German WWII Tank Taillights?

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

So, I’ve seen some round taillights in WWII German Tanks that are divided horizantally into two section (with one section being slightly smaller than the other).

I think these two sections are red and orange but I don’t know if the smaller or larger area is red or orange, nor do I know if the smaller or larger section is on top or bottom?

Does anyone know and/or have a picture of this round tank taillight?

2

I have a better one than thison my computer at home, but this is the best one ican find for now. The one your talking about is figure 2.

3

4

This should get you going.

http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=191402&page=1

http://www.kettenkrad.de/notekhi_e.htm

5

Actually, none of these are the specific light I am referring to. The light I’m referring to looks like this:

And here it is shown on a diagram of a Panzer I Ausf B:

And here it is on the back of a model someone else did shown as Orange over Red:

The closet thing I’ve found to an actual picture is this:

And in a way, this last one sort of answers my question when the light is off… but still leaves me wondering what color(s) it is when on and which side is truly up (the larger or smaller lens)?

6

hmm… for some reason the pictures didn’t come through…

The light I’m referring to looks like the 2nd from left in the bottom row of this pic:

Or as seen on the rear left back of this chassis diagram:

And from this forum, this 1/6 scale model another had built (which appears to be orange over red):

I found this real life example (but not in context):

And found these real life pics of the light (one is in color, but not good enough to discern!):

In that last pic, it almost looks rotated 90 degrees such that the separation is vertical.

Thanks everyone.

7

This Panzer I ausf A at Munster has orange and white (clear);

Then again, I’m pretty sure this is not correct, it appears to be the museum’s artistic license, (probably), as it looks like a US Army tail light, and it doesn’t look like the one photo I can find, (so far) of a very small, tubular-type in the same location;

This photo of an Ausf A shows what I believe you are looking for;

This light would have a orange lens on top and a red lens on the bottom, as seen on this SdKfz 10;

I haven’t been able to find a good photo of the rear of an Ausf B with the tail light still intact, so I’m not sure if I’ve got the right one yet.

This photo of an Ausf B, (in color even!) shows something completely different;

Finally! These are surprisingly hard to find;

These were later changed, (for the most part), to the standard early-type convoy lights with the shutter, as early as the Norway campaign, if not before.

8

I keep trying to put pics up but can’t seem to figure it out. But it is like the last two you posted so I think that’s my answer. Interestingly one of the pics I was trying to post appears to be this light and it appears to be blue/black in color when not illuminated… I wonder if that’s just a function of age (that last pic you posted the light looks so new I wonder if it is t original)? But that IS the light.

Here is a link that hopefully will work:

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/battlefield-history-relics/relic-panzer-558161/

9

YES, this is the light in question! (that last pic is one I’ve tried to put up several times to no avail).

My first post went okay; my first reply lost all the images (I had dragged and dropped them). My second reply (with the images done by providing URLs to their web locations) disappeared in its entirety. And last night, I replied again and provided only a link to an image and that too disappeared entirely.

Can some moderator or user tell me what’s going on with that?!

Now, the bonus question… what do the orange and read lights signify? BTW, Ammo of Mig makes a crystal color (A.MIG-099) that is exactly the color of these lights when not illuminated (as seen in the picture I keep trying to post)!

10

Ok, the reason the tail light on the color image I posted of the Panzer I ausf B looks different is because it is fitted with a “rotary shutter”. (Good luck trying to find a photo of that!), this is according to the accompanying article from the Lone Sentry diagram that Bish posted;

http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt08/night-driving-equipment.html

The explaination is under the description for fig. #2, parts c and d.

11

This photo has be computer colorized, (the label in the lower right corner) so it is not a reliable reference.

i had found and posted this one several years back. It is actual period color film and dates from shortly after the Polish campaign in 1939. These vehicle’s appears to have the light that you’re looking for.

12

Awesome.

Thanks everyone! And I see my images are showing up now… I guess they were delayed since I’m new here (still working their way through moderation I guess).

Anyway, I’ve got what I need!