Renault 35 tank by King Derelict - First to Fight 1/72

[king derelict]

While the paint dries on Lance I started this simple but interesting AFV kit; the Renault 35 tank by Polish company First To Fight. As with the other kits of theirs that I have built instructions are confined to a diagram on teh bottom of the box and the box art on the top is generally just as useful. There are not a lot of parts but I tend to be using these kits to improve my painting and just for the interest of the unusual subjects.

A little background from the web

Designed from 1933 onwards and produced from 1936, the type was intended as an infantry support light tank, equipping autonomous tank battalions, that would be allocated to individual infantry divisions to assist them in executing offensive operations. To this end it was relatively well-armoured but slow and lacking a good antitank-capacity, fitted with a short 37 mm gun. At the outbreak of the war, the antitank-role was more emphasized leading to the development and eventual production from April 1940 of a subtype with a more powerful longer gun, the Renault R40. It was planned to shift new production capacity to the manufacture of other, faster, types, but due to the defeat of France the R35/40 remained the most numerous French tank of the war, about 1685 vehicles having been produced by June 1940. At that moment it had also been exported to Poland, Romania, Turkey and Yugoslavia.

 

A set of decals is provided but only for the French version

An interesting element is the rear wheel. Several versions are provided although only one is referred to. The diagram doesn't give any hints but the struts in the wheel rim have to be cut out and then the appropriate wheel filed to fit the centre.

 

Construction went nicely after that until it came to the side hatches for the turret. They are supposed to be on the sprue shown at the bottom of the photo but something obviously went wrong with the moulding process and there are two sets of small blobs. 

 

I made replacement hatches based on the box art from bits of shaped styrene.

The usual black primer and then shaded coats of sand and then masking for the olive green. Its quite an intricate paint scheme and I didn't get it exactly right but it captures the spirit I hope😄

I left the turret hatch partly open. Apparently it was intended to be set fully down for the tank commander to sit on

The masks came off and I'm fairly happy with the way it came it out. The tracks were painted up with a background of dirt and rust and steel on the running surfaces. Oil washes have been added to the running gear and then they were fitted to the hull.

 

 

Deatil work and washes on teh hull and turret are next.

Thanks for looking in

Alan

[king derelict]

Detail painting is almost complete. The black oil paint wash has been used on the running gear and the panel lines. I added the decals; I would have liked to make it as a Polish tank but the decals only allow for a French one. Then a light spray of dust and dirt. A few last items to tidy up and this nice little kit will be complete.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking

Alan

[king derelict]

The last detail; the rolled tarp, was added to the rear of the tank and a little more dust added. This completes the build. I also added the photos of the Wz34 armoured Polish car also by First To Fight which was being built in parallel. Nothing special about the build; very similar to the other kits but an interesting subject and fun to paint. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking in

 

Alan