1:56 Char B1 Bis

The real subject

The Char B1 bis was a French heavy tank that in 1940 ranked among the most heavily armored machines on the battlefield. Its armament was divided: it carried a short 75 mm howitzer in the front plate of the hull and a 47 mm gun in a one-man rotating turret. The howitzer had no traverse, so the driver aimed it by turning the whole vehicle, which made high demands on the crew. The commander also worked the turret alone, so he had to observe, aim and load at the same time.

What the set contains

A plastic kit in 1:56 scale. The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted, and the parts are on sprues. The 1:56 scale matches the size of the figures used in tabletop wargames, so the finished vehicle can stand next to a collection of infantry of the same size, while taking up less room in a display case than the more usual 1:35 scale.

Building and painting tips

Cut the parts off the sprue with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the stub down. On this tank the running gear is partly covered by the side plate, so check the order of the steps in the instructions before gluing, otherwise the parts will not go into place. French camouflage schemes of 1940 tend to be multicolored with soft transitions, which are best done with an airbrush in thin coats. A dark wash into the recesses and a dry brush on the edges help at the end.

Who it is for

The model will be appreciated both by a modeler interested in the equipment of the beginning of the Second World War and by a tabletop gamer who collects vehicles in 1:56 scale. The package contains the kit; paints, glue and tools are not included, unless stated otherwise.