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Book Review
A34 Comet Photo Detail CD

by: John Murcutt [ JLMURC ]

Introduction
Like many modellers I have bookshelves groaning under the weight of a wide selection of reference materials, which, whilst having many pictures, never quite offer the detail that I require. Likewise the internet after a great deal of searching can offer a selection of photos, often dark and grainy, with insufficient clarity.
However, I was offered the opportunity by Vinnie Branigan, to examine and review a copy of Toadman’s CD, detailing the A34 Comet in clear photographs, giving a complete visual record that will allow any modeller to produce an accurate rendition of this tank.


Photo Detail Cd#14 – The A34 Comet
The CD presented itself professionally in a slimline jewel case, with printed insert giving the title on the front and a table of contents on the inside. The actual product CD is fully printed and labelled.
I also found a small sheet giving precise instructions about viewing the presentation on a MAC.


Table of Contents

- Introduction
- Turret Exterior
- Hull Exterior
- Suspension
- Turret Interior
- Hull Interior
When placed in my PC running windows XP, the CD auto-started and opened into a very user friendly browser, which allowed me to easily navigate through each section. All of the pictures are high definition, logically grouped and allowed me to easily find my way through the sections. The detail that is shown is stunning; I honestly don’t think that there can be many parts of the vehicle that Chris has not photographed, which together will please the most ardent enthusiast of armoured vehicles. Each of the pictures is individually captioned and the excellent flow means that you can easily work your way through and find the individual pictures that you desire. Having spent a couple of hours exploring the CD, I cannot think of any area of any real relevance that he may have missed.
Chris explains in the introduction that the vehicle was photographed at the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation [MVTF], Portola Valley in California, during a number of visits during this year 2006.
I would suggest that if you are building the new Comet by Bronco, or even just have an interest in this tank, you would be recommended to consider this presentation.


In conclusion
This is the first time that I have ventured into the world of using a CD as reference material and am impressed at the quality of Toadman’s presentation. Using the disc is simplicity in itself; the material contained is superb and as a bonus takes up far less space than printed reference material.

You can buy Toadman’s Tank Pictures directly from his website: - http://www.toadmanstankpictures.com

Thank you to Chris ‘Toadman’ Hughes for supplying the review sample
SUMMARY
With the release of the highly anticipated brand new model of the Comet tank in 1/35 scale, by Bronco, Chris ‘toadman’ Hughes has produced yet another of his excellent photo Cd’s. The Comet designed by Leyland in 1943 as a successor to the Cromwell, was built using all of the experience that had been gained in the battles of the Western Desert during 1941 and 1942, that showed that there was a need for a fast cruiser tank armed with a gun that could defeat German armour. For this purpose upon finding that the 17pdr would not fit into the turret, a highly modified version of that gun was fitted as the 77mm. This new weapon did however; use the same ammunition as the 17pdrUsing many of the same components as the Cromwell the first prototype was ready for February 1944 and after a period of redesign, production models were first delivered in September of the same year.The 11th Armoured Division was the first to receive this new tank in December 1944. With its late arrival on the battlefield it missed the major tank battles of the war, but went on to serve alongside the Centurion in Korea and remained in service with the British Army until 1958, when remaining vehicles were sold to foreign governments. These went on to see long service with the armies of other nations, South Africa being one.
  QUALITY OF PHOTOGRAPHS:95%
  PRESENTATION:95%
  EASE OF USE:95%
Percentage Rating
95%
  Scale: Other
  Mfg. ID: CD#14 A34 Comet
  Suggested Retail: $7.99 P&P
  PUBLISHED: Jul 10, 2006
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 92.00%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 94.00%

About John Murcutt (jlmurc)
FROM: ENGLAND - EAST ANGLIA, UNITED KINGDOM

A modeller since about the age of five. A number of years in the Royal Armoured Corps working on both Chieftain and the CVR[T] series did not manage to dent my love of all things armoured. I do build some aircraft and other distractions but get pulled back to German Vehicles due to the variation i...

Copyright ©2021 text by John Murcutt [ JLMURC ]. All rights reserved.


   
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