French Heavy-weight Char B1 bis
If you have comments or questions, please post them here.
Thanks!
Hosted by Darren Baker
FEATURE
French Heavy-weight Char B1
wbill76
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 5,425 posts
Armorama: 4,659 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 10:00 AM UTC
Step by Step build and finishing Feature of Tamiya''s 1/35 French Battle Tank Char B1 bis combined with Echelon 37 eme BCC decals for "Marne" and Lionmarc replacement aluminum and brass barrels.
French Heavy-weight Char B1 bis
If you have comments or questions, please post them here.
Thanks!
French Heavy-weight Char B1 bis
If you have comments or questions, please post them here.
Thanks!
staff_Jim
Publisher
Joined: December 15, 2001
KitMaker: 12,571 posts
Armorama: 6,599 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 11:14 AM UTC
Bill,
An excellent article and also your first addition as an editor. Your right of passage is complete!
Keep up the good work.
Thanks,
Jim
An excellent article and also your first addition as an editor. Your right of passage is complete!
Keep up the good work.
Thanks,
Jim
james84
Joined: January 28, 2006
KitMaker: 1,368 posts
Armorama: 950 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 02:31 PM UTC
Fantastic!
jimbrae
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 03:36 PM UTC
Absolutely invaluable - thanks for posting that Bill..
wbill76
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 5,425 posts
Armorama: 4,659 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 08:52 PM UTC
Thanks jim, Jim R, and giacomo, much appreciated!
Plasticbattle
#003
Joined: May 14, 2002
KitMaker: 9,763 posts
Armorama: 7,444 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 03:57 AM UTC
Hi Bill. Great article, build, explanation and finished model. (Hopefully your new job allows you some time over, to complete more of these articles! ). They really are invaluable and enjoyable reading. Your hard work is really appreciated!! 
). They really are invaluable and enjoyable reading. Your hard work is really appreciated!! 
exer
Joined: November 27, 2004
KitMaker: 6,048 posts
Armorama: 4,619 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 04:08 AM UTC
Thanks Bill, I've been putting off buying this kit but you've made up my mind for me with this article, I'm buying it.
wbill76
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 5,425 posts
Armorama: 4,659 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 09:21 AM UTC
Frank,
Thanks as always, I'm sure the AE duties will cut in somewhat but I'll still be able to find time to keep things moving along, just perhaps not at the same pace as previously.
Pat,
It's a smooth build with just some minor tweaks here and there depending on how concerned you are about total accuracy but a thoroughly enjoyable kit IMHO either way.
Thanks as always, I'm sure the AE duties will cut in somewhat but I'll still be able to find time to keep things moving along, just perhaps not at the same pace as previously.
Pat,
It's a smooth build with just some minor tweaks here and there depending on how concerned you are about total accuracy but a thoroughly enjoyable kit IMHO either way.
SGTJKJ
#041
Joined: July 20, 2006
KitMaker: 10,069 posts
Armorama: 4,677 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 03:46 PM UTC
Great article. Good tips on painting the tracks.
Thanks for the time and effort put into this review.
Thanks for the time and effort put into this review.
trahe
Joined: April 03, 2006
KitMaker: 1,158 posts
Armorama: 950 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 04:05 PM UTC
Bill,
Thanks for the article. I will definitely reference it when building my Char.
Thanks for the article. I will definitely reference it when building my Char.
wbill76
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 5,425 posts
Armorama: 4,659 posts
Posted: Monday, March 12, 2007 - 01:00 AM UTC
Jesper, Thomas, thanks for the comments. 
biffa
Joined: September 07, 2005
KitMaker: 881 posts
Armorama: 826 posts
Posted: Monday, March 12, 2007 - 03:42 AM UTC
Great build and article Bill, i enjoyed following this one.
gbkirsch
Joined: June 04, 2005
KitMaker: 627 posts
Armorama: 455 posts
Posted: Monday, March 12, 2007 - 07:09 PM UTC
Very cool. Thanks...
JimF
Joined: July 05, 2002
KitMaker: 717 posts
Armorama: 621 posts
Posted: Monday, March 12, 2007 - 07:48 PM UTC
After reading (and enjoying greatly) your build article, my only regret is that I have already built mine...although it was a very quick and fun build, I'm sure it would have been much better had I been able to read your article first. 
jvazquez
Joined: September 26, 2006
KitMaker: 857 posts
Armorama: 811 posts
Posted: Monday, March 12, 2007 - 09:53 PM UTC
Bill VERY nice build! You did this baby justice!
One question, I'm interested in how you made your rusty track wash? What did you use and what was the ratio? I reallyn like the way it came out.
Thanks
Jim
One question, I'm interested in how you made your rusty track wash? What did you use and what was the ratio? I reallyn like the way it came out.
Thanks
Jim
wbill76
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 5,425 posts
Armorama: 4,659 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - 07:58 AM UTC
Ron, Gary, Jim, thanks for the comments!
My rusty wash is simple, 90% thinner, 10% paint more or less. Here's what it looks like when it's "settled" to give you an idea of the ratio. The thinner is cloudy because it picks up some of the Metalizer over time and that just adds a bit of "character" to it I guess. :-)
Quoted Text
Bill VERY nice build! You did this baby justice!
