My father testified at the War Crimes Tribune at Rabaul while he was there he bought a new Jeep from a disposal yard wrapped in greasy paper for £5 He was arranging with a ship's captain bring it back to Australia but the ship had to sail before the Jeep could be delivered to the harbour and it was left on wharf 🥺
My Dad was a Sgt in the Scots Greys during the late 40s into the early 60s. He trained on Comets, then onto the new Centurion. At the end of his service he was permanent staff at the Glasgow Yeomanry (Comets). My parents lived in Glasgow. He went to work one Saturday morning, which happened to be a football derby match day Rangers v Celtic. One of the Comets went down with an electrical fault so they decided to drive the Comet across the city (now early afternoon) to the maintenance depot. My old man was driving, and stopped at a real busy Policeman controlled juntion in the city centre, lanes from multiple directions, My old man was working hard to not crunch anything. The Policeman turned toward the tank stood at the lights and waved it to move off, the old man slipped the clutch and off they went toward the Cop, as they got closer he stuck his white gloved hand up in the air and stopped the tank. Old man takes a breath thinking wtf have I done. The enormous Policeman walks across to the static tank with my Dads face poking through the drivers hatch and says with a smile "Are ye going to the match". True story which I share whenever I see the perfectly round hatch of a Comet.
I find it funny that I bumped into Adam at michael woods services getting my morning coffee, had a nice chat with him and showed him pictures of my Grandads Comet he drove when in Korea, really hope to see a Comet on this Channel.. keep the good work going!
My dad served in Korea and he always said these tanks were a life saver for his men and he could always rely on the tanker boys to always have a hot brew going and a sarnie and he was grateful for the help of the men who got these iron beasts to places the yanks only dreamed of getting their tanks to I hope that this old girl will one day rumble to life cheers
Great airbrush work on The Band Of Brothers truck! When you come Down Under and find an old tank in the bush like that expect it to be full of things that will bite, sting or eat you!
At 2:32 on top of the tracks these are WW1 barbed wire pickets from the battlefields in France. They used to have barbed wire threaded through the loops on the Somme etc trenches.
They are certainly of that type but they were also widely used in agriculture too in the decades after WW1 and probably into WW2. It is entirely possible that they are from the range where the Comet was used for target practice.
@@yorkshirewanderer9957 That is true but the farmyard ones were reused from the wartime leftover ones. These are exactly the same as the WW1 ones. Also they are stored ontop of the tank , hence the owner seemed to keep them with a military item for storage.. maybe the old owner knew what they were hence he stored them on the tank. The corkscrew bases are identical to the wartime ones. They did use these in France as fence posts even today they are still used. But they originated from the Battlefield and were repurposed after the war.
Going to watch this Comet with interest as my father did his national service in 1947 with 4RTR in Palestine and Libya as radio operator in the command tank. Mind you, he didn't have trees growing in his or so much ventilation! Good luck!
No fingers & limbs were lost in the production of this episode. I am truly amazed at the level of OHS equipment used in the recovery of the vehicle. I imagine there will be collectors and restorers calling Mr. Hewes checking to see if there is a spare Thingy or a Wiggett to be had. Of course, the tracks look like they might have some life in them. Cheers and looking forward to the ongoing story of the "Comet"
Poor little Comet, a much maligned tank. It may be in a state, but still fighting for it's independence. Can't wait to see this restored to running - although that is one hell of a job!!
Once, while loading a disabled dozer, I put a snatch block in the crane hook and ran the winch cable over it. I was able to lift some of the weight and slew the crane left or right to guide it. Just don't overstress your slew gear! Great vid and good luck!
I'm so impressed by the transformation! From rusty relic to roaring beast, this tank is giving me all the feels. You guys are the real MVPs of restoration 😄
This reminds me of the what the gate guard at IWM Duxford looked like before the many months of work of rebuilding it from two range hard targets many years ago.
