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geoffsteer · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 114

Hi Guys-
So what else is new? Well, at the link below, you'll find some photos of the T-34/76 with the German cupola, three of these photos are interesting because they appear to show an opening in the turret to one side of the cupola that the gunner appears to have his legs in. The top photo I think we've seen before, however, the other two that show this extra opening are new to me.
beute.pz1.ru/Beutepanz...-42_15.htm
If the above link does not take you directly to where I am talking about, go to the bottom of the page and look for this title in the box above the bottom most box:
three pictures of T-34 m 41/42 with commanders cupola (pic 1, pic 2, pic 3)
Cheers-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)

mike_Duplessis · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 236

Yup, you're right. It looks like some sort of side-hinged hatch. As a matter of fact I don't see any hint of the original Soviet forward-hing hatch peeking out. The conversion wasn't simply welding the hatch shut and dropping a cupola on it. It appears they've got a whole new rear turret roof fitted! Ooooh, what I'd give for a top shot.

It looks like they weren't particularly picky which T34 type they used. Theres a pair side-by side with early and later-style driver's hatch, a welded and cast turret type too, plus I can spot both standard and early production PzIII cupolas. In other words, if you wanted to kit-bash one of these you'd have a hard time getting it 'wrong'! These photos make me want to buy a couple kits and start rooting through my my spare parts box.

geoffsteer · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 114

Hi Guys-
Looking at the top photo, at the link I provided in my original posting, and the photo fourth from the bottom (T-34 following halftrack), the gunner's hatch appears to be sticking out a great distance from the turret. I find this difficult to understand as the space left over to the right of the German cupola is very small. So, if the hatch is there, why does it appear to be longer than the space it is emerging from? Even if this hatch opening included the area behind the cupola as well as beside it, it would not explain the length of the gunner's hatch.
Well, what d'ya think?
Geoff Steer [;-{/)

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