Comet

[Nick Farrugia]

hi mick
clad you were able to come to a compromise.It reminds me of last christmas with my pz111 .Geat picture you should make some christmas cards up with it on and send them to your freinds,Do you think your good wife will aprove . Enjoyed your posts best wishes
nick

[phil fitzpatrick]

Happy Christmas to you and the wife Mick
Nice Table decorations
Cheers
Phil

[robert michael hilton]

Thank you Adrian and Nick. Well now...to be honest and up front....on Thursday my wife was discharged from hospital, having had an operation to replace her left hip....total hip replacement, major op, big time.

So, as her carer...I have the upper hand, so to speak. I have also convinced her that to move my tank while at this crucial stage in the build would be a disaster. These tanks are heavy.....and the 'lift' may well result in her faithful manservant being fitted with a truss.....she has forgotten that I recently purchased a 'table lift'.

Back to the build....started to assemble the tracks....have been very careful to check, track/pin/washer/split pin, left and right hand side. The cast tracks are superb, and go together very well....managed to pierce my thumb and one finger with the split pins.....blooded table cloth now added to next weeks washing.....mick

[robert michael hilton]

During the last few days, when I had time, I have been busy with the spray can....'flashed' over the Olive Drab paint, as I had marked/scratched various parts during the build....I think it's called being clumsy.

I have taken the time to read through the Motion Pack assembly instructions, all looks straight forward. My bench is cleared in readiness....however, and before that, I need to fit the tank tracks.

Now without stating the obvious.....like, "place a one hundred weight bag of cement" on top of the tank...how do I depress the suspension in order to pull the track links together?

If the answer is this obvious....well, I just thought it may be a little more technical.....soon be Christmas....Mick

[robert michael hilton]

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Mick
I had to get my son to help take up the tension on the front 2 road wheels
so I could get the ends of 111 links together,because my tank was on blocks.
It looks as thou you might have yours on yor bike lift if so you could thread the tracks arround so the joint will be at the front end by the idler
which is more accessable,then lower the tank onto the tracks to take up
some of the suspension.
Another way is to put a couple of your spare links that were meant for
the side of the turrett and take them out later when you have the weight
on the tracks.
Cheers
Phil

[Adrian Harris]

Not sure if the Comet will allow it but people have had success in the past using cable ties (zip ties for our US friends) to pull tracks together.

Adrian.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Adrian.
The best ideas are always the simplest,Ive got plenty of the big sizes but
I never gave them a thought
I will remeber that for myself.
Yes the Comet tracks have 2 ideal holes about 5 or 6mm so 2 cable ties
would keep it nice and inline.
Cheers
Phil

[robert michael hilton]

Reference: lowering the hull in order to fit the Comet Tank tracks.

Thank you for all your tips lads....after careful thought I decided on the 'loaded' system.

I have some leftover 'brick pavers' at the side of the bungalow....much heavier than house bricks.....so....I covered the hull inside with large bath towels....I then loaded.....16.... yes..... sixteen brick pavers.....this lowered the hull sufficiently to easily slot the final track pin in place.....all is well.

I have patented this idea

She (Comet Tank) now has a 'look' about her, that will cause some concern among Tiger/Panther owners. .....Mick

[robert michael hilton]

[robert michael hilton]

The Comet after fitting the tracks. You can see the last 'bright' track pin.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Welldone Mick another challenge completed,you are only getting away
with bricks in the dining room because the wife cant chase you out.
Hope her hips on the mend.
Cheers
Phil

[robert michael hilton]

[robert michael hilton]

[robert michael hilton]

Thank you Phil.....my wife is well on the way to recovery....therefore I must tread carefully.

Now....my photo's of the fitted tank tracks are not too clear however,....Phil do you think my tracks are fitted the wrong way round ?
From your build, also Dennis and John's , my tracks seem to be facing a different way....what do you think?
My best guess is that the closed end of each link must face forward....with the track pin head on the outside.

It will not be a problem to change them over, when I have fitted the 'Options', I intended to spray them a more realistic colour anyway.

I can do a close up photo of the track if required...the more I look at my tracks the more confused I get.