John Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 I can't believe this one isn't on the list already. That needs rectified. This was the first Matchbox AFV I ever built, I'd no idea what a Comet was but it looked cool. My dad, a former army officer, filled me in with the details as he had seen quite a few in during his service in the second half of the 1940s. The diorama base - an absolutely inspired move by Matchbox that set them apart from the competition. A recent Revell rebox has been ordered and should arrive in a day or 2. I've been working on the excellent Rubicon 1/56th scale kit so I'm in the Comet groove at the moment. My son has also recently acquired the Vespid 1/72 scale kit which is a stunner. Looking forward to this muchly 😀 John 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimJ Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 The Comet was my first Matchbox AFV too, nice to see one making an appearance in the GB. 👍 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 1 hour ago, TimJ said: The Comet was my first Matchbox AFV too, nice to see one making an appearance in the GB. 👍 ... and mine as well. So that makes three of us. Spooky 😮 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Well done John Absolutely delighted to see the Comet joining the GB especially with your story behind it God luck with this one. Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Great news John and I too am quite surprised that we did not have a Comet thread until now. We look forward to seeing the Revell re-box and please feel free to share more Dad stories should the opportunity arise. Cheers, welcome aboard and best of luck.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 Well hello, look what the postie just delivered: You have to love these new Revell boxes, excellent quality. Equally, excellent quality instruction sheet: 2 crisp grey sprues: Small but very nice decal sheet: It's nearly 50 years since I last built one of these so looking forward to it. Revell have produced a quality package, let's hope the parts hold up to the promise. John 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 Yep, couldn't resist 😀 First coat over the wheels and running gear of Sovereign Hobbies ARB19 SCC15 Olive Drab. The base has a coat of Humbrol 83 Ochre. John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 Sure does look nice and one of these kits could possibly get me to open my up my wallet! The decals look quite good too, although I have no idea what units or regiments they are for.... give me squadron codes or bars any day! Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted January 27, 2022 Author Share Posted January 27, 2022 Ah, the shear simple pleasure of painting a Matchbox AFV base: Bliss 😀 John 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted January 29, 2022 Author Share Posted January 29, 2022 Hello little dude: ...and of course I've put time and effort into a puddle that'll be underneath the tank 🙄 John 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 A great start John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 Hi John, I think that it was the Matchbox tank kit for me too, though I would prehaps have preferred the Cromwell. In fact I have built two Comets and at least one "backdated" to a Cromwell before anybody else released one - ie Revell then Airfix. I have also built a Centaur of the Royal Marines close support unit intended to fire from landing craft on D-Day which ended up going ashore anyway I too used SCC15 - mine was from the original White Ensign range of Colourcoats before Jamie took over. I seem to remember Matchbox had one of their 2 versions with some sort of camo pattern in Deep Bronze Green and Dark Earth which was perhaps wrong - certainly the green would be SCC15, and by the time of the Normandy landing official instructions had dispensed with the use of disruptive colours, although at least one unit were still painting blue/black SCC14 over their OD Shermans. The instructions even banned the use of whitewash for winter schemes, saying that sheets should be used instead, though that was often ignored - perhaps they did not want to "requisition" any from German civilians? Whatever, it is a nice kit and I am sure you will make a good job of it. Cheers Pete 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 Revell have continued with the 2-tone scheme: 2nd Devonshire Regiment. Colour B is Bronze Green, C is Ochre. John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galligraphics Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 I’ll be following this with interest. Not only did I make one as a kid, my dad, who was in 2RTR, apparently instructed on this type as units converted to the Comet. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted February 14, 2022 Author Share Posted February 14, 2022 Shooty bit added to the turret and a coat of Humbrol 80 Grass Green to undercoat the Sovereign Hobbies SCC15: I've drilled out the muzzle. John 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 On 29/01/2022 at 19:31, PeterB said: I seem to remember Matchbox had one of their 2 versions with some sort of camo pattern in Deep Bronze Green and Dark Earth which was perhaps wrong - certainly the green would be SCC15, and by the time of the Normandy landing official instructions had dispensed with the use of disruptive colours, although at least one unit were still painting blue/black SCC14 over their OD Shermans. On 30/01/2022 at 14:54, John said: Revell have continued with the 2-tone scheme: 2nd Devonshire Regiment. Colour B is Bronze Green, C is Ochre. I suspect the answer is as simple as copying one in a museum... (from http://timstanks.blogspot.com/2018/08/) in the case Samur in France. the markings are identical which at least answers the question i was going to ask, having picked up one of these myself recently as well, along with my survivor from 78/79 I think.. I really really wish that revell would tool up some link and length tracks for it, or just some decent tracks. neat work so far John cheers T 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted February 20, 2022 Author Share Posted February 20, 2022 Guess who managed to drop one of the front towing eyes on the floor and into oblivion...? Another is in the process of being fashioned from plastic strip. The overall bright green is Humbrol 80, which will be overcoated with Sovereign Hobbies SCC15. John 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 Looks like a very nice kit, great quick work. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 (edited) 37 minutes ago, John said: Guess who managed to drop one of the front towing eyes on the floor and into oblivion...? I do that a lot too, but the biggest problem is headlamps which, because of their shape, often ping off out of my tweezers and have to be replaced. Pete Edited February 20, 2022 by PeterB 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 On 1/30/2022 at 5:31 AM, PeterB said: Hi John, I think that it was the Matchbox tank kit for me too, though I would prehaps have preferred the Cromwell. In fact I have built two Comets and at least one "backdated" to a Cromwell before anybody else released one - ie Revell then Airfix. I have also built a Centaur of the Royal Marines close support unit intended to fire from landing craft on D-Day which ended up going ashore anyway I too used SCC15 - mine was from the original White Ensign range of Colourcoats before Jamie took over. I seem to remember Matchbox had one of their 2 versions with some sort of camo pattern in Deep Bronze Green and Dark Earth which was perhaps wrong - certainly the green would be SCC15, and by the time of the Normandy landing official instructions had dispensed with the use of disruptive colours, although at least one unit were still painting blue/black SCC14 over their OD Shermans. The instructions even banned the use of whitewash for winter schemes, saying that sheets should be used instead, though that was often ignored - perhaps they did not want to "requisition" any from German civilians? Whatever, it is a nice kit and I am sure you will make a good job of it. Cheers Pete Yes back in the day I yelled out loudly to Matchbox “Why the heck did you produce the Comet when we all wanted a Cromwell!”. And then we learned to live with and love the Comet ... (but still wanted a Cromwell!). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanC Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 6 hours ago, Rob S said: Yes back in the day I yelled out loudly to Matchbox “Why the heck did you produce the Comet when we all wanted a Cromwell!”. And then we learned to live with and love the Comet ... (but still wanted a Cromwell!). I liked the Comet because it gave some much needed hitting power on the school wargames table, especially as I always seemed to be the Allies and my opponents invariably fielded historically incorrect phalanxes of Tigers and Panthers. 😄 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 7 hours ago, IanC said: I liked the Comet because it gave some much needed hitting power on the school wargames table, And of course the Matchbox Firefly helped as well. Pete 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 I do like my tanks messy: A bit of a tidy up and it will be ready for the Gallery. John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted April 30, 2022 Author Share Posted April 30, 2022 Calling this done. We'll get some better photos in the Gallery later. John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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