Rubicon Models
Rubicon Models => Work In Progress => Topic started by: Rubicon Models on July 01, 2019, 02:53:24 pm
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NEW PROJECT OF THE MONTH... Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34)
A34 Comet is a British cruiser tank that first saw service near the end of WW2. It was designed as an improvement on the earlier Cromwell tank, mounting the new 77mm HV gun in a new lower profile and part-cast turret. This gun was effective against late-war German tanks, including the Panther at medium range, and the Tiger. The tank was widely respected as one of the best British tanks of the war, and remained in British service until 1958. In some cases, Comets sold to other countries continued to operate into the 1980s. By the end of the WW2, 1,186 had been produced.
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20190626-01_zps97m9ok9b.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20190626-02_zpsto4tol96.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20190626-03_zps0dm1wmhc.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20190626-04_zpsnf1h56cj.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20190626-05_zpserprrupg.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20190626-06_zps6rgsfch2.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20190626-07_zpsg6vubtos.jpg)
Enjoy!
;)
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Stunning.
That is both a surprise and a delight.
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Surprising, yes.
Especially after what RM wrote on the what British tank to do next post:
One of the reasons we want a poll here is to make sure we are not too far away from the expectations of forum members.
I guess RM is somewhat far away from the forum's expectations.
But didn't they hint that there were two projects?
Well heck, even the moon is pretty far away, but NASA eventually got there.
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Surprising, yes.
Especially after what RM wrote on the what British tank to do next post:
One of the reasons we want a poll here is to make sure we are not too far away from the expectations of forum members.
I guess RM is somewhat far away from the forum's expectations.
But didn't they hint that there were two projects?
Well heck, even the moon is pretty far away, but NASA eventually got there.
The poll was for two future British projects, this is one they had already started.
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VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS!!!
My Polish will certainly be needing 3.
However I will personally be changing the armament because I'm a rebellious miscreant.
I want one with an American 76mm gun and 2 with American 75mm guns.
just because I want to be different and make all the rivet counters scream.
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Excellent news, thanks for producing one of my favourite British AFV's, I really :) look forward to their release
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Really pleased to see this. I will definitely be getting a couple!
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Very exciting! I was planning on a few for my Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, always happy to avoid resins.
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Two museum examples (both from IWM Duxford, one is a Gate Guard) have the fish tail exhaust but without the "Normandy Cowl".
I will post some photographs later.
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Two museum examples (both from IWM Duxford, one is a Gate Guard) have the fish tail exhaust but without the "Normandy Cowl".
The fishtail exhaust without the cowl was postwar, it basically replaced the function of the cowl.
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Two museum examples (both from IWM Duxford, one is a Gate Guard) have the fish tail exhaust but without the "Normandy Cowl".
The fishtail exhaust without the cowl was postwar, it basically replaced the function of the cowl.
Yes, I just mentioned it as it is shown with both (I know on previous occasions the drawings are representative).
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The exhaust cowlings were quite fragile (thin metal) and tended to get wrecked quite easily, the full length one (from the Cromwell) was fitted to a few early Comets, but then they noticed that it prevented the gun barrel from being locked down in the gun crutch (gun lock if you're American) - hence the introduction of the split or 'Normandy' version, which was easier than producing a taller gun crutch ::). The fishtail exhausts are a give-away to post war versions (for some reason the WG one comes with them, and though it's a generally decent looking piece of resin, lacks several quite important details - the smoke projector on the roof is missing, the lifting lugs on the forward hull - either side of driver & bowgunner for two...) along with turret-side smoke projectors like those found on the Centurion - Bovvy have a couple, one of each.
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZWCYBhGP/A34-Comet.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZWCYBhGP)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MnCwnfbx/A34-Comet-left-side-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MnCwnfbx)
I assume you're going to produce a driver/bowgunner doing the 'Dukes of Hazzard' style manoeuvre necessary to get in or out of their ridiculous hatches ;)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Q94hx4fY/A34-Comet-bow-gunner-s-position.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Q94hx4fY)
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Some photographs here:
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2019/07/comets-at-iwm-duxford.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2019/07/comets-at-iwm-duxford.html)
Post-war versions.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6HApWisNUU/XRvRxMbA7HI/AAAAAAAAFp8/hn86v0ka-x8EiQ_kBDaSnjZH5xqcLbeXwCLcBGAs/s1600/comet_duxford_above_rear.png)
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A very welcome addition to our Allied line up.
