Here are some pics of my Titan 30 tons trailer and the first step of the MCL 5 Somua heavy tractor.

Thoses kits are form Des Kit (french brand).
This trailer and the heavy tractor were used for the B1 bis transport.
They were built from 1937 to 1940 and some of them were used by the german army after june 1940.










The figure is just temporary fixed with patafix for the photo. Don't look at the feet!


MCL 5 engine

The undercarriage is now over.

Some pics of this amazing model.

Very nice work Patrice. I look forward to seeing more.

Thank you Pat. I will put the pictures when the model will be completed.

Some pics of MCL5.

Some modifications were dones.









I'm still working on the canvas (scratchbuild). Next step ... painting!

I like it a lot. You show a lot of great techniques, from construction to paint to finishing.
Couple of things that struck me are the rust under the cables on the deck give me the impression that it hasn't been used in a long time. The rust would not be so localized if it’s a frequently used trailer. I would spread the rust out so it didn't match the shape of the cable.
The second thing is the top edge of the cylinder heads in engine. They look to ‘gray’, the gray the pieces are made of. I would add a bit more of the black(ish) color from lower on the engine.

Thx Scott.

As you say the cables on the deck give the impression that it hasn't been used in a long time. And that's what I was looking for. This is broken cables which stay here for a long time. The french army is 'conservator', still todays!

For the edge of the cylinder you are perfecly right. The painting is note over. It's just the first coat. I try to get a good first coat for shadows and highlights. it's the first step before 'metalization'.

I will show you others pictures when the painting will be ready with metalics effects like ont the trailer (edges) and on the sherman M4A2 'Lyautey' (pictures are in this forum 'my two cents euros M4A2 Sherman).
Thx for your comments Scott!

If non-use is what you're going for then you nailed it.
The tractor looks good, nice job on the hood. Don't cover too much up with the canvas.

Outstanding work, I love French Armour, I have eight driffent kits at the moment, I was going to buy the Somua a while back, just too many kits to get and the Somua is not cheap, anyway, I am in the military and I am around a lot of trailers and other Veh's, your rust on the cable is spot on, believe me, even a few days of rain and a day of sunshine would do this.

Ed

I really like the vehicle and trailer.
I love the looks of those between the wars/early war vehicles.

Thx all for your comments. I really appreciate them.

Scott I agree with you for the canvas. I'm scratching it for the moment and it will cover aproximatively 30% of the rear.

Eddie I was in the army too (french army of course in 1991 too 1997) and, as you, I saw the work of the rust on that kind of towing cables.

Dave, the french vehicles have a kind of 'oldies' look. In fact they where buid during the '30 when the war was evident. But the studies were done before usually during the '20 or in the first half of the '30.

As you know, war is à kind of technology accelerator ... and the frenche vehicles looks like oldies at the end of the war. But in fact if you compair the french vehicle to the german, the english or the US one at the same time ... they usually looks like oldies too.


The french vehicles were quiet goods (the english one were better) at the beginning of the war. Numerous of them were used during the war by germans troops. And some times the french vehicles were returne to the first owner in 1944!

I will show you the canvas when the putty will be hard.

Thx all again.

Excellent work!, congratulations Patrice

Regards, Alvaro

Thank you Alvaro

Here are some others pictures.

Some others pictures of the MCL5 with the canvas and the rear crane. Some modifications will be done for à 1940 model. Of course, the differents parts are not glued (waiting for painting) and some details will be glued just before painting (levers for example).

I like how you assemble the model in pieces, i.e. the cab, suspension and so on. Great work. Haven't done any French kits myself. Any ideas on my first?

Hey Mike.

What do you mean by 'french kit'? A 'french model' or a model of a french vehicle?

If you are looking for a 'french model' ... hhhmmmm ... the models of Heller are very poor! And there is no other french brand for plastic moulded models.
On an other hand you have some french craftman with a very high level. The best, as far as I'm concerned, is DES Kit. His resin models are really good and easy to built.
If you want to try the Des Kit, I would sugjest you another one than the MCL5 (a bit difficult to built). The simca 5 is pretty good, easy to built, and was used on all the fronts by the german army.

Some new pictures of my MCL5.
The engine is now over, and you can see the first steps for the cab.








The painting of the seat is not over of course.

I like the chipping. Good work

Glad I found this one again. The hood mods are great.

The engine compartment looks great. How about the rest of it? Looks great so far.

Thanks for your comments.

The cab is over now and I'm working on the tracks. There is a lot of details to highlight. I will put pictures of the next steps when I will begin the painting of the canvas.

Thanks again! I'm happy to see that you enjoy that kind of model.

Stunning job chipping on the cabin, looks uber realistic. How did you get that bare metal effect looking so realistic on the cab floor and around the door? I've tried in the past with graphite etc but never seem to get it looking like that.

Hi Dave,
It's not so difficult.
The paint base is a mix of Gunze Sangyo 405 olive green and 319 clear green.
Then I use 978 of prince August and I paint the edges.
At last, I use Prince august 822 over the spot of 978.
Then I use HB pencil.

I hope it will help you?

Still working on my MCL5...






Wheels on pogress ...






Very heavy painting job on the body of this model ... but a real pleasure to do it! What else?

Great job Patrice, can't wait to see it ALL come together...weathering is spot-on...