Just thought would pass this on, sure some people in the UK tank preservation scene may have known him , Frank shaw passed away week or two back,ex Reme, made last month's of ww2 , know he did a lot of work on Shermans, made 95 years ..
It was good to put a face to your name at We have ways last month. You certainly needed Ways, and the Means with this one! Quite a Project, but Worthy and proper Rarity. Loved the optimism shown when stated " Throw an Engine in her and Srive it out"!
That looks like a job for Oz Armour! At least we now understand why tank transporter trailers have such a generous flatbed and the Foden Fan Club gains loads more members.
Have you thought about doing a dual lift from the sides with the Foden and the Merc (like how you set the Foden up to get it off the trailer)? Once lifted you drive the float under the tank and lower it on the trailer. We do this all the time with large earth moving gear.
This Channel brings back many memories. Many years ago while sitting in my office I got a call from the RSM. He says the engineers are clearing an area for a new construction. They find a tank in pieces. I'm asked to check it out to see if its worth saving. It is bad and not very much of it is left. I'm told it was a target tank. I do my best to identify it and my best guess from what was left it was a Comet. As far as I know Canada did not have the Comet. If that is true and this was a Comet then how did this tank end up in Canada. From what I see here this Comet has more of a chance to be restored than the one found in Canada. If you are restoring then I am looking forward to it. If the Austrailians can do these kind of restorations I am hoping you can as well. But I do understand if you take a pass.
I've sent my share of ordinance into classic military vehicles downrange (especially gratifying was dropping 40mm HE into the TC hatch of an M114 from 250 meters). It's amazing this Comet held together well enough to make it off the range after the pasting it obviously received. Hopefully you guys can look up its service history!
Said in NerdSpeak: "Well of course you know what your problem was ....." Yes we do. Ted wasn't supervising... But better to try and fail than never to try.
The Comet must be a fan of the show - clearly it wants to roll on the truck and get to the workshop. Looks like we are all going to see how good the team is at welding :-)
Hey ive seen like 2 of these in Finland! The parola museum has 2 old finnish service comets, one in prestine condition and the other a former range target
That was really interesting and a new challenge. To find out that there are these iconic vehicles hidden around the farms is so important before they rot! Interesting days ahead!
I love the Foden!!! She is beautiful, especially with that great lump of steel on the front of it. I could foresee problems with the width while it was sideways, and as to the "supports" on the side, don't think pine was a good decision. Maybe if you had some old Oak, that might have helped, best of all steel bed on trailer.
Bushes and trees on a tank used for camouflage, how original. That tank was nearly invisible till they cut the bush away. Did you save any of those branches for Ted?
You're going to need a few spools of MIG wire for that one! 😂😂 Looks like it has been given the good news with 30mm RARDEN? Anybody know how wide the sub calibre projectiles are on those?
Jack cutting them massive trees down. Or twigs to the rest of us. That is going to be by far the most demanding and most rewarding project. Not going to be an off the shelf repair either I reckon 😂
I have done a little bit of winching. If possible you could reverse as close to the casualty vehicle put the winch in free spool, pull a bit out by hand then hook up and drive the Foden to your optimum winching spot with the drum still in free spool. Saves a bit of cable wrestling. Unless you like the exercise/sport of someone dragging the hook around. Just a thought.
That will be a breeze fir you guys to put back together, a bit of elbow grease and so e polish and hey presto it will be done, good luck with the restoration, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia, Les
Win a Jeep for £5 ! Who knows Ted might deliver it 🤣
I'm betting that hulk is around 30-32 tons.
I wouldn't have anywhere to keep it!
Just seen on aus armour workshop Wednesdays the "I identify as a foden" on the back of a forklift pushing the rustaration m3 grant😂
My father testified at the War Crimes Tribune at Rabaul while he was there he bought a new Jeep from a disposal yard wrapped in greasy paper for £5
He was arranging with a ship's captain bring it back to Australia but the ship had to sail before the Jeep could be delivered to the harbour and it was left on wharf 🥺
Brought two tickets, but only for Ted.
