Building the Bronco Comet - General help and advice:

[Hinksy]

Hi fellas,

About two years ago I saw this kit built up at a show and thought how amazing it looked. I was a bit of a newbie then so everything looked good!

So, bought the kit and it joined the stash. I've now decided that enough is enough and I need some Allied Armour in my cabinet. I'm going to make this build one of my specials as I like to call them and want to get every little bit 100% correct.

I have invested in some Resin upgrades from Accurate Armour here in the UK for it i.e. the Canvas Mantlet Cover and barrel, road wheels with correct hubs and stowage set.

The link below shows Accurate Armours Comet stuff - scroll down the page to see all the stuff they do for the Comet:

www.accurate-armour.com/ShowProduct.cfm?manufacturer=0&category=4&subcategory=35&product=1953

Below is a link to a review of the Accurate Armour Mantlet Cover and Barrel set taken from Perth Models site:

www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/aa/aa_a106.htm

I've not worked with Resin before so I'm 'anxious' looking at this Mantlet Cover. I had it in my head that it would come as shown on their website! That would be too easy!

I'm going to be starting this as soon as my Panzer IV WIP is complete.

If anyone has built this kit and can help me with general advice - particularly in regards to getting the Resin Mantlet Cover correctly assembled - then I'd be very grateful.

Have YOU built one of these? Do you have links to blogs which are always a big help!

I'm also not 100% sure on the basecoat colour to opt for - which recipe or actual colour on it's own should I be looking at? This will be a WWII Comet btw.

Thanks guys,

Ben

[deafpanzer]

Wish I can help but heck I want to see you build it. Was Comet considered the best Brit tank at end of war? I read somewhere it has better anti-tank capability.

[Leon]

Sounds like a good one Ben,i'm in.

[Deleted]

Ben.....as an absolute armour virgin(ME),I would say go with what feels good with you,fella!!!!! ,Over here,we're not big on accuracy,we just want enjoyment from the build!!!!There are fellas on the forum,only too pleased to help....but reciprocation is a good thing,where necessary,if you get my meaning

[dupes]

Resin is easy to work with - especially if you have the right tools. Power tools, preferably! Although you can get by with a decent razor saw for removing casting blocks from all of the parts. Dry fit a lot! Most resin "upgrades" require some fiddling to get into place (compared to good kit parts that just drop in).

That AA update set looks NIIIICE. Wish we had a less expensive way to get their stuff here in the U.S.

[Hinksy]

May 10, 2013 16:36:50 GMT -5 dupes said:

Resin is easy to work with - especially if you have the right tools. Power tools, preferably! Although you can get by with a decent razor saw for removing casting blocks from all of the parts. Dry fit a lot! Most resin "upgrades" require some fiddling to get into place (compared to good kit parts that just drop in).

That AA update set looks NIIIICE. Wish we had a less expensive way to get their stuff here in the U.S.

Cheers Dupes,

I've just invested in one of them beautiful Razor Saws with the wooden handle that comes in the case so I'm well covered for clean-up.

AA do some great stuff. I've never used them before as I'm a total Resin Virgin but how hard can it be? Eh?

I'm looking forward to this one.

If anyone can shed light on the whole paint colour thing that would be great. I think I need to find a good Khaki Drab shade?

Am I correct in thinking that the Mantlet cover would be Canvas?

Cheers fellas,

Ben

[Smudge]

May 11, 2013 13:01:36 GMT -5 Hinksy said:

May 10, 2013 16:36:50 GMT -5 dupes said:

Resin is easy to work with - especially if you have the right tools. Power tools, preferably! Although you can get by with a decent razor saw for removing casting blocks from all of the parts. Dry fit a lot! Most resin "upgrades" require some fiddling to get into place (compared to good kit parts that just drop in).

That AA update set looks NIIIICE. Wish we had a less expensive way to get their stuff here in the U.S.

Cheers Dupes,

I've just invested in one of them beautiful Razor Saws with the wooden handle that comes in the case so I'm well covered for clean-up.

AA do some great stuff. I've never used them before as I'm a total Resin Virgin but how hard can it be? Eh?

I'm looking forward to this one.

If anyone can shed light on the whole paint colour thing that would be great. I think I need to find a good Khaki Drab shade?

Am I correct in thinking that the Mantlet cover would be Canvas?

Cheers fellas,

Ben

Hi Ben

A word of caution; follow the safety precautions for working with resin. I'm sure there are some included with the AA kit?

Colour for the Comet; depends on the period and user. Wartime? British? If so then it would be a plain base colour of SCC15, the British Olive Drab colour. I have a Mike Starmer Tamiya mix for this I think, just let me know if Tamiya is ok. If you prefer enamels then White Ensign do a SCC15 out of the tin, or I have a Humbrol mix.

Of course my opinion is it depends on how accurate you want it to be and how much you weather it. I don't think theres much difference after weathering between SCC15 and US OD especially on new vehicles like the Comet; when older the SCC15 faded so it looked slightly differant to US OD.

AFAIK the mantlet cover, which is canvas, was dyed SCC15 as well. I guess it would age at a differant rate to paint and dust would blend the two together. Period photo's (I can post these if you want?) seem to show the cover being a similar shade to the turret, but being B/W it's hard to confirm this 100%

Look at this which is I think SCC15 (or supposed to be)http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/de_craecker/a34_gynaeolator_walk.htm

Hope that helps

Smudge

[Hinksy]

May 14, 2013 10:57:36 GMT -5 Smudge said:

May 11, 2013 13:01:36 GMT -5 Hinksy said:

Cheers Dupes,

I've just invested in one of them beautiful Razor Saws with the wooden handle that comes in the case so I'm well covered for clean-up.

