King Tiger.Welded or bolted cupola
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 10:06 pm
Working on weld seams on my Tamiya King Tiger[Henshel turret] and have come to the cupola.I have seen that some say they were welded to the turret and some say they were bolted .I did some research and this is what i found.
Production number 280093 [Welded] Bovington tank museum.
Production number 280101 [Welded] Munster panzer museum.
Production number 280112 [Welded] Saumur museum.
Production number 280215 [Bolted] Swiss museum.
Production number 280243 [Bolted] Fort Benning.
Production number280273 [Bolted] Le Gleize.
Production number[ !] [Welded ]Kubinka.
I have read that they were welded in to make production quick but at the front the cupola became a target as anti tank crews knew if they could take out the area around the vision blocks in the cupola the commander would not have full vision.Trying to remove a welded cupola would be a night mare.Thats why they went back to a bolted cupola. Porsche turreted king tigers were bolted.If you look at the images of the destroyed King Tiger[ Porsche turret] in Le Plessis there is a close up photo of the turret on its side after the brick wall colapsed.Cupola not welded.Another interesting thing is you can see in that photo is where the commanders quick sighting device is located on a Porsche turret.In one of the corners at the front of the turret near a front lifting hook.I hope this helps if you are are building a early or late production turret [Henshel] as the first three all had zimmert plus the Kubinka King Tiger.regards John.
Merry Xmas to every one.Regards John.
Production number 280093 [Welded] Bovington tank museum.
Production number 280101 [Welded] Munster panzer museum.
Production number 280112 [Welded] Saumur museum.
Production number 280215 [Bolted] Swiss museum.
Production number 280243 [Bolted] Fort Benning.
Production number280273 [Bolted] Le Gleize.
Production number[ !] [Welded ]Kubinka.
I have read that they were welded in to make production quick but at the front the cupola became a target as anti tank crews knew if they could take out the area around the vision blocks in the cupola the commander would not have full vision.Trying to remove a welded cupola would be a night mare.Thats why they went back to a bolted cupola. Porsche turreted king tigers were bolted.If you look at the images of the destroyed King Tiger[ Porsche turret] in Le Plessis there is a close up photo of the turret on its side after the brick wall colapsed.Cupola not welded.Another interesting thing is you can see in that photo is where the commanders quick sighting device is located on a Porsche turret.In one of the corners at the front of the turret near a front lifting hook.I hope this helps if you are are building a early or late production turret [Henshel] as the first three all had zimmert plus the Kubinka King Tiger.regards John.
Merry Xmas to every one.Regards John.