Does any one know what color the inside of russian hatches were painted? I have seen pics that would appear to show them as green while others clearly show them as white. I am trying to touch up my T-35 and I want to make sure the open hatches are green. T-34 hatches are another big one. I have seen pics of the diver hatch as both white and green.

Driver's Hatch could be white or Green on the T-34...it would not show up to aircraft.

All other hatches interiors would be green for obvious reasons. Lots of photos MAY show either staged photos (propoganda) or else pictures of post war tanks when it did not matter.

I did not consider the russian's usage of staged photos. I know how they love their made up photos.

Another possibility when you see white hatches (either driver's or turret) is that the tank is a rebuild and has been hastily repainted on the inside without the hatches being masked.

However, I have seen several photos, notably of STZ and ChTZ made T-34s, which are unlikely to have been rebuilds but where turret and driver's hatches were indeed white.
(All wartime photos, by the way.)

I suppose the most accurate thing to say is that, yes, it did happen but it was not "standard practice".

Mark

Check out the vast pile of T-35 photos here for white hatches

http://grayknight.narod.ru/T-35/T-35.htm

David

I would say that pre-war is very likely to see white hatch interior's. The aircraft threat was not really known or respected at that time, so it did not matter in painting. Everyone learned real quick after that though...

I have went back and fourth on this. I assume since mine is supposed to be late summer of 41 I will go back and paint them white.