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From the Finland tank museum ( great place to visit if you get the chance. They have an armoured train!) Charioteer Turret a possible option ( or add on)?
(https://i.postimg.cc/5YP0sWB0/20180907-110149.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5YP0sWB0)
(https://i.postimg.cc/sBTsr9vH/20180907-110203.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sBTsr9vH)
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I think the Charioteer was a Cromwell upgrade.
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Charioteer was a 1950s up grade of the Cromwell with a 20pdr in the turret . About 450 produced . It made David Fletcher's list of top 5 worst tanks ……..
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Yes, as UVS & Rpley say, the Charioteer was based on the Cromwell chassis - a panicked answer to the percieved superiority of Soviet heavy armour circa 1950 - until adequate numbers of Centurions were produced, at which point we sold them off to (as seen in Old Guards photos) Finland, Jordan and Egypt being other recipients.
Perhaps the 'worst tank' label is a little unfair for a stop-gap design, though undoubtedly the turret was a fugly compromise, tall and fairly thinly armoured in order to fit the large 20 pdr. Arguably the design is no worse than either the Firefly or Challenger - all three had the problem of their muzzle flashes being so large that the gunner & TC were effectively blinded - the flare in the round's base not lasting as long as the effects of the flash and smoke on the gunner. Consequently the TC would often stand off to one side to observe the fall of shot. But of course all of these vehicles were temporary compromise solutions to a problem and should be judged as such, the Charioteer's designers not being aware at that point of the myriad flaws in the ISIII which had so terrified the allies at the Berlin victory parade in 1945.
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3D prototype of the Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34) is now on our official FB page. This 1/56 scale plastic kit will enable you to build either a late-war or post-war Comet with two manlet options or with a canvas cover; also come with three types of exhausts variants as well.
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20Prototype%20190712-01_zpslrkbdhuy.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20Prototype%20190712-02_zpsl1sypqyb.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20Prototype%20190712-03_zps4dvm0krm.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20Prototype%20190712-04_zps3jqa1kq4.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20Prototype%20190712-05_zpsuourmqcs.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20Prototype%20190712-06_zpswgsvj0dy.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20Prototype%20190712-07_zpsckhzahjw.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20Prototype%20190712-08_zpspedhlflp.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20Prototype%20190712-09_zps4qyog2wq.jpg)
Enjoy!
;)
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Looks pretty good . Not a fan of most post WW2 tanks but this one interests me . How about making the driver's vision port and the engine compartment doors separate pieces as well ? Just a thought if you haven't actually finished the design faze .
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How about making the driver's vision port and the engine compartment doors separate pieces as well? Just a thought if you haven't actually finished the design faze.
The vision port is too small to make it a separate piece in this scale.
After discussions, there is no plan to make the engine compartment separate because there is not much to show.
Also, there is a part count limit on the sprues too!
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Looking good!
A handful of Comets (12) served with Commonwealth forces in the Korean War, so this tank has more use than just Late War WWII.
EDIT: Oh man, my bad. Comet did not serve in the Korean War. It was the similar looking Cromwell, and somebody had posted about a cromwell turret above, and my mind drifted. Sorry about that!
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Nice.
Now do I finish off my Die Waffenkammer one?
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The vision port is larger than the turret spot light on the Crusader in the picture you posted . I'm sure your staff could figure it out . I thought I'd give it a try , really don't want to scratch that vision hatch plug . And the engine deck will be easy to cut out using the molded indents on the deck , just trying to save myself some work . Hopefully it will end up something like this , my Tamiya 1/35 Cromwell
(https://i.postimg.cc/5HPndj86/IMG-20190712-173621279.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5HPndj86)
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I'm just very happy to see a plastic Comet. It's track design lends itself to the Rubicon treatment - it won't look overly simplified. Surely a Centurion is a natural next step...
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Please can you make the fire extinguishers separate items?
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20Prototype%20190712-04_zps3jqa1kq4.jpg)
Ripley's comments about the driver's hatch made me look at that area. I note the lift points there and on the turret (I have not attempted to fit lift rings on my Cromwells). Excellent.
