thegoodfellas/blogset-br huggingface dataset:
Lads !!! As I'm traveling and far, far away from my workbench, I am going to show a work unpublished here, done years ago. Let's meet the A34 Cruiser Tank Comet.A34 Cruiser tank Comet in rough terrain - 1945.History: The Comet tank, or Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34) was a British cruiser tank that first saw use near the end of the World War II . It was designed as an improvement on the earlier Cromwell tank, mounting the new 77mm HV gun (a variation of the famous QF 17 pdr. gun) in a new lower profile and part-cast turret. Churchill inspecting a Cromwell tank This 77mm gun was effective against late war German tanks, including the Panther and, at most ranges, the Tiger. The tank was widely respected as one of the best British tanks of the war, and continued in service afterwards. Comet, which was a development of the Cromwell, rendered the Challenger obsolete, and led to the development of the A41 Centurion tank. When firing APDS rounds, the 77mm HV was a superior weapon to the 75mm KwK 42 gun of the equivalent Axis tank, the Panther.A41 Centurion I - early version. The Comet saw action in the closing stages of the Second World War, then combat during the Korean War, and remained in British service until 1958. In some cases, Comets sold to other countries continued to operate into the 1980s.Development: Combat experience against the Germans in the Western Desert Campaign demonstrated to the British many shortcomings with their cruiser tanks. Hence a request was made in 1941 for a new heavy cruiser tank that could achieve battle superiority over German models. For reasons of economy and efficiency, it had to use as many components as possible from the current A15 Cruiser tank Mk VI Crusader tank.Crusader II tank roaring in the Western Desert - 1942. The initial designs for the new Cromwell tank evolved into the A24 Cruiser Tank Mk VII Cavalier tank and the A27L Cruiser tank Mk VII Centaur tank, both powered by the Nuffield Liberty. Design progressed through the Cruiser tank Mk VII (A27M) Cromwell, a third parallel development to the Cavalier and Centaur, sharing many of the same characteristics.A24 Cruiser Tank Mk VII Cavalier tank Under the newer A27M specification, Cromwell integrated a number of new and advanced features. The new Rolls Royce Meteor engine (derivation of famous Rolls Royce Merlin) proved to be very reliable and gave the tank good mobility, but some problems appeared based on the vehicle's shared heritage and significant jump in engine power. See a Meteor engine starting below: The tank was prone to throwing its tracks if track tension was not maintained properly or if it turned at too high a speed or too sharply. There were also some problems with suspension breakage, partly due to the Cromwell's high speed. Cromwell ran through a number of design changes as a result. The biggest complaint, however, was related to firepower. Cromwell had originally been designed to carry the 57 mm Ordnance QF 6-pounder, also retrofitted to the Crusader
it had been expected that Cromwell would use a new gun from Vickers: the "High Velocity 75mm". However, as designed, the gun would not fit into the turret size available. Development of the gun continued, and as work commenced on the Comet, the gun design evolved into the 77mm HV. The gun now used the same calibre (76.2 mm) projectile as the 17-pounder, but the cartridge case was from the older QF 3 inch 20 cwt anti-aircraft gun loaded to higher pressures. The resulting round was completely different from 17-pounder ammunition. Overall the round was shorter, more compact and more easily stored and handled within the tank.The 77mm HV shells being loaded in the Comet The 77mm HV gun was effectively a shortened 17-pounder. This made it possible to mount the gun on a smaller turret ring. The gun was still capable against opponents, and firing APDS rounds, it was more accurate and consistent than APDS from the 17pdr and 6pdr, which were inaccurate over 700m and often ricocheted. The Challenger turret had been so large to allow space for two loaders. Several other improvements were made over the Cromwell's original design, and many of its design revisions were incorporated, such as safety hatches for both driver and hull gunner. The hull was now fully welded as standard and armour was increased, ranged from 32 mm to 74 mm on the hull, while the turret was from 57 to 102 mm. A new lower-profile welded turret was created