Comet

[robert michael hilton]

My long awaited Comet has arrived.....excited or what...

All Tiger/Panther owners are advised to...'Run to the Hills'
Mick

[leesellars]

Hello Robert

No way Fear My Jagdpanther waiting in ambush for you to come By.

BOOM

Lee

[John Davie]

Got mine too.

[Derek Attree]

Wow John
Thats a quick build. Looks real nice and the colour
is great.

Derek

[robert michael hilton]

I will keep a sharp lookout Lee.

John, where on earth have you found time to make so much progress?

May I ask also, where you obtained the paint for your Comet. I am at a loss to find the right colour and type. I had thought of purchasing numerous Tamyia spray cans....this option is the most expensive.
My Comet arrived today by UPS, so I am some way behind you.

As this is my first Armortek tank, I would appreciate seeing and following your your build log, and photo's.

Are the 'blanking' screws on page 13 used later in the build...?

Well done....Mick

[John Davie]

Hi Mick,

I'll think about creating a build log thread with photos.

I had to lay some paint on it as you get to the point where places will become inaccessible as the build progresses so it was a case of pre-assembly of the inner hull making everything fit nicely then disassemble some of it to get the first paint on then re-assemble.

I use cellulose (automotive) paint sprayed with a full size car spray gun - I prefer this for the base coates as it covers well and is touch dry within five minutes!! The colour is British Olive Drab, BS298 with a slight sheen finish. I get this colour-mixed by mail order for around £20 per litre and although I use spraying cellulose the supplier does make up aerosol cans as well which I think are around the £9 mark for 400ml.
If you want my supplier details then let me know and I'll dig it out.

[robert michael hilton]

Hello John, thanks for the reply...I would appreciate your paint supplier details, and have you 'etch' primed first.

I have cleaned the hull panels with wire wool, just wondered if an 'etch' is needed on aluminium prior to undercoat/topcoat...like yourself I have decided to paint the Comet build as I progress.

I do not have spraying equipment, so I will be using aerosols.... Mick

[John Davie]

Hi Mick,

My supplier is http://auto-paint.co.uk/carpaint/index.php

Yes, I use an etch primer as the undercoat on aluminium, and usually on bare metal steel as well.

John

[robert michael hilton]

Thank you for the details John. I have looked at their website and will ring for an 'aerosol' made up to 'British Olive Drab'on Monday.

I guess 'Comet' builders will be looking for paint details over the coming months, with many variants appearing. I have decided to go for BS 298.

Look forward to seeing more of your excellent work....Mick

[David Skeldon]

Hi,
What colour do you plan to paint the tracks.




David

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Mick
Saw your posting on Johns post re paint

For getting Photo's onto your post see a posting I did last year on the use
of Photobucket(which is a free site)

Go To
Forum
Armortek Owners
Go to page 3 thats where it is at this moment.

Called

Photo Bucket for the computer challenged like "MOI"

Its easy when you have done a couple

Regards Phil

[robert michael hilton]

Thanks Phil, I will try Photobucket....any ideas on my paint problem.

I gave it some more thought yesterday, and wondered if I needed a car paint 'undercoat'. I am using etch primer...then directly on top an aerosol 'cellulose'....which is drying patchy, with lighter and darker area's .....regards mick

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Mick
I am using Hammerite Special Metal Primer which is an etch primer,then I use one or two coats of red oxide for an under coat,or a grey zinc primer
on the inside,because I am finishing that in silver aluminium.
So you might be right an under coat might sort your little problem out.
I am using acrylic as a finish because I got on well with it when I did my Panzer,its water based and I did the whole tank using an Iwata Air Brush.
I have only put one coat on my suspension arms at the moment but it went on real nice.
There are others using the same paint as you so I dont know whether they are using an under coat.
Cheers
Phil

[John Davie]

Hallo Mick,

I don't think an additional undercoat is the answer to your problem, although it's personal choice as to how many undercoats you want to put on.
I've not heard of this before as an issue with aerosols from this supplier.
My first thought would be that you haven't adequately 'mixed' the paint, ie not shaken long enough.
Mixed paint is made up from a number of colours that are put in the can in the appropriate proportions. When the paint is left to stand it will often separate out into some of these colours - this is seen quite easily in non-aerosols as when you open the tin the colour you see on top bears little relation to the true colour. These types of paint tend require more mixing than the fixed colours you get in Halfords etc.

John

[robert michael hilton]

Thanks for the advice chaps.

I need to think this paint issue through....I have tried an undercoat...the cellulose topcoat has improved....but still patchy.

I tried shaking the can....my arm nearly dropped off.

The paint 'guy' said it's the cold weather??...warm the paint.

Has anyone tried an 'acrylic' aerosol, olive drab?

It's not that much of a problem...I just like writing about the Comet. .....mick