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I second "Pinky`s" Centurion request, several Korea, projects are around now. A quality plastic kit would fit in nicely, as would other kits from your ranges. These Kits could pave a path from Korea to Arab/Israel as many others fit these two themes.
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Our first plastic testshot of the British A34 Comet cruiser tank is here!
We managed to squeeze everything onto 2 sprues without sacrificing quality and details.
Now getting inspected, crutinised and test-assembled before we can write our QC report back to the factory.
Will post a test-assembled Comet sometime next week here.
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20TS1%20Sprue%20191109-01_zpsh0eqyz9x.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20TS1%20Sprue%20191109-02_zpsq4d6brl7.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20TS1%20Sprue%20191109-03_zpsqt4hel0i.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20TS1%20Sprue%20191109-04_zpsmgktofas.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20TS1%20Sprue%20191109-05_zpswib6egnt.jpg)
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20TS1%20Sprue%20191109-06_zps6vrhixvw.jpg)
Enjoy!
;)
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Could we see the front of the tracks for slide-mould goodness?
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Could we see the front of the tracks for slide-mould goodness?
Don't think we have any close-up photos of the front tracks. This is what we have right now. Can take some more pictures later.
The drawing...
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20190626-02_zpsto4tol96.jpg)
The prototype...
(https://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/A34%20Comet/A34%20Comet%20Prototype%20190712-01_zpslrkbdhuy.jpg)
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Very nice work.
That is a minimum troop size purchase.
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It looks terrific. When is it due to come out?
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I simply can't wait for it. It looks awesome. Great job!
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This is the preliminary design for the upcoming A34 Comet decal sheet. It includes all the basics plus some tank names that were available from historical records and reference material.
Any comments and feedback must be posted over this weekend. We will finalise the design and send it to the printer coming Monday. What do you think?
(https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/a5/3d/em4hVlWj_t.jpg)
Enjoy!
;)
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Are these WW2 only?
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B1hu_HEdUXA/XRvRpjRH_ZI/AAAAAAAAFpw/p0eAQmnG5TUeJ4OaUhQYLrvquBGSsQljgCLcBGAs/s1600/comet_duxford_front.png)
IWM Duxford.
https://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2019/07/comets-at-iwm-duxford.html (https://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2019/07/comets-at-iwm-duxford.html)
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Are these WW2 only?
Correct, we are limiting this sheet to WW2 only. The post-war insignia was just too confusing for us.
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Are these WW2 only?
Correct, we are limiting this sheet to WW2 only. The post-war insignia was just too confusing for us.
Oh well.
Plenty of use for a WW2 model.
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Painted sample of our upcoming release - British A34 Comet cruiser tank!
(https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/33/ba/TSvwEWHT_t.jpg)
(https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/f9/43/KwnjLtsp_t.jpg)
(https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/ac/66/I0qA3iGk_t.jpg)
(https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/f4/1a/azf9Rs3I_t.jpg)
(https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/83/dc/e9kBEbYB_t.jpg)
(https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/b8/cc/MwnIWruC_t.jpg)
(https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/7a/65/tfAtaPfG_t.jpg)
Enjoy!
;)
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Nice.
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Bit dissapointed there's no post war or foreign service choices on the decal sheet, seems a bit pointless including the post war variant if there's no markings for them. Maybe you could release a supplemental decal sheet?
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I understand your disappointment, but the majority of builders will be constructing this for WW2, the post war options are a bonus. Hopefully their research on the Centurion project will lead to a set of decals for post war Comets as well.
One question, why is there a 40 ton bridge marker on the sheet?
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Are these WW2 only?
Correct, we are limiting this sheet to WW2 only. The post-war insignia was just too confusing for us.
Star decals have several decal sheets covering post war Comets in British service as well as foreign operators which could provide fairly easy research?
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Sorry for banging on about it again but I think you're making a mistake by not providing post war and foreign operator decals. The wartime service of the Comet was fairly limited whereas the postwar British and foreign service lasted for decades in some cases, some of which saw action such as the South African Comets. There are easily accessible references available such as Bronco models Comet and Bison and Star decal sheets.Go on, you know you want to.