Early m4a1

[Model Builder 4]

To be totally honest with you I'm not really sure what they are I started the main body of the build nearly 2 years ago so they have been on there for a while. If you read any of my build threads you will most probably find some unusual items that I use within them. I'm always on the look out for handy items that I can use in any of my builds and the vision ports are two such items, I've used a spare pershing road wheel to make a spot light on my M51 Sherman and even the inside of a tyre valve from a car wheel to resemble an aerial base I'm sorry I can't be of more help but I'm sure you'll come across something that you can use for them

Cheers, Lee.

[Model Builder 4]

Here are a couple of different angles so you can hopefully get the idea of them, still can't remember what they made from though

Cheers, Lee.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Exhibitedbrute]

From this angle they look like either some sort of panzer hinge or plasticard. Either way it gives something to work with

[Model Builder 4]

I know I used 2 parts on each of them so they could be made from anything

Cheers, Lee.

[Exhibitedbrute]

I’m sure I have something around I can use

[Exhibitedbrute]

So on discovering an issue with the supplied hatches I put this to the jury, which is best.

Printed hatch or metal hatch supplied.
Both will require filler one way or the other

[Model Builder 4]

I used a printed set from shapeways and designed by woz

Cheers, Lee.

[HERMAN BIX]

I know as much about Shermans as I do about Diplomacy, but I like the one on the left side.
Chancing a guess that the material is easier to work with to get right than the other one ?

[Exhibitedbrute]

The one on the left is a re-design of some I bought off shapeways a number of years ago that are now on my a2. The biggest improved feature our design the hatches open, shapeways do not,

I have been comparing with mr gunner on this as he has bought the same cast top from Ludwig so any help you can offer me may also be of help to mr gunner as it seem we have the same problem, the metal hatches are to big and the disc that goes in that hole is to small, perhaps a design flaw but an easy fix I hope

[Son of a gun-ner]

Well, the periscope "disk" is more than a millimetre smaller in diameter than the hole it's meant to fit in. The periscope lid/cover is too long to fit within a protective cage should someone want to add one, it's longer than the disk hole diameter. And the periscope itself looks about the correct size, but for some reason, the indent in the undersized disk where the periscope sits, is far too big. But, nothing that can't be sorted with some plasticard.
I prefer the fit of the metal one within the hatch hole in the hull. Otherwise it's a lot more work to make an undersized hatch fit.
And lastly, if you want a driver figure poking his head up, the larger size is probably best.

I'll try and dig out my Nick Aguilar and my dgsselkirk small hatches this evening and do a comparative photo or two.