One question, I'm interested in how you made your rusty track wash? What did you use and what was the ratio? I reallyn like the way it came out.
Thanks
Jim
My rusty wash is simple, 90% thinner, 10% paint more or less. Here's what it looks like when it's "settled" to give you an idea of the ratio. The thinner is cloudy because it picks up some of the Metalizer over time and that just adds a bit of "character" to it I guess. :-)
sportsguy64
Joined: April 13, 2005
KitMaker: 18 posts
Armorama: 18 posts
Posted: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 - 04:04 AM UTC
Nice Bill...very nice - article and build...
Let me know what you think about mine!
Let me know what you think about mine!
M18Hellcat
Joined: December 31, 2005
KitMaker: 57 posts
Armorama: 55 posts
Posted: Friday, March 16, 2007 - 04:50 PM UTC
Outstanding article and beautiful paint job! One comment if I may... The jacks on the fenders should be secured with some type of retaining tie downs. They wouldn't just sit on the fenders. Also, I have never seen 4 of them mounted on one tank. The kit came with 4 simply because Tamiya included two identical sprues in the kit. More than 2 is redundant. They were used to jack up one side of the tank at a time. Don't know of any way they could raise the whole tank off the ground without a crane. My jack comments aside, best build article I've seen in a long time. I enjoyed it.
wbill76
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 5,425 posts
Armorama: 4,659 posts
Posted: Friday, March 16, 2007 - 10:04 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Outstanding article and beautiful paint job! One comment if I may... The jacks on the fenders should be secured with some type of retaining tie downs. They wouldn't just sit on the fenders. Also, I have never seen 4 of them mounted on one tank. The kit came with 4 simply because Tamiya included two identical sprues in the kit. More than 2 is redundant. They were used to jack up one side of the tank at a time. Don't know of any way they could raise the whole tank off the ground without a crane. My jack comments aside, best build article I've seen in a long time. I enjoyed it.
Bob,
Thanks for the comments, what you are saying makes sense in regards to the jack stands. The Tamiya instructions direct for all 4 to be installed and not knowing any better at the time, I followed along and installed them. In checking various reference photos since building this one, it's difficult to determine if there was in fact any sort of standard placement for them in relation to the fenders or the rear deck...or if they were installed externally at all depending on the different vehicles and the available reference photos.
TacFireGuru
Joined: December 25, 2004
KitMaker: 3,770 posts
Armorama: 2,263 posts
Posted: Friday, March 16, 2007 - 10:49 PM UTC
Bill,
Awsome SBS Sir....already book marked for my Char. I too have the LM set of barrels on the way. I'm either going to do a similar paint scheme, or once I get the hang of my DA airbrush, may do one of the "tree" patterns...not sure yet. Regardless, your article is killer and will be of great assistance.
Many thanks (and congrats on your new [heheheh] position!!).
Mike
Awsome SBS Sir....already book marked for my Char. I too have the LM set of barrels on the way. I'm either going to do a similar paint scheme, or once I get the hang of my DA airbrush, may do one of the "tree" patterns...not sure yet. Regardless, your article is killer and will be of great assistance.
Many thanks (and congrats on your new [heheheh] position!!).
Mike
wbill76
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 5,425 posts
Armorama: 4,659 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 05:42 AM UTC
Thanks Mike! The different units and timeframes offer up a wide range of possibilities when it comes to the Char paint schemes. The tree patterns being one of the more intriguing to be sure! Look forward to seeing what you do with yours.
M18Hellcat
Joined: December 31, 2005
KitMaker: 57 posts
Armorama: 55 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 07:19 AM UTC
Hi Bill,
I've seen photos with the jacks stowed on either the right or left fender so I don't think anybody could say one side is right and the other wrong. Most of the photos I've seen don't show them at all. I suppose it's possible they were stowed inside the vehicle although I wonder if perhaps because of their size whether many Chars didn't carry them at all and depended upon a support unit to provide the necessary lift when required. After all, how often would a crew in a combat zone be able to take the time to deploy to jacks and tilt the tank to one side? My guess is that maintenance units ultimately did the dirty work once the battle had moved on. Regards and I look forward to further examples of your work. Very well done.
I've seen photos with the jacks stowed on either the right or left fender so I don't think anybody could say one side is right and the other wrong. Most of the photos I've seen don't show them at all. I suppose it's possible they were stowed inside the vehicle although I wonder if perhaps because of their size whether many Chars didn't carry them at all and depended upon a support unit to provide the necessary lift when required. After all, how often would a crew in a combat zone be able to take the time to deploy to jacks and tilt the tank to one side? My guess is that maintenance units ultimately did the dirty work once the battle had moved on. Regards and I look forward to further examples of your work. Very well done.
 |
WEB HOSTING BY
Copyright ©2021 Armorama and Kitmaker Network, a subsidiary of Silver Star Enterprises
All Rights Reserved. Please read our Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.
All Rights Reserved. Please read our Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.