using a cast gun mantlet for the 77mm. The turret was electrically traversed (a design feature taken from the Churchill tank), with a generator powered by the main engine rather than the hydraulic system of the Cromwell. Ammunition for the 77mm gun was stored in armoured bins.Comet tank turret Comet's suspension was strengthened, and track return rollers were added. As with later Cromwells, the Comet tank's top speed was limited from the Cromwell's 65 km/h to a slower, but respectable 51 km/h. This change preserved the lifespan of suspension and engine components and reduced track wear.Comet suspension Similar to later Churchills, Comet benefitted from lessons learned in the co-operation of tanks with infantry. It was fitted as standard with two radio sets: a Wireless Set No. 19, for communication with the regiment and the troop, and a No. 38 Wireless for communication with infantry units. Like many British tanks, it also had a telephone handset mounted on the rear so that accompanying infantry could talk to the crew. Comet tanks were built by a number of British firms led by Leyland, including English Electric, John Fowler & Co., and Metro-Cammell. A Humber scout car and Comet tank of11th Armoured Division in a German town, 30 March 1945. The mild steel prototype was ready in February 1944 and entered trials. Concerns about the hull gunner and belly armour were put to one side to avoid redesign, but there was still sufficient delay caused by minor modifications and changes. Production models did not commence delivery until September 1944. Comet was intended to be in service by
cruiser tank A34 Comet Bronco's kit #CB35010, in 1/35 scale. The kit was packaged in a reinforced carton box, with all the trees packed individually in sealed plastic bags and all the components in a larger bag, only in the loss of any parts would occur.British cruiser tank A34 Comet Bronco's kit #CB35010 The injection was very good and the dark green plastic was soft. The kit includes a set of resin idler wheels of the same color (WWII version), plus an excellent photo-etched shet with two-piece exhaust valves and other small parts. A metal cannon (but without muzzle brake ...) and a synthetic string to make the steel cable complete the kit. The disappointment is due to the absence of the exhaust grille of the engine in metal and the absence of muzzle gun, which forces us to use the two halves of the plastic (???). On my own, I invested in the purchase of a resin set, made by Bronco himself, of the canvas cover of the gun mantlet, since most of the photos of this vehicle show this detail.Bronco's resin mantlet cover The decal sheet was well assorted, with the possibility of building 6 versions of the Comet: 4 being WW II era and 2 postwar:Ironduke from 1st RTR, 7th Armoured Division, Germany, April 1945.Celerity from 3rd RTR, 29th Armoured Brigade, 11th Armoured Division, Belgian, March 1945.Cobra from 3rd RTR, 29th Armoured Brigade, 11th Armoured Division, Germany, March 1945.Crusader from 3rd RTR, 29th Armoured Brigade, 11th Armoured Division, Germany, April, 1945.3rd Royal Tank Regiment, Sek Kong Camp, New Territory, Hong Kong, 1957.Ps252-24 from Finnish Armoured Brigade training unit, 1961-1980.Decal sheet In this version of kit, the tracks were in vinyl, but with internal and external detailing, with good finishing:Bronco vinyl tracks Today, the new Bronco kit comes with injected tracks LBL:New Comet Bronco kit #CB35010SP I started the building following the booklet, by the hull and suspensions. As always, I separated all parts for cleaning and subsequent building.Hull and suspensions parts I glued the suspensions arms to the hull and prepared to glue the side shields of the hull, which hide these arms from the Christie suspensions:Testing the alignment of the hull, looking for kinks ... Okay, so far ... The booklet guides install all wheels now ... The idler wheels are in front (the Comet is rear-wheel drive ...). There are two sets of idler wheels in the kit: a pair of injected wheels, spoked, post-war models and a set of wheels on solid-perforated resin compatible with the versions of WW II. And of course mine will be a WWII model ... Building with cyanoacrylate as resin does not bind to the welders (which I usually use ...).WWII idlers wheels in resinIdlers wheels in positionThe front wheels in position.Return rollers in dry-run Injected handles. I will replace by copper wiresCutting the injected handlesMetal handles. .. much betterThe hull and chassis in dry-run. The girl was growing...Metal work in rear deckAnd talking about metal: Tin welding(solda means weld in Portuguese)Exhaust covers glued in position: WWII typeWhile the exhaust covers
