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Armor/AFV: British Armor
Discuss all types of British Armor of all eras.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Cruiser Comet A34 Main Battle Tank.
guygantic
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Antwerpen, Belgium
Joined: August 19, 2006
KitMaker: 7,084 posts
Armorama: 970 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 08:21 AM UTC
Hello Allied/British armor builders,

I have started the build of Bronco's Comet A34.

The kit looks good.

Aftermarket :

- Bronco aluminum barrel

- Voyager pe (fender set)

- Legend resin gun mantlet and cupola parts

- Friul tracks...

I will try to make fine parts from thin plastic sheet if necessary.

The fenders were removed from the upper hull sides, my first job.



My Comet is a WWII MK I A version, so I used the resin idler wheels provided in the kit.

Friul tracks look more attractive and are easy to manipulate.



The metal boxes were reworked an detailed. Reference pics are a great help.



The two finished boxes, an open and a closed one.



The reworked rear plate of the Comet.



Photo etched fenders, wheels etc.



The plastic grab handles were removed.



The first hull front details were added.



The turret contains Legend resin parts but has also a scratched turret box.

The Legend set didn't satisfy me completely, however the gun mantlet looks great!





G.



Gmerkava
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United Kingdom
Joined: June 07, 2009
KitMaker: 11 posts
Armorama: 10 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 08:38 AM UTC
Hi Guy,

Nice build there, looking forward to seeing it progress as I intend to get hold of this kit soon myself.

Gordon
AlanL
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
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Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 09:52 AM UTC
Hi Guy,

This is excellent so far and will be a very useful blog for me. I have had one of these awaiting build since they came along. Look forward to developments.

Al
barkingdigger
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ARMORAMA
#013
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: June 20, 2008
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Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 11:27 AM UTC
Guy,

A fine start! I too have this in my stash, so I'll be watching with interest.

Tom
Dangeroo
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Zurich, Switzerland
Joined: March 13, 2009
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Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 08:06 PM UTC
Great to see one of these being built. Really nice progress so far. I am one of those who had to get it as soon as it hit the shops and it has been in my stash ever since...
CHESTERNIMITZ
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Vizcaya, Spain / España
Joined: March 01, 2009
KitMaker: 96 posts
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Posted: Monday, September 13, 2010 - 02:37 AM UTC
Awesome! That level of detail.
guygantic
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Antwerpen, Belgium
Joined: August 19, 2006
KitMaker: 7,084 posts
Armorama: 970 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 01:56 AM UTC
Thanks for your kind reactions gentlemen.

Gun mantlet was attached to the turret.

Dryfit barrel was perfect (thank you Legend and Bronco...)

I continued adding details from reference photos.







G.
Dutchy3RTR
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: June 28, 2009
KitMaker: 340 posts
Armorama: 337 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 12:15 PM UTC
This is looking great - I love the Comet.

One comment - apparently the plate on the back of the turret shouldn't be there on a WW2 version. According to one post earlier (on here I think) it was only ever fitted as a number plate on Irish Comets.

vonHengest
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Texas, United States
Joined: June 29, 2010
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Posted: Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 12:20 PM UTC
Looking great so far Guy, glad to see one of these being built
guygantic
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Antwerpen, Belgium
Joined: August 19, 2006
KitMaker: 7,084 posts
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Posted: Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 10:54 PM UTC

Quoted Text

This is looking great - I love the Comet.

One comment - apparently the plate on the back of the turret shouldn't be there on a WW2 version. According to one post earlier (on here I think) it was only ever fitted as a number plate on Irish Comets.




Thank you for your reaction and the comment on the back plate. I will check this out immediately and make the correction if you are right.

guygantic
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Antwerpen, Belgium
Joined: August 19, 2006
KitMaker: 7,084 posts
Armorama: 970 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 10:56 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Looking great so far Guy, glad to see one of these being built



Jeremy, thank you too. It's not a very popular item, the Comet, but I like it and the build is great fun.
guygantic
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Antwerpen, Belgium
Joined: August 19, 2006
KitMaker: 7,084 posts
Armorama: 970 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 11:08 PM UTC
And yes ! No plate ont the turret back ! I couldn't find a single photo of an early Comet of this area...so I will make the correction.

Thanks again !
guygantic
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Antwerpen, Belgium
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Posted: Saturday, September 18, 2010 - 07:37 AM UTC
Detailing continues :



guygantic
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Antwerpen, Belgium
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Posted: Saturday, September 18, 2010 - 11:13 PM UTC
And there's more to do :









guygantic
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Antwerpen, Belgium
Joined: August 19, 2006
KitMaker: 7,084 posts
Armorama: 970 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 04:22 AM UTC
The searchlight needs a lot of attention.

The Bronco lense is molded in green plastic ! It was a good master to replicate in transparent sheet.



Now I can start detailing again.





G.
SdAufKla
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South Carolina, United States
Joined: May 07, 2010
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Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 02:55 PM UTC
Excellent scratch building on the details, Guy! Just the kind of build I like!

I think that this is going to turn out great. I'm looking forward to more.

Mike
guygantic
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Antwerpen, Belgium
Joined: August 19, 2006
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Posted: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 - 02:11 AM UTC
Thank you Mike, with a good walkaround of the tank things are a lot easier to do.

I've reworked this part of the rear deck, just behind the cupola.

Dutchy3RTR
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: June 28, 2009
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Posted: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 - 04:08 AM UTC
Very nice - there's some really fine detail work there.
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California, United States
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 1,141 posts
Armorama: 950 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 - 04:45 AM UTC
Nice work, Guy! I like what you are doing with the Bronco kit. Your detailing and scratch work are very nice. Keep at it!!

Chris "toadman" Hughes
Toadman's Tank Pictures
CMOT
Staff MemberEditor-in-Chief
ARMORAMA
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 - 06:49 AM UTC
Guy I have tagged this as a Blog as then more members may take a look. Looking good so far.
TankSGT
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: July 25, 2006
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Posted: Friday, September 24, 2010 - 06:55 AM UTC
Very nice, the extra details are excellent, Have you stacked the Bronco kit against the Accurate Armor Resin kit, I have both but haven't really compared them. Besides having a real Comet around can you recommend any sources, I will save you build as a reference, gan excellent work. I also like the Comet and hope to start them soon.

Tom
guygantic
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Antwerpen, Belgium
Joined: August 19, 2006
KitMaker: 7,084 posts
Armorama: 970 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 - 03:38 AM UTC
Thank you guys, for the replies.

The searchlight is almost done.



The tool holders were schratched and finished with home made wingnuts.



AlanL
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 12, 2005
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Posted: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 - 03:49 AM UTC
Hi guy,

Terrific progress, excellent stuff.

Al
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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England - South West, United Kingdom
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Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 - 05:20 AM UTC
Guy here is a link to a walk around I did of the A34 Comet, and if there is any part/area you need that is not included just shout.
guygantic
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Antwerpen, Belgium
Joined: August 19, 2006
KitMaker: 7,084 posts
Armorama: 970 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 - 05:52 AM UTC
Alan, thank you, I enjoy your work too.

Darren, thank you that's very kind of you ! That's a nice walkaround ! And good pics too, they will be great to check everything before I start my paint job.
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