This is my attempt to replicate one of the more unusual camouflage patterns of WW II. The French tested the pattern on one vehicle before deeming it unsuitable for use.











And this is the original:

Wow.
Congratulations for the effort.

Nice Effort, I like the different scheme!

Very cool work on the camo.

Very nice job on an intricate and interesting camoflage.

Wow, that is very cool! Congrats on a very nice, unusual build.

Gary

Many thanks for the kind words, everyone.

The basic Tamiya kit was modified a little with the addition of the upper sponson rivets, metal barrels, and cast textures on the turret and mantlet. I also opened up the mud chutes and added the deflectors, added the pigtail on the mantlet, ran the antenna wire, and drilled out the pin holes in the jack stands.

To be honest, the camo pattern scared the heck out of me. After laying down the base green, it took me over 3 weeks to screw up the nerves before the first bit of yellow was laid down. In keeping with the original picture, I only lightly weathered it. That worked out well because I really didn't want to cover the paint work up with a lot of washes and dirt.

Fantastique! This has to be the most difficult of french camo schemes to depict in model and yours is best I´ve seen. Gongratulations for a job well done!

Very Cool! Not to mention, unusual. Congrats. Al

Wow!!!!

Excellent work and camo

Regards from the South
Alvaro

What a wonderful model! I can't imagine how this scheme could have failed in the field if the field looked like it. It might stand out in a green field though . . .

How did you do it? Is it all hand painted?

Quite impressive. Well executed.

Spectacular.

Quite unique -- thanks for sharing!

Stunning camouflage work.

Thanks to all of you who took the time to comment on my effort. They are truly appreciated.

Veli-Matti - I totally agree with your difficulty assessment. It was a hard one to pull off, especially given the lack of info on it. I only found four pictures of it (2 during tests and 2 after it had been knocked out).

Paul - The problem wasn't so much the design as it was the application. The paint used had cloth flocking mixed into it (I assume for texture). Unfortunately, it made the paint very susceptible to damage. That was the reason they failed it. Even with the poor test results, the paint remained on the vehicle until it was knocked out in combat, as seen in this photo found on the Char Francais web site:


My rendition was done with both airbrush, and by hand. The initial base of green was airbrushed.


The yellow was applied by sponge, and the trees were done with a brush.

Super cool paint job

That's great!! Amazing skills!

That's pretty cool. Looks like the French army hired Monet to design their camo patterns

Thanks guys!

Excellent paint job.

Wow. Nice work.

Did you by chance have this at the IPMS Richmond show this weekend?

Appreciate your comments, guys.

DV, yes, it was at Richmond yesterday. I was a little disappointed it didn't do anything, but I will admit competition in the category was stiff. There were a lot of good models on the tables.