dry on site, we'll take care of the turret. Here, a minor surgery is necessary to adapt the powder protector in resin to the turret:Testing the turret in the hull...OK!! After cutting at the junction between the mantlet and the turret. Note that the lower portion of the turret (the floor) has not been cut off:Original mantlet off. Notice the turret's floor intact... Now, a very delicate cirurgy: cut the turret floor, but KEEP the turret's circular lip. A precise horizontal cut made with fine-cut saw:The part that should be removed in green.Note that the turret's circular lip remains.The gun tube is in dry-run...The turret lipReady to glue the mantlet...Making a marking guide with pencil(Colar means to glue in Portuguese)Mantlet glued with superglue in position...Good!!Replacing the handle (alca, in Portuguese...) injected by a metal part in scratch...Cutting the handle...Putty and scratch...More handles injected in surgery...The aerial's base in metal (kit's PE)...and in position: Notice the handle in metal (red) butthe handles of hatch not yet ready (in green...)More metal work.The spiraled wire of the beaconis an exercise in creativity ...Adding details...Making the steel cable with polyester threadThe steel cable made with polyester threadDetails...Rear details...Kneaded and battle damages on the rear mudguardsNotice the detail in metal in the towbar... Now, the best part: painting and markings!!Painting the girl!! As usual, I like to have a guide for my paintings and markings: A serious problem in this old version was the lack of one marking triangle on the original Bronco decals sheet for Celerity. As you can see in the figure below, the decals sheet has only two yellow triangles (item 22 on the sheet).Decal sheet But the original Celerity features three triangular markings: one on each side of the turret and one on the neck of the turret, as is evident in the picture that is part of Bronco Models' instruction booklet. Note, in the photo below, that another tank in front of Celerity also features this marking on the neck of the turret (arrows):Celerity - actual pic. Luckily I had a yellow triangle in my spare decals box, or otherwise I would have to do with paint. Sorry don't have the pic of decal application, but...the final is this: A34 cruiser tank Comet "Celerity" from 11th Armoured Division, 29th Armoured Brigade, 3rd RTR, in duties in Belgium, March- 1945.A34 cruiser tank Comet "Celerity"11th Armoured Division, 29th Armoured Brigade, 3rd RTRBelgium, March- 1945The figure is from my spare boxA34 cruiser tank Comet "Celerity"11th Armoured Division, 29th Armoured Brigade, 3rd RTRBelgium, March- 1945.Kojak is in vacation!!! Thanks for follow, Lads!!Merry X'mas!!!
Dappere soldaten uit Nederland !!! It's time to build a rare model of a vehicle who fought in difficult conditions at the beginning of WWII and then was extensively used by their captors: Let's know this pretty and brave dutch girl: Ford DAF- PAG trekker 01Y - 1940.History: In 1928, Hubert "Hub" van Doorne founded the company as Commanditaire Vennootschap Hub van Doorne's Machinefabriek. His co-founder and investor was A.H. Huenges, managing director of a brewery. Van Doorne had repaired Huenges' car several times. Huenges was so pleased with his work that he offered to finance him in business.Hubert Jozef (Hub) van Doorne Hubert started to work in a small workshop on the grounds of the brewery. In 1932, the company, now run by Hub and his brother, Wim van Doorne, changed its name to Van Doorne's Aanhangwagen Fabriek (Van Doorne's Trailer Factory), abbreviated to DAF.Wim van Doorne Huenges left the company in 1936 and the DAF company was now completely in the hands of the van Doorne brothers.Hubert and Wim van Doorne DAF developed the Trado conversions to convert 42 Ford trucks to an off-road 64 drive.Ford based TRADO (DAF) 6 x 4 Artillery Tractor One of DAF's few armoured vehicles was the M39 Pantserwagen, using developments of this Trado drivetrain. This was too late for WWII and the invasion of the Netherlands, and only three saw combat.Pantserwagen M39 or DAF Pantrado 3 Between 1938-1940, the Dutch Army ordered a large number of light artillery tractors or Anti-tank gun tractors from DAF. In Dutch these were called PAG-trekkers, PAG meaning Pantser Afweer Geschut (Armour Defense Artillerie). DAF built these on both Ford and Chevrolet 4x2 chassis by converting them to specialised bodywork with 3 rows of seats for 6 crewmembers and ammo storage in the back.Ford DAF- PAG trekker - Dutch ArmyRow of Fords-DAF trekkersChevrolet- DAF trekker The first batch of 56 units was ordered in mid-1938. Notice the rather small ammo-locker in the rear and extra ammo cases on the running boards. This is the 1938 Ford/DAF 81Y small locker type:Ford/DAF 81Y small locker type - 1938 In the same year another batch was built with a larger ammo-locker, still on a Ford/DAF 81Y chassis basis:Ford/DAF 81Y big locker type - 1938Notice the 47mm Bohler anti-tank gun model 1935 Similar bodies were built on 1939 and 1940 chassis. These were the Ford/DAF 91Y...Ford/DAF 91Y - 1939 - with German colors...and Ford/DAF 01Y:Ford/DAF 01Y - 1940 - with German colors There is also a version a different version was built on 1939 chassis with just 4 seats and very large ammo storage. This type was probably used to tow the gun and a special limber, carrying the gunshield and more ammo.Ford DAF with 2 rows of seats and larger rearFord DAF with 2 rows of seats and larger rearFord DAF with 2 rows of seatsFord DAF with 2 rows of seats pulling a47mm Bohler anti-tank gun model 1935 These vehicles were used as artillery tractors and staff-cars by the Netherlands until his defeat by Nazi Germany in May 1940.Chevrolet DAF trekker
pins for alignment of the parts, I decided to use metal fixtures for the perfect squaring of the parts. Build the engine hood and the fenders and then, I started building the row of seats ...The row of seats in place, glued with cyanoacrylate and squared... But... Infernal Gods... When I remove the metal part near the row of seats, the metal slipped from my hands and ...Oh, crap... The metal jig falls on the newly glued structure, crushing the pieces ...Damn!!The result of the metal part falls on the banks ...#%**@**##%@!!!! Folks...I confess that made me want to trample everything from anger !!! But, deep breath (but very deep even ...) and ... grrrr ... come on ... I never failed to finish a kit and this will not be the first. Let's rebuild the destroyed part ... For this is that the scratch was invented !!!"The blood go out, the experience enters" First of all, redrawing the smashed part: Oh, crap...I don't have any drawing profile of this girl. Never mind: let's turn lemons in lemonade!!! Using my Computer to put this picture in 1/35 scale with Corel Draw 18!!!Retracing the contours of the crushed part...In 1/35 scale!! After that, printing in paper, to test the part in the real kit:It's working...It's working!!! I picked up two sheets of plasticard 0.5mm, glued them together in the borders and them glued paper on it, with the scale drawing...The blueprint and the plasticards... The ideal and easier would be have cut the plastic with laser, but as we are in the weekend, we will do it in the "old school" style!! Dremel!!!I love my Dremel!!! Making a new floor with plasticard...The new floor in plasticard... And back to the rails!!!Pheww!!!!!And the work continues... Styrofoam and popsicle sticks serving as height jigs. So, the backrests remain all at the same height:Installing the backrests...Notice the wood and styrofoam as a jig Using the same method (with different high, now) for the seat cushions.All cushions in positionTesting the larger ammo-locker in his positionGlued... I filled the details in the doors of the locker (very deep ..) in plasticard. I will do new details by scribing, later...Rear view of larger ammo-locker.The new doors of the locker: 02mm plasticard...The ammo locker in positionThe DAF's bellyDry-run with chassis... I like to build the wheels at this stage for a perfect alignment between the suspension and the vehicle body. Dnepro offers 5 (excellent) wheels for the vehicle, but searching the Internet and in my books, I found these desert Fords with balloon tires, more suited to the sandy conditions of the African front:Captured British (or Aussie) Ford used by German.Notice the tires...Fords with ballon tires... As my girl will be with DAK markings, let's have a bit of freedom of expression: Ford Dutch captured by the Germans wearing captured English shoes (with the courtesy of LRDG ...).Ford DAF 01Y with desert tires and jerry-cansNotice spare wheel (red) and jerry-can (green) Let's go: I have resin wheels from LRDG:Resin spare wheels = mustardDnepro Models wheels = gray Notice the sizes...
