Bronco Comet - who has built one?

Hi guys,

Righto:

The main question is related to the rear intake with the optional single piece cowling / curved hood. Bronco have now started supplying a PE screen to go over the intake BUT there is still a moulded mesh intake moulded as part of the top engine deck. Am I supposed to mount this PE mesh over the plastic (doubtful) or make an attempt to cut out the moulded mesh, replace with the PE mesh and leave the surrounding frame intact?

If anyone can offer advice/help re the intake PE that would be great

Ben

Hey,

I haven't built one yet but the kit is on the way along with metal barrel and mantlet upgrades.  From what I hear the kit builds a decent model out of the box.  One thing though, the Comet was a late war tank, coming into service during the final months of the war, so I'm not sure what you mean about a pre WWII tank.  Nonetheless though it should be a fun build.

Jason

woodrow76

Hey,

I haven't built one yet but the kit is on the way along with metal barrel and mantlet upgrades.  From what I hear the kit builds a decent model out of the box.  One thing though, the Comet was a late war tank, coming into service during the final months of the war, so I'm not sure what you mean about a pre WWII tank.  Nonetheless though it should be a fun build.

Jason

Hey Jason,

All I'm referring to is the instructions - I should have said WWII tank, not 'pre' WWII tank! There are two types of wheel (idler I think) - one is spoked for post war Chinese use etc and a there's a different style for the Comets that saw action at the end of WWII. There are some other very minor options for pre or post war but nothing major.

I'd appreciate if you could let me know when you get yours as I'd like to see if you get that rear PE intake mesh that I got - it's a 'recent' addition apparently?

Cheers matey,

Ben

I dug out my kit after reading your comments. I've had it at least 3 years or so, but still haven't gotten around to it. I think I only bought it because it was my favorite tank kit from the old Matchbox 1/76 scale series.

Anyway, mine comes with the PE grill #7, if that's what you are referring to. It is bagged with the main PE fret with parts 1-6. The instructions and the side box art make no mention of the grill, nor does the PMMS review of the kit from 2006. http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/bronco/cb35010.htm

The instructions mention using the resin idler wheels for a WW2 tank and the included plastic wheels for a post war tank. My "resin" wheels are bagged separately along with the tow cable string, but my "resin" wheels do not look resin, they look like they are made of the same plastic as the rest of the kit.

If they're resin, they are some of the best resin cast in olive green that I've ever seen. The box art side shows resin colored wheels along with the normal pour stubs that are also shown on the instruction sheet. My wheels do not have any pour stubs or even sprue marks. Terry Ashley's review (above) clearly shows resin idler wheels depicted in the instructions and box art. I am glade mine are plastic.

Bottom line, it looks like Bronco did some upgrades to the kit by adding plastic WW2 idlers in lieu of the resin ones and the PE grill.

Your "pre war" comment threw me too and I originally passed up this thread because of it. It was a very late war tank heavily influenced by the Tiger I captured by the British Army in Tunisia. Some think of it as the "British Tiger".

Cheers Rob,

Sorry if the 'Pre WWII' thing threw you - my bad!

When I first got my kit I opened it and was thinking "where the hell are 4 Resin Idlers on blocks"? Mine are green too and look plastic to me! Your kit is obviously the same version as mine.

Now then, I don't like the moulded mesh intake on the rear deck - that's nasty. It's pretty ugly and needs that PE but slapping the PE over the moulding sort of defeats the object of the PE imo so obviously the moulded mesh has to come off! I'm thinking that some careful work with a razor saw will be fine? I just need to leave the surrounding frame intact.

The other thing I'm wondering about is the wheels. Unlike any other wheel I've worked with the backs of the wheel halves where they glue together have no alignment locators so I'm assuming it's just a case of adding glue to the joining centres and pushing them onto the suspension arms while the glue sets to allow them to align properly?

Everything else looks great and it looks like an enjoyable build. I'll be replacing the barrel and adding the Mantlet Cover - I'll be using the Accurate Armour resin version that I showed in a link in a previous posting on this thread. Some Verlinden 1/35 netting will finish it off perfectly along with the correct stowage.

I'll be starting it before Christmas so keep an eye out!

Many thanks,

Ben