Hi all,
on Vodnik's article, there is a picture of a weird bit of rod supporting a square plate on the right side of the hull.
Here is the picture :


Does anyone know how is it fit to the hull and subsidiary one what is the use of it ?

TIA
olivier

Is it a periscope? It kind of looks like the one on the turret of an M1. Hopefully Heavyarty or sabot will shed some light

Looks like part of the swim barrier support that is left over. Definitely not a periscope.

Hi Sabot,
I've seen this on many pictures not only on Vodnik's picture.
As it can hardly be seen, there is a small T-shaped handle at the top of it.
Hopefully, someone else could input the full answer.
I would like to know how it is fixed to the hull more than its use.

olivier

Olivier,

I think this part may have something to do with the work platform. Please take a look at the work platform that is normally attached on the left side of the M2A2 hull, under the turret's TOW launcher. Note that there are two identical T handles/pins on top of the outer edge. The handle/pin on top of the rod on the right side of the hull looks exaclty the same. Also if you look closely at photos of my model and real M2A2/M3A2 you can see that there is another similar handle/pin next to the engine exhaust grille. I wonder if it is possible that these two pins on the right side of the hull serve the same purpose as these two on the left side - i.e. are used to hold some sort of work platform in place. I have never seen the platform attached to the right side of the hull, but it may be possible.

HTH
Pawel

Hi Pawel,
I had a long moment studying your article and model this morning and I'm still discovering new bits to add to the Tamiya kit

I had a look at Rob MotorPool gallery and found this picture

This is a part of mystery unveiled, I still don't know if you're right assuming it could support the workplatform. Anyway, it must be added along with the other one near the exhaust. This one, I did see it with the new exhaust type for the moment.

A question about your model : did you modify the bustle rack shape ? I'm in the process of building the turret myself and wondered if it were easy or not. My plan is to add a bit of plastic to the floor and re-do the vertical wall with thin plastic card.

olivier

No, I didn't. I decided to leave it "as is" in my M3A2 kit, although I plan to correct it in my next Bradley model.

Pawel