Another thing: Reinforcing resin axes, which are always fragile ... The transmission axle: resin pins cuttedand the preparation of surgery...Notice the new metal axle Surgery done:Steady hands and hawk eyes to not extravasate the perforationAnd now, for something completely different: The Dnepro Model provides an excelent engine, very well detailed. But my girl will be build with the hood closed. And it would be a waste to spend such a good engine for it not to be seen. Then a cunning plan takes shape in my mind, my Lord!! I hate to waste !! I will mold the lower portion of a Ford V8 engine (engine from a Quad Tamiya, that I have in my scrap box ...) and make the reproduction of the visible portion of the engine to place in the chassis front frame. To do this, I'll show to you guys (again...see my article, here, in Portuguese...use the translator...) the technique of reusable material. It's a dental material, called Reversible Hydrocolloid Duplicator. ( for an example, click here - I have no interest with owners - discussion only)The characters: Reversible Hydrocolloid Gelly andthe engine. It works like this: The hydrocolloid is a firm and resistant gelatin (seems silicone) at normal temperature. The gelly liquefies with the application of heat. You cut the gelatin into cubes and place in a bowl or mug. Take all in the microwave and heat the gelatin. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT NOT ALLOW BOIL. The boiling of the gelatin would result in the formation of THOUSANDS OF BUBBLES ... The gelatine in cubes...In the microwave...Do not allow the boiling...Test the ideal temperature and time of heat in little portions...The gelatine in liquid stage Very important: Wait gelatin cool slightly. Excessive heat can deform the piece-master. Test in your back-hand. Now , you can shed the thick liquid on the piece, covering the whole or in part ...You can cover the whole play. then just cut the gelatin with a scalpel to release the piece ... In my case, iIjust molded the lower part of the engineA tip: put the gelly case in a plate with cold water, toaccelerate the solidification The best part: There is no waste ... The liquid left over and the mold that after used can be re-liquifed, returned to the container all and closing the jar.Returning the material is left to the container.When cool, it turns gelatin and can be reused.The container with part coolingNotice the ice cubes in the dish with waterThe rests of hydrocolloid, after cool.Can be reused, tooThe gelatine in the container...Notice the incisions in the gelly...Removing the part with gelly of the containerIt's will facilitate the removal of the future casting partThe engine out of the gelatine...For casting, dental acrylic...Easy, fast and cheap...Acrylic under initial polimerization...Hurry, shed the acrylic into the mold...Mold full with acrylic...Stiffening... Ten minutes later.... The new half-engine!!!The mold come back to vase... For future use or re-use for another project.Easy and fast!! While the acrylic hardens a little more, we align the front wheels. Beware the jigs !!!Front suspension under construction... And... Chassis
a long, long time ... The Dnepro kit greatly facilitated my life. When the pieces broke, I thought it would be a total loss, but with patience and plasticard, one can almost all!! I love our hobby!!See you soon, Gents !!!
Soldaten !!Now it's time to see something light, fast .... but dangerous: the Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf D - SdKfz 121: the fastest of reconnaissance tanks of Pz II light tanks family.Panzer II Ausf D in in a Polish woods. September, 1939.History: The Panzer II is the common name used for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen II (abbreviated PzKpfw II). Although the vehicle had originally been designed as a stopgap while larger, more advanced tanks were developed, it nonetheless went on to play an important role in the early years of World War II, during the Polish and French campaigns.Pz II Ausf B in Warsaw, 1939.Panzer II with Panzer I in French campaign. The Panzer II was the most numerous tank in the German Panzer divisions beginning with the invasion of France. It was used in both North Africa against the Western Allies and on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union.Panzer II - Afrika Korps - 1941Panzer II in the Russian front - Summer , 1941 The Panzer II was supplanted by the Panzer III and IV by 1940/1941. By the end of 1942, it had been largely removed from front line service and it was used for training and on secondary fronts. The turrets of the then-obsolete PzKpfw Is and PzKpfw IIs were reused as gun turrets on specially built defensive bunkers, particularly on the Atlantic Wall.Panzer II turret - Atlantic Wall - France, 1944 Production of the tank itself ceased by 1943, but its chassis remained in use as the basis of several other armored vehicles, chiefly self-propelled artillery and tank destroyers such as the Wespe and Marder II.Wespe SPG 105mmMarder II tank destroyerDesignArmor: The Panzer II was designed before the experience of the Spanish Civil War of 193639 showed that shell-proof armor was required for tanks to survive on a modern battlefield. Prior to that, armor was designed to stop machine gun fire and high-explosive shell fragments. The Panzer II A, B, and C had 14 mm of slightly sloped homogenous steel armor on the sides, front, and back, with 10 mm of armor on the top and bottom. Many IIC were later given increased armor in the front of the vehicle. Starting with the D model, the front armor was increased to 30 mm. The Model F had 35 mm front armor and 20 mm side armor. This amount of armor could be penetrated by towed antitank weapons, such as the Soviet 45mm and French canon de 25mm and canon de 47mm.Soviet 45mm AT gunFrench 25mm AT gunFrench 47mm AT gunArmament: Most tank versions of the Panzer II were armed with a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannon. Some later versions used the similar 2 cm KwK 38 L/55. This autocannon was based on the 2 cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft gun, and was capable of firing at a rate of 600 rounds per minute (280 rounds per minute sustained) from 10-round magazines. A total of 180 shells were carried. The Panzer II also had a 7.92 mm