COMET AUTHENTICAST SHERMAN M4A3 U.S. MEDIUM TANK 1945-1950s 1:108 MILITARY MODEL

Description

COMET AUTHENTICAST “SHERMAN” M4A3 US MEDIUM TANK 1945-1950s 1:108. WOOD BLOCK NOT FOR SALE.
This U.S. American Model 5152 M4A3 “Sherman” or “Alligator” tank 5176 LVT (landing vehicle, open) “Alligator” is in very good condition. Details are sharp, with this steel toy collectible packing a punch, weighing almost 6 ounces in its miniature 2 x 1 x 1 inch size. It is in excellent condition with very few flecks of paint missing and sharp details. See photos.
Authenticast models were made by Comet Metal Products, a die-casting company founded by Abraham Slonim in Richmond Hills, NY in 1919. After producing many die-cast goods, Comet started making metal soldiers in the 1930s. In 1940, Comet copyrights the 'Brigadiers' brand for its first line of diecast toy soldiers. Comet tried to interest the U.S. government in using their models for identification purposes, but it was only after WWII began that Comet was commissioned by the U.S. military to manufacture identification models of ships, airplanes and military road vehicles. The military vehicles were cast to U.S. Government order at 1" = 9', thus 1/108 In 1945. Comet / Authenticast initially offered over 50 tanks and other military vehicle models from the U.S., Britain, Russia, Germany and Japan to the public. More models were developed. Comet’s catalog eventually lists about 75 military models in two scales, 1/108 and 1/36. Comet’s production ended in 1962.
Authenticast models are spincast, a centrifugal casting process developed in the 1930s. It allowed the maker to increase the level of detail (compared to die-cast models of the period). Comet named and patented the 'Authenticast' process to indicate the models’ accuracy. Spincasting requires a master model. Since Comet had access to the US plans as well as plans to British ships refitted in the US, the building plans were often used to make sister models. Once the master is created, it is placed between two rubber disks in a frame and then in a heating elements press. The disks are squeezed together and heated simultaneously. Squeezing forces heated rubber to flow around the master model while further heating hardens the rubber to about the same consistency as a tire. The disks turn into a mould. After they cool, they are separated, the master model is removed, and channels are carved from the center to the cavities. The mould is placed in a centrifugal casting machine where it is spun while molten metal is poured into it. Spinning causes the metal to flow through the channels into the cavities thus creating a model. The mould cools and minutes later the hot model can be removed from the mould.
WOOD DISPLAY BLOCK NOT FOR SALE!
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