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H39 Hotchkiss

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Bronco's H39 Hotchkiss is a very nice kit, but cane be improved with a little work in some areas during assembly, like fitting the tracks around the sprockets (going around the sprocket link by link, top to bottom gives best results and makes for an easier fit) as there are too few sprocket teeth in fact there should be 24 and the model only has 22.
Fixes for the kit
Interior fixes:
  • Suspension stations assembly, fits together ok, but the upper joining stubs are too Short on most parts and need to be extended with sheet styrene,
  • Deleted locating tabs on the vision port plates in the turret,
  • Added transmission belt to the engine pulleys.

Exterior fixes:
  • Hull/ final transmission armour parting line had to be repositioned some 2.5 mm to the rear, previous line was filled with stretched sprue and sanded smooth, after tracing new line,
  • Cast texture was added using liquid styrene glue technique,
  • Fender front supportshad also be moved 2.5 mm to the rear,
  • Added plastic bolt heads to pickaxe brackets,
  • Muffler was completely redone using kits part body as a base,
  • -Stowage tray on the trench crossing device had its front and rear edge lowered by about 2.5 mm to match its appearance in the photos,

Painting
Superstructure was primed with Humbrol 33, base coat is the Vallejo ModelColor olive drab and red brown stripes are mixed from red and OD acrylic paint. I did a little fading on the camo but it's really subtle. Detail painting was done with Vallejo and GW acrylics. Weathering consisted of artist oil filter and dusting was done with MIG pigment called European dust. My Hotchkiss was eventually put on a base with Infantry tanker beside the machine. I am well aware that the tank is a cavalry one and as such should be accompanied by a Cavalry tanker, but since there are no such figures on the market as far as I know, he has to "watch" the tank until someone actually sculpts appropriate figure.
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About the Author

About Grzegorz Zięcina (Pedro)
FROM: WOJEWODZTWO POMORSKIE, POLAND

I was born in 1982. Since then I live in my beloved city, Gdynia. I got my first model when I was six. I mostly build 1:35 aromor and softskins and 1:24/25 cars. Although thats not a rule...:) I studied Industrial Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, and received a Master Degree ...


Comments

Beautiful, crisp painting very straight forward. Figure is great. This display drives me to buy this kit. Bravo!
JAN 23, 2010 - 02:48 AM
Thanks for posting this Keith! Aaron, thank you for your kind words, I'm kinda glad my rendition drives you to get this kit Cheers Greg
JAN 24, 2010 - 11:33 AM
Very nice Grzegorz. Built this myself a while back and had the same issues. Your figure is amazing ... love shading on his uniform.
JAN 24, 2010 - 11:50 AM
Hi, Really enjoyed the short article and the build looks great. Excellent work. Al
JAN 24, 2010 - 12:16 PM
Turned out looking excellent.
JAN 24, 2010 - 02:53 PM
Grzegorz, which one from Broncos H39 Hotchkiss did you use? The first CB35001 or the later corrected kit cb35019? Thanks
JAN 24, 2010 - 06:19 PM
Thanks for the kudos guys! Tom, this is the first CB35001, in the latter you also get (apart from some retooled parts) small PE fret and parts for H38 and german cupola AFAIK. Cheers Greg
JAN 25, 2010 - 11:13 AM
Sweet ! and i also would say;PHAT (fat) AN American phrase meaning very good you get a A+ on your report card now go show it off and bragg! sorry for the spelling and all always Brock Beckstedt of Norfolk,Virginia 1/35 scale diorama builder and a student of the arts "Always Improving"
FEB 05, 2010 - 07:47 AM