HL Pz. IV cupola possition

[littletankman]

Hi All the cupola on my HL Pz.IV has been bugging me . Ive compared it with many pictures and line drawings etc and it looks like it sits to far back on the turret . If you put the ring around it like on later Pz.IVs it will foul the turret bin . Which I also think sits to high . I have lowered my one a little , and Ive moved my cupola forward a little . So when I add the ring around it wont foul the turret bin and it sits in the correct possition in comparison with the turret side hatches and the line across the turret roof. Again looking at my Pz.IV line drawing book. I know there should be a slight gap between the turret and the bin but HLs one is fitted so the barrel elevation motor fits , on the bb version.

Andy

[jrc]

hi Andy

which version are you making cos the cupola changes at the H?

and yes the HL bin is slightly high but up to the G the cupola position looks ok.

Ross

[Tankie]

I think the cupola is in the right place. HL have definitely stretched the turret bin in all directions to house the elevation motor & as you say removed the gap between it and the turret.

I removed the BB gun to fit a proper barrel and scale down the mantle correctly. Once the BB gun is out the elevation mechanism can be brought forward into the turret allowing the turret bin to be corrected. This is a lot of work but worth the effort.

[Saxondog]

Learn something new every day,How did you move the copula Andy? Did this require modifying the opening into the hull? Do you maybe have a photo? Thanks Blake

[grompix]

This is the position of the Tamiya turret cupola opening compared to the HL one. Hope this helps.
Chris

[littletankman]

Hi all looks like another long debate . I think its down to personal preferance. If your not puting the cupola deflector ring on then its fine were it is . However Im making a very late J model . But if you look at the picture of the Tamiya and HL turrets by Chris I think the cupola needs to be moved forward as you can see by looking at were the edge of the cupola hole its in comparison with the turret side hatches , and the centeral line on the turret . I will post some picts once Im happy on the position . I have the book sd.fz.161 Panzer IV ausf.J by Krzysztof Mucha book number 8 by Topdrawings. Not sure I can post a pict from that (mat ?) .

[jrc]

hi Andy

you can see from the photos, the Tamiya is a J, the Heng Long an F, and quite different. They beefed up the armour thickness after the G, also added the close weapon support. The cupolas are both against the rear but remember it's a different cupola you'll need.

good luck

Ross

[grompix]

Here's a pic of my HL PanzerIV H with Tamiya turret to get an idea of the cupola size.
Cheers
Chris

[littletankman]

Hi looks good . Yer the late cupolas have the swing lid. Heres the picts of how far I moved my cupola . You can hardly see the diferance.


Original position.


New position.


And with the swivel cupola and ring.

[grompix]

Looks spot-on Andy.
Chris