Bronco 1/35 British Cruiser Tank A34 Comet
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 2:17 pm
Good afternoon, Bienvenue, Guten Tag and Hiya from me
NB: I first wrote this transcript back on the 22.1.23 and hence the cold weather picture, again, life has caught up with me in more ways than one, and i hope and pray you will all forgive this and bear with me
Well, I’m back from a long hiatus and a well-earned break (..down!). I don’t hear you all clamor for reasons for my long break, but I’ll be brutally frank and honest.
I had what one might say, a mental episode. Not strictly true as a episode, as that is a short period of time and my Mental health issues have been hanging around my neck for many, many years. Some or none of you will remember that I stated I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar in 1996. I suspect as I have lived with my thoughts and myself, I have always had it.
Recently though, and again when I say recent, say in the last 6 months, I have been experiencing more and more Mental Health issues. Most of this was due in part with the problems I have had with my lower legs (below knees). I suffer with Ulcers caused by poor circulation in both legs. In September I was diagnosed via Scans with DVT (Deep vein Thrombosis) of two DVT in Right Leg. I have been for over two years been attending very painful weekly Clinics to wash ad dress wounds on legs. The pain from these open wounds has been causing me real agony, pain, and discomfort. I think only those who have had this, will have any realization of how painful, debilitating and smelly the whole thing is. So as a relatively fit chap some years ago, I have felt my quality of life has rapidly reduced. The pain, has been 24hrs a day, 365 days and has been chewing my MH down, and down. In September of last year, I had had enough. I rang my local GP (a mind numbing experience for anyone based in the UK, and if you are successful in getting through, well done). To be met by an Automated Telephone Answering System that says your “21 in the queue”. Having got through to the dreaded Receptionist, she was not letting me go any further, the proverbial Fire-Wall, who needs McFee and Norton……….No Doctors available till November (Yup, I rang on the 7.9.22 and nothing till November). I then sort of lost it. Not raising my voice or angry, in fact quite the opposite. I said that to be honest, I probably would not be around in November, so it really wasn’t worth pursuing. The silence on the end of the phone was curious and palpable, until a little voice asked me to explain what I was saying? Well says I, in a Nutshell, “I want my legs Amputated or I will commit Suicide”. The Receptionist was silent, and said, would she be able to ring me back in five minutes. Five minutes later, my mobile rings and its my Doctor who I have not spoken to for four years. My statement about Suicide and Amputation was I felt like pulling a pin on a Grenade and chucking it in to a room. I have always kept typed records of every date, time and conversation to do with my Medical condition. The current “Diary” of events runs to over ten pages of A4. Every conversation, every letter received, every phone call, everything no matter how small. I keep this info updated and in a folder that if visiting a Medical facility, I can relate information straight away. What happened after that call is miraculous. I went from adrift, alone, and completely neglected by NHS for over two years, to everybody jumping to help. Mental Health, Occupational Health,….etc. I have been very Suicidal. I have been in such pain with my legs. Little or no sleep. Unable to sleep in bed and finding now that im more comfortable (in a sense) on the sofa. I have had long and interesting conversations with MH workers and have been brutally honest and frank. If my legs are sorted by physical means i.e. Operation, my MH will be better to the point of no longer requiring help from anybody. I have explained this simply as the following: As people who have loved and cared for Pets. There is a horrible time, when every pet owner has to take a decision to terminate life due to pain or debilitating illness / old age. It is unbearable. But we do it because we love our pets and don’t want to see them in pain. I said to many Doctors in the past months, if a pet I owned was in such dire pain all the time, I would take that decision to terminate its life gracefully and with respect. Why am I being allowed to be in such pain, 24hrs a day, 365 years and not being assisted or helped? I am frank in my troubles and I apologies if this may upset few or many. Its been frustrating for both of us. Mrs DW has shone through this. She has been my Nurse and tended to truly horrible wounds and just got on with it. So where am I now (apart from banging out the keys on a PC)? I am on a list for an operation in the next few months to introduce a Laser down my arterial pathways in my legs and burn out the damaged and Non-Compliant (Correct Medical term). They are also going to squirt “Foam” into the veins. It’s a Day-Case and as a Out-Patient, it will be done with an Epidural Anesthetic. Fingers crossed and will keep pushing in every-way possible. So in a Nutshell, I have just been unable to do Modelling. I haven’t despite my lovely chair and fantastic M/C, I have not been comfortable Modelling. I cant concentrate for any period of time. So since my last post on ISM on the 18.8.22 when I signed off and took a break, I have done nothing. I packed away the Tiger Model AMX-10 and the Panhard, and tidied the bench and shut up shop. I have popped in periodically to tidy, sit, read, gaze lovingly ant my stash and even to unwrap new kits and place on shelves. Nothing though has been happening………………………………..till last weekend. Despite pain and low MH, I took a visit to the M/C on an icy winters day and cracked open a kit. Isn’t it wonderful to open a new kit. All that wrapped sprues with their cellophane wrappers.
