On real tanks?

Most tank hulls are made up of a number of parts (some cast, some not), that are either welded and/or bolted together. You'll need to look up reference on the particular vehicle you are modeling to have an answer to your question.

What he said.

Which tank are you working on? That will give us a better chance to answer your question. However, a tank usually has its strongest armor forward and there is no gap between the upper an lower hull in front. In the rear, there are lots of tanks with access doors, overhangs, grilles and such to the engine compartment.

Like they said, check photo references! If you need some, ask and the forum can usually direct you.

Ron

i finished my tamiya M41 walker bulldog and academy m60 with the dozer attachment.
it seems that when u thought you are finished with your build...something would pop out of your mind on making the armor look better.

these are my first armor builds and i want them to look accurate. thanks guys!

instant section

Here's the front end of the M41. There's no major gap nor any very apparent seam...

thanks djmodels! i saw other pictures of m41...i noticed that the machine gun is located at the right side of the commander's hatch...the tamiya model is at the left...
was it placed there for a left hand gunner? is there such thing on tanks? sorry for the question.

another thing, those windows on the commander's hatch? i dunno what they're called...but i saw other modeler's builds...they are colored blue? am sorry...honestly am colored blind. what color are those?

thanks for the help!

instant section

The vision slots of the cupolla, paint them gloss black.. or a very dark gloss blue

You are luck to have something to paint. My academy M1 has openings at the drivers hatch and the sight on top. I should have filled them with sheet styreen, but I'm really lazy! Dark blue seems to be called for on many kits.

i got an idea...

i feel like making the vision slots open by drilling it....then put an acetate inside then painting it dark blue from the inside so it would look like its real.

what do you think guys? good or bad idea?

Paint them Dark Blue unless there are aftermarket parts available.

The Type 90 I am playing with at the moment has them open and included clear sheeting that needs to be cut to size and inserted.

Not sure if i should paint those clear blue.

oh that's nice.
my m41 and m60 has close vision slots..
i have to try opening them with a small drill bit.
hope i won't damage the cupollas.

I use elmers glue like crystal clear window maker that I tint blue with water colors for open vison slots and paint the closed ones dark (navy gloss) blue

When I put clear vision blocks in, I don't paint them, just let them show off the interior or even no interior. Many times a vision bock will show 'daylight' if it catches the sight line of a block across from it in the cupola.

Ron