With actual trees growning in it, this tank wins the award for best camouflage
Greta Thunberg likes this tank
@@sideshowrod1312
Yes , I’ve nominated it for a“Woody” award !
It wasn’t that good, they found it.
If it had bushes growing on it, it would be good for the D point.
Those Australian armor grants had literal forests growing
My Dad was a Sgt in the Scots Greys during the late 40s into the early 60s. He trained on Comets, then onto the new Centurion. At the end of his service he was permanent staff at the Glasgow Yeomanry (Comets). My parents lived in Glasgow. He went to work one Saturday morning, which happened to be a football derby match day Rangers v Celtic. One of the Comets went down with an electrical fault so they decided to drive the Comet across the city (now early afternoon) to the maintenance depot. My old man was driving, and stopped at a real busy Policeman controlled juntion in the city centre, lanes from multiple directions, My old man was working hard to not crunch anything. The Policeman turned toward the tank stood at the lights and waved it to move off, the old man slipped the clutch and off they went toward the Cop, as they got closer he stuck his white gloved hand up in the air and stopped the tank. Old man takes a breath thinking wtf have I done. The enormous Policeman walks across to the static tank with my Dads face poking through the drivers hatch and says with a smile "Are ye going to the match". True story which I share whenever I see the perfectly round hatch of a Comet.
That is a great story, thanks for telling it.
A cool story indeed 😎 thanks for sharing this 👍
@ibana8449 I really like your story. It makes me feel curious and excited after watching the entire video
Ah!! Memories of Rangers vs Celtic (orange vs green) matches played in Dundee!!
Sooo good story!
That poor Comet spent YEARS developing all that camouflage, then Jack destroyed it all with his mighty/mini tool!
I find it funny that I bumped into Adam at michael woods services getting my morning coffee, had a nice chat with him and showed him pictures of my Grandads Comet he drove when in Korea, really hope to see a Comet on this Channel.. keep the good work going!
Nice daf !
@@AdamBest1920 it’s my poor man’s Foden! 😂
@@AdamBest1920 better than my brothers Volvo?
My dad served in Korea and he always said these tanks were a life saver for his men and he could always rely on the tanker boys to always have a hot brew going and a sarnie and he was grateful for the help of the men who got these iron beasts to places the yanks only dreamed of getting their tanks to I hope that this old girl will one day rumble to life cheers
Ahhh I the Volvo is definitely a step up 😂
Wow a Comet! Please restore it! one of the most handsome WW2 British tanks
i thought it was a Cromwell at first glace, thats my bad cause the barrel was shot off
Too wide for a cromwell surely? @natethet4nk478
The mantlet is the giveaway that it's a Comet
Probably the best ww2 British tank
@@iatsd And the return rollers.
Great airbrush work on The Band Of Brothers truck! When you come Down Under and find an old tank in the bush like that expect it to be full of things that will bite, sting or eat you!
Was about to comment, about the cabs detail. It's just stunning.
so illegal chinese immigrants?
You actually listened to the UA-cam comment saying you should do a Comet next. Props to that!
That Foden is a beast.
At 2:32 on top of the tracks these are WW1 barbed wire pickets from the battlefields in France. They used to have barbed wire threaded through the loops on the Somme etc trenches.
They are certainly of that type but they were also widely used in agriculture too in the decades after WW1 and probably into WW2. It is entirely possible that they are from the range where the Comet was used for target practice.
@@yorkshirewanderer9957
That is true but the farmyard ones were reused from the wartime leftover ones. These are exactly the same as the WW1 ones. Also they are stored ontop of the tank , hence the owner seemed to keep them with a military item for storage.. maybe the old owner knew what they were hence he stored them on the tank. The corkscrew bases are identical to the wartime ones. They did use these in France as fence posts even today they are still used. But they originated from the Battlefield and were repurposed after the war.
