I'm building a Trumpeter KV1, but I glued down all the hatches. Now, I want to use it in a diorama, and want to have the crew outside the vehicle. Would it be possible to do that with the hatches closed? Maybe they closed them to keep rain from getting in or for some other reason

Sure, why not?

Maybe I am missing your point....if you couldn't open them from the outside how would anyoen ever get in ?

You might think the dio would look better with the hatches open and that might be true, but then you need to build an interior, which adds a lot of time to the project.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I was wondering if it would be realistic to have that hatches all closed, but the crew outside of the tank. I already glued the hatches in place, so it would be very difficult to change it now.

I think it would be fine as nobody likes a wet seat but the scene would more likely be a rear area I guess. Go for it.

I believe he is referring to the fact that there is no obvious way to open the hatch from outside.

Yes, the hull hatch on a KV-1 could be opened from outside using a socket key inserted into the socket in the center of the hatch cover, though the turret hatch could not...don't know why but the turret hatches on KV-1s did not have the central socket, though the turret hatches on KV-2s did.

Neil

Prime portal pics of KV-1 hatches.

Turret hatch


Hull hatch


Neil is right.

Paul

Maybe you could have the crew looking for the key.

A friend of mine actually told me a story like that: winter, night, Kentucky. They were the night crew for an M1, which war on a patrol (training), so only the crew changed. The previous crew left them in the middle of the forest with the tank and its engine running. But they did forget to give them the keys, and the hatches were locked. So they spent the night under the warm tank, waiting for the morning crew.
Kind of embarrassing.