![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/Armortek%20Comet/DSC07914.jpg)
By comparison with the Pz III, the Comet is not well documented. Apart from the original user handbooks, Dick Taylor has written on it with Chris Hughes' photos of the Littlefield Comet Mk I Type A:
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/Armortek%20Comet/24965_LRG.jpg)
The Tank Museum have also helped with access to their photos and extracts from the illustrated parts manual.
There are two good Comet kits, one from Bronco:
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/Armortek%20Comet/DSC07907.jpg)
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/Armortek%20Comet/DSC07910.jpg)
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/Armortek%20Comet/DSC07909.jpg)
And this one from Resicast. This kit has incredible detail including a full interior:
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/Armortek%20Comet/DSC07906.jpg)
For me, it adds so much more to the build to research and build a particular vehicle. Establishing the specific build standard, looking for variations and then getting to the in-service history all make for added interest. But with the Comet, the choice is limited by the available material.
I wanted to build a particular tank commanded by Bill Close, a very gallant 3 RTR officer who I knew, sadly no longer with us. The available information however just didn't provide enough to go on.
There is one Comet however which is well documented. It is Comet T335335 Celerity of A Squadron, Third Tanks from early 1945. This tank was driven by Trooper Dennis Pannell and his son, Dr Steve Pannell has been very helpful in sharing his extensive research.
Celerity:
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/Armortek%20Comet/TprPannellComet.jpg)
Celerity's crew were involved in an action on the Aller River in April 1945 when 3RTR engaged a tank from Kampfgruppe Schulze. I won't go into the details here but it resulted in a Tiger being knocked out. A Google search on "Kampfgruppe Fehrmann" will provide the details. There are at least three accounts from the 3RTR side in two memoires, by Bill Close, who commanded B Sqn and John Langdon who was the troop leader of the troop in which Celerity served. The Troop Sergeant, Peter Elstob, wrote a well known novel, Warriors for the Working Day, which also recounts the action in some detail. All three books draw on the 3RTR war diary.
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/Armortek%20Comet/51SB9ZADJKL__SL500_AA300_.jpg)
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/Armortek%20Comet/SharpEndCover.jpg)
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/DSC07915.jpg)
And here is the knocked out Tiger:
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/kampfgruooefehrmankill3rtr.jpg)
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/f01-3.jpg)
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/Armortek%20Comet/f01-2.jpg)
![Image](http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/bartokwhite/kampfgruppefehrmankill3rtr2.jpg)
Celerity was an interesting build standard, with a mix of Type A and B features. It had a Type B hull but with blanking plates over the fishtail exhausts, the split Normandy cowls and the early idlers with tyres. They will be a challenge. With the large driver's and hull gunner's hatches, some interior detail is a must and here I'm inspired by Tim Bownman 's work.
All for now - hope it's of interest, even if most of the Comet builds are now complete.
Stephen