Ooh yes, i got one of them, its in my kitchen.
Given the size of the corkscrew,exactly just how large are your wine bottles ?@@chascarpenter5006
@@chascarpenter5006 😅 Red or White?
Some filing and a lick of paint, it will be right as rain.
Caulk and paint can fix what ain’t 😉
Maybe a bit of WD40 for the rear sprocket, just a splatter is needed.
Don’t overdo it, most of that will buff out with some T-Cut…
Handful of cable ties, a tube of RTV and she'll be good to go.
Love that Foden, what a work horse. It dosen't even seem to break sweat , just pulls.
Time to place a bulk order for JB-Weld, get them holes filled.
Hes clearly got a hankering for a fully lightened racing tank, like the Grant collinder at the show ..😉
Leave the external holes and make good internally , how cool would that be !
ayo
@@anthonymurphy2806 I like the holes. Perfect tanks number in the thousands, but proper messed up ones are rare :o)
Nah - Ventilation innit.... leave it be.
Going to watch this Comet with interest as my father did his national service in 1947 with 4RTR in Palestine and Libya as radio operator in the command tank. Mind you, he didn't have trees growing in his or so much ventilation! Good luck!
It would look cool if you guys made a ghost tank out of this one. Get it up and running, leave the holes and some of the plants on it.
That's yer problem.....got no fuel in it! Mighty Foden strikes again!Great vid as always.
Jack was spot on when he said the Foden would pull it on tickover, to be fair it could have gone a lot worse 😂, thank the lord for remote control
Before you get inside it use a Geiger counter, looks like the holes were made by 20 mm DU shells.
No fingers & limbs were lost in the production of this episode. I am truly amazed at the level of OHS equipment used in the recovery of the vehicle. I imagine there will be collectors and restorers calling Mr. Hewes checking to see if there is a spare Thingy or a Wiggett to be had. Of course, the tracks look like they might have some life in them. Cheers and looking forward to the ongoing story of the "Comet"
You are right that its more than 20t, fully loaded it should weigh a touch under 34t, so minus powertrain and everything else its likely north of 25t.
That hand-held micro chainsaw looks like a full-size one in Jack's hands!!! 😀
You know what they say about small hands 😉
I bet jack really appreciates idiotic comments from merchant bankers like you
@@Vtarngpb our shlongs are bigger 😂 (they arent they just look bigger)
Let’s gooooo love a good Foden recovery. I had never heard of them before this channel. It is a unit
Poor little Comet, a much maligned tank. It may be in a state, but still fighting for it's independence. Can't wait to see this restored to running - although that is one hell of a job!!
Jack is the pinnacle of compact manliness .
Pintsized Alpha King
Once, while loading a disabled dozer, I put a snatch block in the crane hook and ran the winch cable over it. I was able to lift some of the weight and slew the crane left or right to guide it. Just don't overstress your slew gear! Great vid and good luck!
No sweat! Success is built on failure. Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. Etc. Etc. Great video!!!
I'm so impressed by the transformation! From rusty relic to roaring beast, this tank is giving me all the feels. You guys are the real MVPs of restoration 😄
This reminds me of the what the gate guard at IWM Duxford looked like before the many months of work of rebuilding it from two range hard targets many years ago.
I've watched many a recovery video... but this is the firsy time I've seen a hedge reccovered.
Brilliant camouflage,
Looks like it grew there.
Really looks like a fantastic way to spend a sunny day.. amazing condition of the rubber components
No Ted on site overseeing proceedings that was your mistake 😅😂 Great video, thanks
I agree was going to say the same Ted would have sorted that little problem no trouble😂😂Malc uk 🇬🇧
There is tank auction in Finland this year. Comets and Chariotees on sale with working guns.
Interesting 🤔.
