The thirty-four detailed shots which follow are fully cross-referenced to the
100 cubby shots (hopefully).
Rather than clutter up the listings with even more codes, just be aware that
the 5000-series was British, the 5050-series was Japanese, the 5100-series
was German, the 5150-series was American, and the 5200-series was Russian
(not a particularly open-ended numbering system, was it?).
(keyed, but only in some vague semblance of logical order):
101/116/123 - M5A1 (61) vs. M8 HMC (26):
Note the same track plates but different hulls; the M5 has top access to the
driver and gunner while the access is on the glacis plate on the M8 because of
the larger-diameter turret ring
(19 Jan 05)
(I had never noticed this before). See also images 123 and 116,
following:
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
123 / 116 - side view of the M5A1 (65) and M8 (26) and underside showing
how I had long-since glued the track plates back on the M5A1; note also the
completely different hull cavities, showing that the difference on the top front
was not the only difference.
102/1o2/103 - PzKpfw I (22) vs. Panzerjäger (38):
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
PzKpfw I vs. Panzerjäger chassis showing the off-center hole for the MG turret
and the centered hole for the cannon turret; the side views show that both
share the same track plate, but Mike’s Tanks shows a different track plate for
the {which?}, with the trailing sprocket on the ground. The underside
detail of the PzKpfw I turret (out of focus) was intended to show holes drilled
when the guns broke off and I substituted fine wire.
104 - SdKfz 232 {234?} (28):
(30 Dec 04 photo (left) by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III, and
photo (right) courtesy of Mike's Tanks - all rights reserved)
The Mike’s Tanks photo shows the "COMET" name on the underside of a really
strange SdKfz 233 SP 75mm Howitzer with a unitized body casting with
integral wheels!
Oh, wow! I didn't see it on my model but, if you look at the photo
VERY carefully indeed, you can barely make out the
vestiges of that same "COMET" name after all!
105 - PzKpfw III Ausf. C (1,21) vs. PzKpfw III Ausf. M (83) vs. Sturmgeschutz
III:
(30 Dec 04 photo by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
Three different track plates for common-prototype suspension (note hole
where IGC ate away behind a return roller on the PzKpfw III).
While we're on the PzKpfw III Ausf. C models, here they are with their with
turrets flipped over:
(30 Dec 04 photo by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
This shows how I fitted a threaded stud to the original turret when the pin
broke off;
what you can’t see is the 45-year-old rubber sleeve that had been over the
stud to make up the
pin diameter - it disintegrated when I picked up the model for these
photographs.
107 - PzKpfw IV Ausf. F (29) vs. PzKpfw IV Ausf. G (20):
(30 Dec 04 photo by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
Not only two different track plates but totally different heights for the same
basic prototype hull!
106 - Four AFVs with Common Sherman Trackplates:
(30 Dec 04 photo by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
Four models all sharing a common trackplate (so does the M32 tank recovery vehicle):
(05 Jan 05)
Sherman VC (63) - M7 Priest (62)
M4A3 75mm Sherman (3) - 76mm Sherman (52)
111 - M4A3 Sherman (3) vs. M3 Grant (77):
(30 Dec 04 photo by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
Both with old-style vertical volute spring suspension but M4A3 Sherman (3)
with later-style return rollers
on arms behind suspension brackets vs. M3 Grant (77) with earlier-style
return rollers
above suspension brackets). /
NOTE - the 76mm Sherman on the M4A3 chassis became the M4A3E8
("Easy Eight") of the Korean action
when fitted with the last-version horizontal volute spring suspension.
112 - M3 Paint:
(30 Dec 04 photo by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
Note how paint sheet has dropped off left side of M3 with all detail intact.
124 - M4A3 (3) vs. M12 (37):
(30 Dec 04 photo by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
M4A3 (3) track plate with sand shield vs. M12 (37) without shield and with
bracket.
Note that the WWII M12 "Long Tom" was NOT the "King Kong";
the King Kong was the Korean vintage M40 with the same gun on the M4A3E8
(Easy Eight) chassis.
109 - M36 Slugger (36) vs. M36B1 Slugger II (69) / 108 - Staghound Armored Cars (61,56):
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
M36 Slugger (36) with a high-velocity 3" gun in a heavy open turret on the M10A1 chassis vs.
M36B1 Slugger II (69) with same turret on an M4A3 chassis (when M10A1 chassis ran short) /
T17E1 Staghound Armored Car (61) with 37mm main gun vs. T17E2 (56) with twin 50 cal. MGs.