Two boxes sit on the Work-Bench, lets go with the smallest, its Miniart, 1/35, British Tank Crew in Winter Uniform. Miniart box-art is absolutely gorgeous. The five figures are shown in Pixie Suits in various poses and different headdress.
So what do you put these chaps with?
Bronco, 1/35. British Cruiser Tank, A34, Comet.
I really have always liked the profile and appearance of the Comet and British Cruiser Tanks. It’s the progression from the Cromwell. It has all the similarities of the Cromwell, It entered service just at the end of the war and was to combat Panthers., here’s a bit of Historical guff for you
:
The Comet tank or Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34) was a British cruiser tank that first saw use near the end of the Second World War, during the Western Allied invasion of Germany. The Comet was developed from the earlier Cromwell tank and mounted the new 17 pdr High Velocity (HV) (3 inch; 76.2 mm – sometimes referred to as "77 mm") gun, in a lower profile, partly-cast turret. This gun was effective against late-war German tanks, including the Panther at medium range, and the Tiger.[2]
The Comet rendered the Cruiser Mk VIII Challenger obsolete, and led to the development of the Centurion tank. When firing APDS rounds, the 77 mm HV was superior in armour penetration capability to the 75 mm KwK 42 gun of the equivalent Axis tank, the Panther.[3]
The Comet entered active service in January 1945 and remained in British service until 1958. In some cases, Comets sold to other countries continued to operate into the 1980s.
I also forgot, I received the following from Kits World, 1/35. Decals, British Army Webbing – P37 Pattern, Enlisted Men and NCO’s. this should provide a little subtle extra to figures. Never used this before but comes with comprehensive instructions.
The Comet Sprues are in a light grey.
Separate click and fit tracks.
Decals
PE
A4 Instructions.
Six colour schemes and they are all UK Bronze Green / Olive Drab, four endo of war British units and one Finish (Training Unit) 1961 – 1980.
So, I’m back in the chair and sat in front of the Work-Bench (blowing off dust as its not been used for months). I’m glad to be back in the merry fold. I’m sorry for my absence but hopefully I can get a few laughs and smiles going with this build.
So till the next episode,
Peace, Love and Best wishes,
DW
NB: I first wrote this transcript back on the 22.1.23 and hence the cold weather picture, again, life has caught up with me in more ways than one, and i hope and pray you will all forgive this and bear with me
Well, I’m back from a long hiatus and a well-earned break (..down!). I don’t hear you all clamor for reasons for my long break, but I’ll be brutally frank and honest.
I had what one might say, a mental episode. Not strictly true as a episode, as that is a short period of time and my Mental health issues have been hanging around my neck for many, many years. Some or none of you will remember that I stated I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar in 1996. I suspect as I have lived with my thoughts and myself, I have always had it.
Recently though, and again when I say recent, say in the last 6 months, I have been experiencing more and more Mental Health issues. Most of this was due in part with the problems I have had with my lower legs (below knees). I suffer with Ulcers caused by poor circulation in both legs. In September I was diagnosed via Scans with DVT (Deep vein Thrombosis) of two DVT in Right Leg. I have been for over two years been attending very painful weekly Clinics to wash ad dress wounds on legs. The pain from these open wounds has been causing me real agony, pain, and discomfort. I think only those who have had this, will have any realization of how painful, debilitating and smelly the whole thing is. So as a relatively fit chap some years ago, I have felt my quality of life has rapidly reduced. The pain, has been 24hrs a day, 365 days and has been chewing my MH down, and down. In September of last year, I had had enough. I rang my local GP (a mind numbing experience for anyone based in the UK, and if you are successful in getting through, well done). To be met by an Automated Telephone Answering System that says your “21 in the queue”. Having got through to the dreaded Receptionist, she was not letting me go any further, the proverbial Fire-Wall, who needs McFee and Norton……….No Doctors available till November (Yup, I rang on the 7.9.22 and nothing till November). I then sort of lost it. Not raising my voice or angry, in fact quite the opposite. I said that to be honest, I probably would not be around in November, so it really wasn’t worth pursuing. The silence on the end of the phone was curious and palpable, until a little voice asked me to explain what I was saying? Well says I, in a Nutshell, “I want my legs Amputated or I will commit Suicide”. The Receptionist was silent, and said, would she be able to ring me back in five minutes. Five minutes later, my mobile rings and its my Doctor who I have not spoken to for four years. My statement about Suicide and Amputation was I felt like pulling a pin on a Grenade and chucking it in to a room. I have always kept typed records of every date, time and conversation to do with my Medical