Nice early type 1A, without the fishtail exhaust ports, Ted will be pleased!
Love the scanies paint job, band of brothers was ace!
Just thought would pass this on, sure some people in the UK tank preservation scene may have known him , Frank shaw passed away week or two back,ex Reme, made last month's of ww2 , know he did a lot of work on Shermans, made 95 years ..
Watching the Foden Recovery Vehicle in action is always a cool thing to watch!!
Only just starting watching the vid, so no comment yet, but just wanted to say that that Kaleo album was an absolute gem.
A/B. Cracking album indeed.
🙌🏻
It was good to put a face to your name at We have ways last month. You certainly needed Ways, and the Means with this one!
Quite a Project, but Worthy and proper Rarity.
Loved the optimism shown when stated " Throw an Engine in her and Srive it out"!
That looks like a job for Oz Armour!
At least we now understand why tank transporter trailers have such a generous flatbed and the Foden Fan Club gains loads more members.
Ron would have it stripped in a day and upside down to replace the missing parts. Or at least on a Grant!
It is amazing how you still find gems like these.
An actual WW2 Tank. Looks rough now, but not impossible to at least get it into display condition.
the Foden sounds mint purring in the back ground
The Foden is an absolute beast! Love that thing.
That Foden is beautiful.
Ted must be really chuffed with the new "project"
And the mighty Foden shines once again 👍
Splendid video. Foden never fails to impress.
Have you thought about doing a dual lift from the sides with the Foden and the Merc (like how you set the Foden up to get it off the trailer)?
Once lifted you drive the float under the tank and lower it on the trailer. We do this all the time with large earth moving gear.
This Channel brings back many memories. Many years ago while sitting in my office I got a call from the RSM. He says the engineers are clearing an area for a new construction. They find a tank in pieces. I'm asked to check it out to see if its worth saving. It is bad and not very much of it is left. I'm told it was a target tank. I do my best to identify it and my best guess from what was left it was a Comet. As far as I know Canada did not have the Comet. If that is true and this was a Comet then how did this tank end up in Canada. From what I see here this Comet has more of a chance to be restored than the one found in Canada. If you are restoring then I am looking forward to it. If the Austrailians can do these kind of restorations I am hoping you can as well. But I do understand if you take a pass.
Not a fail mate……a learning curve. Great video all the same, keep doing what you guys and gal do.
Blessings from the land down under ❤🇦🇺
The Foden Recovery truck is a total beast....
I just have to a comment. My First Observation being that you have..."Such an Ordinary" kind of Profession...Truly Amazing Recovery
Got to agree, that Foden is an absolute beast
I always felt that I was too dumb and slipshod to do armoured vehicle recovery. This video makes me think I worry too much. Thanks Chaps!
Surely most will buff out. The Hewes team can fix anything, HMS Hood next?
When my big brother Roderick bought a Tamiya (I think) Chieftain tank for my little brother Peter in the early seventies I fell in love with tanks!
Tell grumpy that it's not a waste of time you are preserving history😊
"let's get cracking" - you've been watching The Pethericks channel.
A challenging project to add to your To Do list 😎😎
Thanks + pleased the Comet will be saved.
Comments#867: Good video 4K quality. I can even see the dirt on the front windshield of the truck or Laurie keep up the good work.
More holes than a second hand dartboard!
Will be interesting this one.
I've sent my share of ordinance into classic military vehicles downrange (especially gratifying was dropping 40mm HE into the TC hatch of an M114 from 250 meters). It's amazing this Comet held together well enough to make it off the range after the pasting it obviously received. Hopefully you guys can look up its service history!
Said in NerdSpeak:
"Well of course you know what your problem was ....."
Yes we do. Ted wasn't supervising...
But better to try and fail than never to try.
Always a pleasure! Thank you for sharing.
Getting some food ready to watch this one, cheers lads.👍
Always liked the Comet ever since I build the Matchbox model in 1975.
