A34 COMET

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Martin and Mick.
There is a lot of detail supplied with the Comet Kit,but my seperate list
has another 23 bits to make and it grows every time I restudy the books
and all the photo's Steve has posted links to on the forum.
Its Good fun.
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

Pannier Webbing Straps and buckles
1/6 British Webbing Buckles from Dave,Armorpax
I chose "Knicker"elastic instead of ribbon,it had a better texture
and the slight stretch I put in,held the webbing taught,where as I thought
that the ribbon might be floppy.
The tension was not enough to bend the Armorpax webbing handles and
along with the paint I put on they had the stiffness of webbing.
The elastic is more of a challenge to thread into the buckles,especially
with Pork Sausage fingers!
But with the elastic I can cheat and I will not have to undo the buckles
to tie down equipment to the pannier side

[phil fitzpatrick]

Another challenging Part from Armorpax with some incredible small
detail parts.
I hadnt got a collett small enough for my dremmil and a 1.5mm drill bit.
So I clamped my 1.5 mm bit in a small mole grip and carefully drilled the
6 holes in each set.
The tiny hinge pins were that small it was a little tweazer job,and Oh yes
I did drop one onto the carpet and had to use a magnifying glass to find
it again.
To glue the hinge pins I chose 5 minute epoxy and did a pin at a time,just
wiped a bit of epoxy round the outer edge of each pin so none could seep
inside and stop the parts pivoting.

[Alfredo Campanini]

Very nice work Phil, congratulations.
I'm back again with the construction, but I wonder if there were so many cap bolts (allen) on the outside.
I thought that at the time there were only hex bolts

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Alfredo
Most of the cap heads you can put in from the inside and have the nuts on the outside.
I got a few the wrong way round when I first put some in.
Or do you mean the M3 x 6 cap heads I have put in my pivot covers
instead of the M3 Hex Head screws.
At the time I didnt have a tool to put them in my thinnest box spanner or socket would not fit because the head of the hex head was touching the dome part of the cover and I would have marked it or the screws would not have gone in straight.
I intended to replace these later or just fill in the hole in the cap head.
Hope you will show us some pictures of your Comet later on
Cheers
Phil

[robert michael hilton]

Hello Phil, build looking good....I have used cap/allen head screws for ease of use on some parts.....I found I was having to respray after fitting the hex, the hull paint was marking. I will replace these at some point later in my build.

I can hand make some parts....although I would prefer to purchase additional accessories. Are your 'tools', kits or hand built? keep the photo's coming...they are a big help...mick

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Mick
The tools if you meant the spade,pick handle and pick head are the armorpax ones supplied with the kit.
The wing nut for the pick head,I just bought a few M3 wing nuts and cut the ears down a bit and rounded them off.
Any other bits that are not supplied with the kit,or the armorpax parts that
are supplied,I make myself out of any think I can find.
Visit the Armorpax site www.armorpax.com for some other goodies
thats where I got the buckles from.
There is a few other sites mentioned on the Forum for other accessories or parts.
Cheers
Phil

[Nick Farrugia]

Hi phil
doing a very nice job on your comet nice to see all the detail bits going on
especialy the bit you have crafted your self .very good work keep it coming .
best wishes
nick

[robert michael hilton]

Thanks for your reply Phil. I had not realised the additional parts were in the Armorpax pack...not got that far yet.

I have only been opening 'packets' of parts as I need them, to avoid getting confused.com

I have to say the quality of the Comet kit is superb. I haven't even thought of adding items.....I think a straightforward build is the best I can aim for....and I am well pleased with the results so far....Mick.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Nick thanks for your comments, I will be visiting your Panzer posting
again soon and try to get some inspiration for the tools that you made
for your panzer Tool box's,ready for the Comet.

Hi Mick
Yes thats the best way,to open the packets as and when you need them,and
as I learnt the hardway if you take some parts out for painting prior to
fitting,keep the part numbers by them especialy if they are left and right
handed parts,just incase it isnt obvious which way round they go,or you
forget where
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

[phil fitzpatrick]

[phil fitzpatrick]

[phil fitzpatrick]

[phil fitzpatrick]

One door shown held vertical with the latch and the other door held flat
against the spring