condition. The current “Diary” of events runs to over ten pages of A4. Every conversation, every letter received, every phone call, everything no matter how small. I keep this info updated and in a folder that if visiting a Medical facility, I can relate information straight away. What happened after that call is miraculous. I went from adrift, alone, and completely neglected by NHS for over two years, to everybody jumping to help. Mental Health, Occupational Health,….etc. I have been very Suicidal. I have been in such pain with my legs. Little or no sleep. Unable to sleep in bed and finding now that im more comfortable (in a sense) on the sofa. I have had long and interesting conversations with MH workers and have been brutally honest and frank. If my legs are sorted by physical means i.e. Operation, my MH will be better to the point of no longer requiring help from anybody. I have explained this simply as the following: As people who have loved and cared for Pets. There is a horrible time, when every pet owner has to take a decision to terminate life due to pain or debilitating illness / old age. It is unbearable. But we do it because we love our pets and don’t want to see them in pain. I said to many Doctors in the past months, if a pet I owned was in such dire pain all the time, I would take that decision to terminate its life gracefully and with respect. Why am I being allowed to be in such pain, 24hrs a day, 365 years and not being assisted or helped? I am frank in my troubles and I apologies if this may upset few or many. Its been frustrating for both of us. Mrs DW has shone through this. She has been my Nurse and tended to truly horrible wounds and just got on with it. So where am I now (apart from banging out the keys on a PC)? I am on a list for an operation in the next few months to introduce a Laser down my arterial pathways in my legs and burn out the damaged and Non-Compliant (Correct Medical term). They are also going to squirt “Foam” into the veins. It’s a Day-Case and as a Out-Patient, it will be done with an Epidural Anesthetic. Fingers crossed and will keep pushing in every-way possible. So in a Nutshell, I have just been unable to do Modelling. I haven’t despite my lovely chair and fantastic M/C, I have not been comfortable Modelling. I cant concentrate for any period of time. So since my last post on ISM on the 18.8.22 when I signed off and took a break, I have done nothing. I packed away the Tiger Model AMX-10 and the Panhard, and tidied the bench and shut up shop. I have popped in periodically to tidy, sit, read, gaze lovingly ant my stash and even to unwrap new kits and place on shelves. Nothing though has been happening………………………………..till last weekend. Despite pain and low MH, I took a visit to the M/C on an icy winters day and cracked open a kit. Isn’t it wonderful to open a new kit. All that wrapped sprues with their cellophane wrappers.
Two boxes sit on the Work-Bench, lets go with the smallest, its Miniart, 1/35, British Tank Crew in Winter Uniform. Miniart box-art is absolutely gorgeous. The five figures are shown in Pixie Suits in various poses and different headdress.
So what do you put these chaps with?
Bronco, 1/35. British Cruiser Tank, A34, Comet.
I really have always liked the profile and appearance of the Comet and British Cruiser Tanks. It’s the progression from the Cromwell. It has all the similarities of the Cromwell, It entered service just at the end of the war and was to combat Panthers., here’s a bit of Historical guff for you
:The Comet tank or Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34) was a British cruiser tank that first saw use near the end of the Second World War, during the Western Allied invasion of Germany. The Comet was developed from the earlier Cromwell tank and mounted the new 17 pdr High Velocity (HV) (3 inch; 76.2 mm – sometimes referred to as "77 mm") gun, in a lower profile, partly-cast turret. This gun was effective against late-war German tanks, including the Panther at medium range, and the Tiger.[2]
The Comet rendered the Cruiser Mk VIII Challenger obsolete, and led to the development of the Centurion tank. When firing APDS rounds, the 77 mm HV was superior in armour penetration capability to the 75 mm KwK 42 gun of the equivalent Axis tank, the Panther.[3]
The Comet entered active service in January 1945 and remained in British service until 1958. In some cases, Comets sold to other countries continued to operate into the 1980s.
I also forgot, I received the following from Kits World, 1/35. Decals, British Army Webbing – P37 Pattern, Enlisted Men and NCO’s. this should provide a little subtle extra to figures. Never used this before but comes with comprehensive instructions.
The Comet Sprues are in a light grey.
Separate click and fit tracks.
Decals
PE
A4 Instructions.
Six colour schemes and they are all UK Bronze Green / Olive Drab, four endo of war British units and one Finish (Training Unit) 1961 – 1980.
So, I’m back in the chair and sat in front of the Work-Bench (blowing off dust as its not been used for months). I’m glad to be back in the merry fold. I’m sorry for my absence but hopefully I can get a few laughs and smiles going with this build.
So till the next episode,
Peace, Love and Best wishes,
DW
