A34 COMET

[robert michael hilton]

Phil, there is some serious and very fine detailing going on.

Pleased to see you are making progress on the 'gun recoil front'.
This has to be the next upgrade, with a nunber of tank builders already progressing along these lines. The Magners is a help, up to a point.....then it's all downhill.

My trailer is now finished, should be fine for short distances...have to watch out for road humps and potholes.

Remind me...did you say you had a Panther, Phil??

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Mick
No its a Panzer 111L,I would have liked a Panther aswell,like hundreds
of other people would.
I dont know what others do with their trailers,but what about a bit of
shock absorbtion by a peice of thick pile carpet or underlay,or sponge.
Plus something arround the Comet to stop any wandering arround so
you dont have tight straps or ropes over it
Glad the sunny evenings are on the way,I like sitting out on the patio
with a Magniers Cider or two reading up on the Tanks or doing a bit
of the modeling.
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

My Recoil System up and running
Sorry I couldnt get The photo's on in the right order
Some working vidio's to follow

[Tim Bowman]

Really nice work Phil! I have been following your project with interest and enjoying every step.

Looking forward to the videos of your recoil system.

Kind regards
Tim

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Tim
I have learnt a lot and picked a lot of tips up.by trawling through
other builds like yours,Stephen's,Sarah's and Pauls to name but
a few.
Loved the Zimmerit lessons,do you use the same joint compound
for your welds aswell
I was just about to post a couple of little vidio's that I managed to
take by standing the camera on the turret shelf.
One with a slow runout and one faster,I am not sure what speed
the Comet run out was,I know it was adjustable by a valve.
I have had to order a little camera tripod so I can take a vidio
showing the Flash,Recoil and sound,I need 2 hands
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

Click on the Photo's to go to the short vidio's of the mechanical
movement.

This one with the slower runout



This one with the faster runout


Another vidio of the Flash,Recoil and sound later in the week
when my camera tripod comes,I need 2 hands

[robert michael hilton]

Brilliant work Phil...I have been watching all the various posts featuring 'gun recoils' They all work extremely well.

I am a little surprised these recoil systems do not appear on more tanks, when you consider the lengths builders go replicating the originals. I guess now that Armortek have produced there first tank with a recoil system, then it will be a normal feature.

Well done Phil.....regards mick.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Mick
There are lots of people who prefer the Blank Firer and the
regulations dont allow for the Gun to be not fixed.
Mark has already said that they will not be offering both,as on
the new T34/85 its Recoil only.
But like you say its easy enough especially if you have your own
machinery and skills.
I had to buy what I could and get a part made out by someone.
Cheers
Phil

[Nick Farrugia]

Hi phil great videos very clever recoil system looks very good carnt wait to see some video whe you got it all back together looks too complicated for me to have a go, but i find it very interesting and apreciate you putting it on the forum.
keep up the great work .
best wishes
nick

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Nick
My recoil is a little bit more complicated,but only because I liked
the Halogen Flash,plus the big servo wanted 6volt,so I copied Robin
and used an extra receiver and a 6 volt seperate battery pack and
the Turnigy thing which is adjustable for speed ib both directions.
Having only a Futaba 7C and already using channels 6 and 7 on
my MG's didnt help so thats where the extra receiver also helped.
I am waiting for a tripod that I ordered for my camera because I
need 3 hands otherwise to do a vidio of the whole lot.
I will do a daylight or dusk one and a night one aswell.
The night one I did last time really showed off the way the Halogen
looks a bit more like a lingering flame flash with the colours aswell
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

Click on the Photo's for the vidio's

Comet T335346 WHY WORRY on the banks of the Elbe at Hoopte
in support of the 1st Herefordshire Regement on 20th 04 1945
surrounded by Tigers and Panthers
Break Out the A.P.D.S. Mk 1B and some cans of Guinness.



Practice on the firing range at Sambourne(some duff rounds)

[Nick Farrugia]

Hi phil
great videos, you have got a great looking tank there congratulations on a job well done love the recoil system looks good gives the tank that little bit more, wow, factor. whats next i wonder.
best wishes
nick

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Nick
I have got some more Kit to make or buy.
I am currently doing some weathering on the Comet,under the
valuable advice from Phil Woollard.
Kept meaning to ask how you made your Pipe wrench fo the
Panzer,was it cast or just made up from metal?
Cheers
Phil

[Nick Farrugia]

Hi phil
the pipe rench i made from bits of scap metal ,a 6mm nut and bolt
tack welded together ,abit of filing for the teeth .realy liked your spanners and other tools they look great you have realy gone all out on the tool side of things good to see them .if you carnt get a pipe rench i could make one up for you if you want, let me know .
best wishes
nick

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Nick
I just went back and had another look at your Photo's and I only
know its a 6mm nut because you just told me,even your up close
photo,nice work
Will have to have a go at it now
Cheers
Phil.