Hello fellow forum members,

I was wanting to continue researching on the internet for a new modelling project I wanted to do.
But I didn't really know how to get into the finer details off the subject.
I already did some general research on simple searching queries, such as 'French tanks of World War II'.
And I also have red Tankarchives articles about the subject.
And tanks encyclopedia as well.
Now I'm a little bit out off good sources if you ask me.
So my question is, could you help me with improving my research skills on the internet/computer to gather more information for my project research?

I have found good results from searching within specialist sites like Armorama, Missing Links and Track Link. In addition to shorter threads discussing particular aspects of a vehicle I'm interested in, often I'll come up with an extended build log incorporating significant, highly focused research. Whatever I find, careful reading of a thread or blog often provides references to other sources I've been unaware of.

Best of luck!

Another valuable source I neglected to mention, Perth Military Modelling Site. The kit reviews are the best in the business and often at the end include reference sources.

Hi
This build might be of interest, in 1/16th - https://www.rctankwarfare.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=28935 -

Mal

If you are looking for photographs and technical stuff, do numerous and slightly-varied Google searches around the specific tank in question.

I would suggest trying "Somua S-35", "Somua 35", Somua light tank", "French Somua 35", "Somua S-35 in German service", "Somua tanks in 1940", "French light tanks in 1940", "armament used on French Somua 35", "Interior of the Somua 35", "Design of Somua 35", and various other slightly-varied lines. Computer searches are of course "extremely literate" and tiny differences in spelling, add-on words, etc. will yield different things. The key may be to incorporate "modifiers" in the searches - "Somua 35" yields one set of data, add in "in 1940" increases and alters the results-yield.

And, when you do get to the images, opening selected images on that page very often leads to other related images which you may not find in any one of your actual entered searches... For example, you could Google "Somua 35 tank" and get say 100 images of mostly-related stuff. Click on one of those, and you can access an entire NEW search-line based on exploring the related pics you'll get when you click on the one. It's a maze of rabbit holes!

And you can also in any of those searches toggle between "images" and "all" - where the "all" brings up lists of associated sites, articles, references, etc.

This process of doing numerous slightly-varied searches around any identified subject WILL lead to an astonishing and replete "data-dump" about whatever you are looking at.

Assuming that what you most want is photos, there is no way any 1 or many pubs beats what you can access on the 'net and web if you work your searches! Yes, some pub WILL have some pics that you won't see on the screen... But you'll need to get that pub in hand to see those, so...!

Search and ENJOY!

Cheers! Bob

PS: Do bear in mind that photos of builds are exactly that. They are NOT records of the "real thing". While many builds are certainly inspirational in terms of what comes from a kit plus work and talent, what we see in builds can always incorporate the builder's perspective, knowledge, belief, and WISHES. So treat them as BUILDS and NOT "historical records".

Sometimes it helps to Google in the "native" language of the tank(use Google translate), fe French with the Somua, Russian with the T-34, etc. Because original documents will be published in the native language.
Also a lot of discussion has popped up on Facebook, so it helps to search there as well.

I tend to use Google image search, instead of the regular search.

For all things French, this site is very good:
http://www.chars-francais.net/2015/index.php

Do you already have a kit?

100% agree

For the Somua S-35, you can also check out French modelling websites like Maquette Garden :

http://maquettegarden.free.fr/Vehicules/Somua/index.xml

or Maquetland :

http://www.maquetland.com/phototheque/1-maquettank/7-france

You can also try to lay your hands on late Pascal Danjou's book :



H.P.

The Chieftain has a 2 part video on his YouTube page. No stills but a real nice tour of the exterior and interior.