Hi all,

as the Battle of France is my interest I was wondering what 1/35 injected moulded kits were available of Allied subjects for this period.

I suppose I ought to list the kits I already know about to make things easier.

Tamiya Matilda II. ( Just completed fixing glacis plate width. While preparing for earlier turret details noticed turret seems way undersized and may have to build a new one. AAAArgh! There is not much right with this kit. It may get abandoned.)
Heller R35 ( Ordered Modelkasten track set )
Bronco H 39 (Just ordered from HLJ)
Heller Somua S35 ( Might wait for a better kit)
Tamiya Char B1 Bis
RPM Renault UE
RPM FT-17
MirageTRC Lorraine 37
Mirage Schneider 75mm cannon

Tamiya Daimler Dingo (needs backdating to mk 1 and a lot of work on suspension and other bits)
Tamiya Universal Carrier (needs backdating and new tracks)

Would anyone like to add to this list?

Cheers,
TimTam27

Some more for your list, mostly plastic:

Heller H35 (also has parts for the H39, but really only has the rubber-tyred wheels of the H35)

Trumpeter Hotchkisses - might need to buy both of them to make a decent H39 as the German version has a German modified cupola and the French one has the trench-crossing tail only fitted to long gun H39s.

The Somua isn't too bad with a new turret (Airedale) and tracks (Friuli), not great either

Alby/Dragon Panhard 178 AMD

There's more stuff here on the Azimut shop, look for Best Value Models for their Renault R40 for a start. And that's without heading into resin.

Azimut

For some building inspiration try this French language site, just look at the S35 and Panhard 178 articles!

Model35

All the best

David

Hi Drader.

Thanks for your list. I had forgotten about the Dragon/Al.By Panhard 178. Going by a quick search on the net it will be pretty hard to get nowadays. Remarkably modern looking armoured car though.

The work done by the guy on Model35 was pretty remarkable. Such a shame that all that detail work is mostly hidden once the kits are assembled.

I hope with the success of the Tamiya Char B1bis we get to see more Allied stuff from the early period although I doubt we will see too much early British armour though. Those early Crisers look great , I would love an injected kit of some of those. I can dream.

Cheers,
TimTam27

Greetings all,

On the same theme could the Mirage Vickers E Mk B and Mk A be used for the British. I have a feeling that the drivers hatch is on the wrong side but I remember reading somewhere that about 500 of these where taken over with the BEF but all were abondoned.

Any thoughts.

Cheers

Al

Hiya Al

AFAIK the Vickers 6-tonners were taken over after Dunkirk and used for training purposes only. The only Vickers tanks that went to France were lights, Marks VIB and VIC.

All the best

David

Hi David,

Greetings from far away. I don't suppose there is a plastic injection kit I haven't come across??? I think I remember seeing a resin one by AA.

It's hot here !!!!! I saw the Tamiya Char B1 on line here for 14 quid!!! Still trying to locate a decent model shop but it's a big city.

Cheers

Al

Hiya Al

It's only in the 20s here

Early-war British tanks in plastic??

I think Cromwell do/did a resin Mark VIB too, but plastic and 1/35th would be like asking for the moon. On a stick. With cherries on top. Although if Trumpeter could be persuaded we might be on to something.

All the best

David

the latest

Tamiya's new Char B 1 bis...... a jewel in injected plastic....

and if u want some soft skin....then accurates armor bedford truck.....but is a resin kit....but almost ready to built without any flashes....

Javier

Hi David,

Love the thump!!!.

Always living in hope. I like the look of the Vickers, 'Dapper little Vehicle' would be really useful for the early N Africa theatre also.

Yes, Trumipter would be the best hope.

I was looking at AA's Humber AC which I must get around to making. It's surprising how a smallish company like Accurate Armour can bring us not just one but four excellent new kits like the Lloyd carrier and yet the big boys give us so little.

Probably means it's time to email Dragon again!!!! :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Tempature is ranging beetween 30 and 34, humidity HIGH.

Cheers

Al

Hi Al

It's the humidity that does it... though digging in 35C heat, even with low humidity (France 2003) is on my list of 'don't really want to repeat' experiences.

Anyway back to ranting about lack of early-war non-German stuff and another emoticon I was looking for something in the spare room over the weekend and found my collection of unbuilt RPM Polish tankettes which has given me something to do once I've finished with the Char B1bis.

Maybe AA might think about doing the Guy armoured car which did make it over to France.

David

Hi David,

Have fun, another great emoticon. I was doing a bit of moaning about the New Warrior LVT Crew and their lack of any British figures for the LCs as well - must be the weather.

Cheers

Al :-) :-) :-) :-)

Hi Al,
Cromwell Models have brought out the Cruiser, Tank Mk 1 (A9),- once again, unfortunately in resin. *Dang!* Some were used by the 1st Armoured Division in France.

Is it possible that Tamiya, with the tough competition from DML and Trumpeter, are looking at starting a new market in non-German topics?? Visions of Infantry Tank, Mk I, Matilda I waddling into action...

Hi Jeff,

We can but live in hope, an early Vickers Light Tank and a MkI Matilda would do very nice to start with.

Who knows, you might well be right, there is certainely a big gap in the market and I believe a lot more interest in allied stuff than is given credit.

Cheers

Al