I would actually pay good money to see Hewes and Jack absolutely lose their marbles trying to restore something this far-gone
The Comet must be a fan of the show - clearly it wants to roll on the truck and get to the workshop. Looks like we are all going to see how good the team is at welding :-)
Hey ive seen like 2 of these in Finland! The parola museum has 2 old finnish service comets, one in prestine condition and the other a former range target
Is that James May’s jumper? 😂
Nice new camera. The crispness, the clarity is excellent. Respect.
You are now dealing with a old favourite of mine Mr Hewes... very little left though, most of them were abused after the war.
great video - as always. Thanks for posting. The comet is an amazing tank - just needs a bit of filler, bodge tape and, perhaps, super glue?
Comet ' i like it here i'm staying ' ... Foden ( on tick-over ) ' nope , you're coming with me ' .. trailer .. aye ok , but we'll be back soon '
That was really interesting and a new challenge. To find out that there are these iconic vehicles hidden around the farms is so important before they rot! Interesting days ahead!
That regular Paul Banyan from 7:19 on cracks me up with his "powertool". :D
Paul Bunyan. I’m from Minnesota.
@@tomkelly6216 I'm not.
To be fair to Jack, to him they were mighty oak trees. The comet only needs a bit of a rub down & paint & it'll be running by next week.
Yesssss some ww2 gems
I don't do 'tanks' but fully concur with your assessment 'that don't look healthy'
That cordless chain saw looks like it could do with a new blade
This may be my favourite recovery so far top man !
Them bullet holes tell hell of a story
They look a bit big for bullet holes. .50 cal at least, or maybe even 66mm sub-calibre training ammunition
I love the Foden!!! She is beautiful, especially with that great lump of steel on the front of it. I could foresee problems with the width while it was sideways, and as to the "supports" on the side, don't think pine was a good decision. Maybe if you had some old Oak, that might have helped, best of all steel bed on trailer.
Gotta admit I was a tad disappointed when you didn't whip out a jump pack and say "will it start?"
That Foden is xxxxing amazing bit of kit!
That cost you 20 grand in welding rods to plug all the bullet holes 😂
Bushes and trees on a tank used for camouflage, how original. That tank was nearly invisible till they cut the bush away. Did you save any of those branches for Ted?
from a concreet chief to a tree comet they do it all
I love the optimism that those white wood boards would be of help.
You're going to need a few spools of MIG wire for that one! 😂😂 Looks like it has been given the good news with 30mm RARDEN? Anybody know how wide the sub calibre projectiles are on those?
Stainless steel MIG wire if it’s a cast hull…
Respect to you lads for all the hard work you do 👍
I hope you leave as much damage as is practical, very cool unit.
The damage was inflicted on a range... no wartime holes in it.
Yes another great vid from Joe
Keep em coming mate we will watch them all
first
Many of the first will be last.
There’s no prizes
Amazing video! Comet is hands down my favourite british tank!
you guys use the same gloves I do when working w wire rope!!!! love yer channel n that semi is rad! cheers from Santa Cruz cali
Jack cutting them massive trees down. Or twigs to the rest of us.
That is going to be by far the most demanding and most rewarding project. Not going to be an off the shelf repair either I reckon 😂
Great video as usual but a cruel tease because I’d love to see you restoring a Cromwell or a Comet. OMG you are restoring it!
I have done a little bit of winching. If possible you could reverse as close to the casualty vehicle put the winch in free spool, pull a bit out by hand then hook up and drive the Foden to your optimum winching spot with the drum still in free spool. Saves a bit of cable wrestling. Unless you like the exercise/sport of someone dragging the hook around. Just a thought.
The free spool needs fixing apparently.
Still needs fixing 🤣
Looks like a Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E! Great find!
Its a comet
That will be a breeze fir you guys to put back together, a bit of elbow grease and so e polish and hey presto it will be done, good luck with the restoration, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia, Les