Hi-
I got hold of the Heller 1/35 Pzkpfw 35H recently, and as I'm not too interested in making German armour I was wondering whether the kit can be built as French OOB. There are certainly two French tankers included so I would guess that the answer is that it can, but would appreciate any suggestions/ tweaks that are required. Any websites with good reference pics apart from chars-francais?
Thanks
MC

Apart from the markings, its a straight re-box of the French version. Maybe Heller thought putting crosses on it would sell. I've got both and the parts are the same.

Somewhere on Chars Francais are some tweaks (in French of course) they may be on the 39H page, check 'La Maquette' on the page to find them. For the turret, there are some nice engineering drawings on the 35R page.

The main things that need doing are widening the trackguards and increasing the the ground clearance. Chars Francais gives some drawings and measurements.

Cheers for the info- I had a feeling that they'd be the same.
I looked at la Maquette page earlier but in a state of post-overindulgence it was a little imposing... think it's a translating job for my better half
Cars-francais is such a useful website!

Thanks again
MC

Hmm, it's a pity you hadn't got hold of the Trumpeter one or better still waited from the Bronco one....

This is one of the reviews for the Trump one:

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/trumpeter/tr00351.htm

That's most likely how one comes across the Heller 35(H). Someone with the older Heller kit gets the Trumpeter kit and passes the Heller kit on to a fellow modeler who is only moderately interested in the tank.

MC, I just got Trumpeter’s German Panzerjäger 39(H) mit 7.5cm PaK40/1 Marder I and have been doing some research, so here goes:

David is correct the Heller 1/35 PzKpfw 35H is a rebox of the French Hotchkiss H-35. You actually need to replace the cupola for the German PzKpfw 35H version (not included in the box.)

A build review of the Heller PzKpfw 35H is available here.





Chars-francais.net has excellent photos of the Hotchkiss H35 here

More info and photos here

Terry Ashley does a review (of the test shot) of the French H39 Hotchkiss tank (Bronco Models Kit No. 35001) over http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/bronco/cb35001.htm" TARGET="_blank">here.

Hope this helps

Ha ha, thanks Jim- I found these reviews earlier today before posting this thread... doh!
On the other hand the reason I ended up buying the Heller kit was because it was an ebay 'bargain' (£5.70 including postage).

Thanks Savage, that's great



Hmmm... ebay:-)

I started off the Trumpeter H38 with a good deal of enthusiasm, but it wore off after a while. It's not the quantum improvement that the 25+ year difference in production date would lead you to expect.

The ground clearance and mudguard width problems are addressed, but there are lots of little bits missing e.g. the lift hooks on the cupola and the engine cover hold-open lock release (actually not that little really).

The interior is odd, and doesn't match the interior shots on Chars Francais (there's the odd R35 shot thrown in amongst the set to confuse). And it doesn't fit together particularly well either.

The instructions for the turret are a little confusing, telling you cut chunks out of the mantlet for the short 37mm gun. This really refers to the external shields on the longer SA38 version. The trunnion mounting height is off too, this is specially obvious with the SA38.

Best use is as a kit bash with the Heller model, as the 35H and 39H have different road wheels as well as hull rears. Don't try and put the Heller driver on the Trumpeter driver's seat or you won't be able to get the upper hull on without serious surgery to the driver!

For a nice large scale Hotchkiss, see Steven Tegners wonderful model

http://www.militarymodelling.com/features/feature3/index.html

Roll on Bronco!

BTW if using the Heller figures, get the Hornet head set for French tank crew, they are a huge improvement.

Oh yes, forgot to say

My latest H35 was a £6.99 bargain from Kingkit, which is probably less than the first ones i bought back in the 80s

And if you are surfing for Hotchkiss pictures, beware using the tank in the IDF musuem at Latrun as a reference, it was restored using the Heller model as a guide :-)

Thanks for all the info guys- I'll give this one a go when the two campaigns I'm involved in finish.
It's reassuring to know that there's still life in the old Heller kit, apart from the tracks which seem pretty tragic...

That's a classic!!!

:-)

I'll be visiting Saumur in August so hopefully there'll be some decent pics to be had.