RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

i have noticed while browsing tiger related sites that the early tiger has a flat bracket on the cupola just forward of the hinge ( can be seen on alan hamby's site, gallery 4 pic 3 ) just wondered what it was. is it just to stop the hatch falling fully open? why have i never seen this mod done? over to all you rivet counters

Hey Maybach,

That bracket was a hatch locking mechanism on the early production model cupola's. On the hatch itself was a spring mounted bracket that had an angled edge on it. When the hatch was opened, the momentum and weight of the hatch would hit the bracket on the cuploa, the spring mounted bracket on the hatch would slide over and lock itself down. On the hatch locking mechanism there was a 1inch bar/tab that protruded out of the bracket towards the front (12 o'clock). On crew actions, the commander would just push up with his palm, grab the interior hatch handle and button up. Hope this helps.

Derek

thank's for that Derek.so am i right thinking it's to stop the hatch slamming shut on your finger's or head when in motion? well explained too.

No problem Maybach,

You are indeed correct, nothing worse than scraping it out with the Allies and your commanders is on the turret basket floor, seeing little Adolf's dancing around in a circle.

I actually had a great uncle who was with the 8th Canadian Hussars in Italy, in his commanders hatch of a Sherman, the split type hatch, he was getting down inside when a sniper round hit the hatch and came down on his right hand. The hatch severed off his index, middle and ring fingers. Survived and became an excellent golf player. Always amazed how he could play with so many fingers missing.

Later dude...

Derek