[Note the repaired left front fender on the T17E1, which is probably why I have a duplicate (93).]
110 - M26 Pershing (32), SB,III's M46, and M46 Patton model (71) / 11o -
M26/46 rear deck:
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
Stock M26 Pershing (32) vs. my hand-modified M26-cum-M46 Patton prototype
(67) vs.
the production M46 Patton model (71). Note recarved rear deck -
Comet did NOT model
the M46 travelling lock [note also the sheet of paint lifting off the M26 turret].
The rear deck view of the three M26-cum-M46 models shows how I carved in
the deck detail
and modified the exhaust mufflers and added an exhaust manifold and
exhaust pipes
on the handmade prototype.
113 - M42 (59) Duster / 114 - Crusader (17):
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
The M42 Duster shows extreme IGC and separation at track plate joint. /
The Crusader showing pin replacing gun in left secondary turret,
again explaining why I have a duplicate (25). Fussy kid, wasn’t I?.
115 - Seep 4x4 amphibian Jeeps (7,54) / 119 - Jimmy 10x10 with seats (78):
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
Seep 4x4 amphibian Jeeps (7,54) - note glued windshield and missing steering wheel;
as I recall, I tried to mount the windshield vertically and it kept breaking off. /
Jimmy (GMC) 10x10 with bench seats (78) with seated personnel (100).
117, 118 - Crane in M3 scout car (5):
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
Close-up of crane in rear of M3 scout car (5), a home-grown modification by SB,III at age 10 or
11;
note exceedingly fine wire hook - I recall towing other vehicles with that hook. /
Close-up of swivel for crane in rear of M3 scout car, a home-grown
modification by SB,III at age 10 or 11;
note the fine tubing inserted in hole for 50 cal. MG.
126 - Crane in M3 scout car (5) / 127 - Barrel for M45 105mm HMC (43):
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
Detail of crane made by SB,III for M3 scout car (5). /
Closeup of hand-tapered barrel (by SB,III) for M45 105mm Howitzer Motor
Carriage (43).
(KV 2 gun is original; M45 is not)}
(06 Jan 05)
120 - LVT4 (41) / 121 - LVTA4 (42):
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
LVT4 (41) evidencing severe IGC separation of major components. /
LVTA4 (42) evidencing mild IGC separation of major components.
122 - LVTA4 (42) and M8 HMC (26) / 125 - M44 APC (46):
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
LVTA4 (42) and M8 HMC (26) showing identical 75mm howitzer turrets. /
M44 Armored Personnel Carrier (46) which disintegrated at the hull-track joint
between photo sessions.
129 - PzKpfw V Panther (50):
(30 Dec 04 photo by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
The unmasking of a legend! This is the underside of the prow of the PzKpfw V Panther (50)
marked:
GER. PANTHER
"ROYAL TIGER"
{including the period and quotation marks -
I tried many variations of lighting to little avail}
which is wrong; "ROYAL TIGER" probably refers to the
"KING TIGER",
a less-rectangular variant of the regular Tiger (10), but is clearly the source
of the "legend"
that the Slonim’s thought a Panther was a Tiger!
Note also that the prop is not merely a common nail, it is the gun from the
Panther;
this is typical of so many Comet models of WWI vintage tanks and AFVs!
130,131 - Chevvie 4-door (90):
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
Close-up shots of the roof of the modified and repainted Chevvie 4-door (90)
showing where I cut and sanded off the taxi light cluster (to the best of my
recollection) and of a crack across the entire windsheld frame; I believe this
happened when I tried to get more contour in the flat roof and hammered
upwards too hard.
132 - M26 Pershing and M46 Patton with Commanders:
(30 Dec 04 photo by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
M26 Pershing (97) and M46 Patton (98) with drilled turrets and with open
turret hatches
and commanders (stock , by Comet). I wonder what the part numbers
were.
133 - Crusader tank (17,25) and Japanese heavy tank (73) / 134 - Key:
(30 Dec 04 photos by and © 2004 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
British Crusader tank (17,25) and Japanese heavy tank (73),
each with two auxiliary turrets on the front deck for secondary armament. /
I normally look down on the fitted case but this time I was seated in front of it,
looking up,
and I spotted a key held by ancient drafting tape on the left of cubby 55.
I added links which refer directly to comments on this page from Cont. Pages
5 and 6; hopefully, they will all be covered (please advise if I missed any).
(05 and 06 Jan 05)
THUMBS UP!
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S. Berliner, III
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2003, 2004,
2005
- All rights reserved.
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