RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

now im back on my kv-1 i have a historical issue to resolve

this is the tank i wish to model a kv-1 in service with the 8th panzer div(captured) this tank is the same model as this tank and shares all the same features exept one... the hatch on this tank opens off to the rear right(diagonal) the hatch on the captured tank opens forward only the german captured kvs seen to have forward opening hatches so did the germans move the hatch hinges?,why was the turret hatch opening offset on some model kv-1s? and any ideas how to go about moving the hatch on the heng long kv without interfering with the rear of the recoil unit?

my immediate reaction is "did the moron who welded it shut at the museum" get it right?
Pretty much every open hatch picture I can think of right now had the hatch opening forwards, accounts from veterans have indicated that the hatch wasn't much protection as the snipers waited until the tank had passed because the commander was a ways out of the turret peering over the hatch and totally exposed from the sides or behind

no the hatches on the recoverd kv were still in place and opening when it was dragged from the river so its not a resoration fopar and theres lots of pics of diag opening hatches still not sure why the hatch hinges were moved to the diaganol,i thoght it might be to make the aa gun eisier to use but not all of them have evidence of mounts

That's good material - I love these threads where pictures get posted that debunk the "accepted ideas"
Sooner or later somebody will come along and post "yes thats a specific mod to the <whatever> tank brigade" - and we will all learn something from this

I'll take a looksie thru my books again tomorrow and see if I can find something similar (I doubt it - but then I don't know everything, and neither does anyone else here ) but I think you are onto a special field mod - based on what I have read I can believe that hatch configuration would have been more beneficial for the tank commander the one out of the factory so I see no reason why it wouldn't have been that way

i may have to go with the diag opening hatch regardless as i cant find a way to fit the turret hinges at the front down to the inner workings-least then its accurate to the model if not the particular vehicle

more wandering hatches
early kv with l-11 gun has forward facing hatch this one has it opening to the side

Are you changing the turret on your KV as the captured 1s dont seem to have the bolt on armour (unless they were ss division (motorised) ) pic to follow

KV-1 SS

yes may/may not go for a captured vehicle yet as im going to have 3 all grey tanks i may keep it as soviet,but then i have lots of other kv projects planned

ps http://beute.narod.ru/Beutepanzer/su/su.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

the site for captured tanks

Very nice link...thanks