AA do some great stuff. I've never used them before as I'm a total Resin Virgin but how hard can it be? Eh?

I'm looking forward to this one.

If anyone can shed light on the whole paint colour thing that would be great. I think I need to find a good Khaki Drab shade?

Am I correct in thinking that the Mantlet cover would be Canvas?

Cheers fellas,

Ben

Hi Ben

A word of caution; follow the safety precautions for working with resin. I'm sure there are some included with the AA kit?

Colour for the Comet; depends on the period and user. Wartime? British? If so then it would be a plain base colour of SCC15, the British Olive Drab colour. I have a Mike Starmer Tamiya mix for this I think, just let me know if Tamiya is ok. If you prefer enamels then White Ensign do a SCC15 out of the tin, or I have a Humbrol mix.

Of course my opinion is it depends on how accurate you want it to be and how much you weather it. I don't think theres much difference after weathering between SCC15 and US OD especially on new vehicles like the Comet; when older the SCC15 faded so it looked slightly differant to US OD.

AFAIK the mantlet cover, which is canvas, was dyed SCC15 as well. I guess it would age at a differant rate to paint and dust would blend the two together. Period photo's (I can post these if you want?) seem to show the cover being a similar shade to the turret, but being B/W it's hard to confirm this 100%

Look at this which is I think SCC15 (or supposed to be)http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/de_craecker/a34_gynaeolator_walk.htm

Hope that helps

Smudge


Cheers Smudge,

Talk of the Devil - they all arrived this morning. The wheel set and Mantlet cover/ replacement Barrel look excellent! The Mantlet cover is beautifully cast.

The smaller bits in the 'Stowage Set' are obviously a little rougher and although some bits like the Resin Fishtail Exhausts, Hatches, Periscope covers and Cupola will be used to replace the kit parts I'll probably use the tools from my old Dragon Firefly that didn't happen and use the PE clamps (if I can actually assemble them). They also supplied Resin Track links to hang from the turret walls but I'll be using a few Friul links for that now with some scratched mounting detail.

There's plenty of warnings about dust etc so I'll be careful.

I've looked at a LOT of Comet photos - mainly museum pieces - and everytime I see the Mantlet Cover it looks like it's been left in it's natural colour but I can definately imagine a tank crew not wanting that to stand out so I'll see what I can do.





I think I'll be building this new Jagdpanther of mine first due to pressure from my group and also from Andy Leffler! My group want a JP on their table at a show in a few months so I'll get that out the way then tackle this Comet.

Accurate Armour stock the Ensign paint and I've also been given some Tamiya and Vallejo 'recipes' which I'm told will make very suitable colours.

I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks for your post buddy!

Ben :-)

[DeafStuG]

May 10, 2013 14:31:23 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Wish I can help but heck I want to see you build it. Was Comet considered the best Brit tank at end of war? I read somewhere it has better anti-tank capability.

I can remember read my book long time ago about Comet been served in end of WWII before for fews weeks. New Comet chassis & turret improved against for any tank medium as panther whatever maybe tiger I for chance 50/50 ? Also combet's fishtail exhausts version been served in Korean War.

[Hinksy]

May 15, 2013 6:08:05 GMT -5 @dutchyholland said:

Ben, one word of warning re the fishtail exhausts - they were fitted to later Comets only. WW2 era Comets had the two piece Normandy Cowl fitted as the exhaust exited straight out the back decks.
Really early ones had a one piece cowl as per the Cromwell but they soon realised they couldn't get the gun in the travel clamp so made it two pieces.

Cheers,
Ken

Yep!

I found that out after doing some research this morning and also reading the instructions in some detail.

So, no exhaust then - I'll try to make up the twin smaller cowlings which are supplied only in PE.

Cheers for the heads up!

Ben

[Hinksy]

Hi chaps,

I've been looking into the whole Comet PE thing this morning and it seems that in order to make an accurate 'Iron Duke' Comet I'll need to assemble the 2 small PE cowlings. It's fairly self explanatory how they assemble which is handy as the instructions don't cover their assembly! Tbh I'd have used the PE Cowlings anyway as the large one-piece plastic offering looks very messy with EP holes and also very overscale

It looks like two large top pieces need to be rolled to give them the right curvature and little tabs are there to be bent allowing glueing or soldering onto. I'm going to solder I reckon!

Have any of you assembled the Bronco Comet PE Normandy Cowlings? I want to get it right. The main question looks like working out which way round the parts go?

If I do have problems I'll take it along to my club night when I get to that part of the build as those guys will happily help me out.

There are also a couple of PE 'targeting devices' that need to built up but the instructions don't make it clear what, if any, of the PE targeting thingies need to be used on the turret.

So, I have my replacement Resin mantlet and barrel, correct Resin wheels with the right hubs and Resin stowage stuff - good to go

I'll be wrapping my Pz.IV build up over the weekend and into next week (I have some holiday time next week) and then I'll be building the Comet.

It will be nice to have everything all sorted and ready to go for when I start my Comet build.

Thanks lads,

Ben

[Tojo72]

Ben I saw this,maybe it will help

armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=164215&ord=&page=1

and here is a walkaround www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=3070

[Hinksy]

Brilliant stuff guys!

Great link and great info - I'm all set!

Thanks so much!

Ben