

Made a rough 3D model to see what will be involved in fabricating the frame (green colour)

Cupola Umbrella v1.jpg

Cupola Umbrella v2.jpg

Cupola Umbrella v3.jpg

Frame to be made with 2mm diameter round stock. I still have to see if I have enough material for it. Trying to avoid having to buy the stock online as it has become really expensive to import things.

Vince
Hello Vince.

That's a bit of a coincidence....
On my 2004 tiger, the cupola (the drum type) had 2 small studs/tubes on it,
Only these were more or less in front and the back of the commander.
I solved it by drilling 3 new holes in the top part of the cupola (it consists of a rop and a bottom ring),
and twisted it so these 2 mounts are now left and right of the commander.
The hatch is now at the back and also acts as a sort of shield?

I'm using 3mm brass rods for the 2 upward sections (needed to shave off about 0.4mm)
and 2mm brass rods for the rest of the frame.

Regards,
Ed

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 10:47 am
by Marco Peter
Image

Image

Image

Image

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 1:30 pm
by Adrian Harris
Interesting thread. Was this a Tunisian addition ?

Adrian.

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 3:04 pm
by Vince Cutajar
Marco, those stills from your video are awesome. Seeing those photos made me change the way I should go about attempting to do it.

Fingers crossed.

Vince

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 3:09 pm
by Vince Cutajar
Adrian, according to the following, they were introduced in November 1942.

https://tiger1.info/EN/Umbrella.html

I believe that the umbrella mounting posts remained till the end of production. I believe I once saw a photo of a King Tiger with that umbrella also.

Vince

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2023 8:42 pm
by Marco Peter
Vince Cutajar wrote: ↑
Wed Jun 14, 2023 3:04 pm
Marco, those stills from your video are awesome. Seeing those photos made me change the way I should go about attempting to do it.
THANKS! Thats why I do it!

Re: Late cupola cover / umbrella

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2023 11:04 pm
by Adrian Harris
Many thanks Vince.

Adrian.