Windy's Matchbox/Revell GB entry - Char B1 Bis and FT 17.

[Windy]

Hi all. The Dragon Churchill Mk IV has temporarily gone onto the shelf of doom while I work out what to do with the disastrous paint job, so here are my entries for the Matchbox GB. As promised I've got the Char B1 Bis and FT 17 which I've wanted to build for years.

First off the box:



Then the sprue shot:



And kit history from Scalemates:

 

[Jakko]

Nice, I always liked these two (and in fact, built at least two of each over the years ) so it’ll be interesting to see what you make of them. I see Revell now mould them in grey, not green like they used to.

 

[Windy]

Hi all. Quick update. FT 17 built and ready for undercoating. It's a very simple little build and went together with no dramas. Char B next. The walls aren't glued to the base yet as I might widen the roadway a bit.

 

[Ian M]

Before things get to mixed up please can you make a separate thread for the priest . Forum GB's rule one subject per thread. Unless the GB Is a diorama GB.

 

[Windy]

Before things get to mixed up please can you make a separate thread for the priest . Forum GB's rule one subject per thread. Unless the GB Is a diorama GB.

Roger. Wait out.

 

[Windy]

Thread duly amended!

 

[yak face]

Brilliant choice alex , these look excellent and if i recall theyre really small as tanks go . The base was a good one too , with the fallen shutters and the arch . Cheers tony

 

[Windy]

Thanks mate, it's a nice little kit. And yes, they were tiny. They had a two man crew and were about 16 ft long and weighed 6.5 tonnes. The model is just over two and a half inches, including the skid at the rear.

 

[Jakko]

if i recall theyre really small as tanks go

This gives a good impression of its size:

 

[Windy]

Char B done. It needed a lot more cleaning up than the Renault, as did the figures, but it went together with no issues. I was going to replace the antenna with a bit of wire but then I had a look at some original photos. The bloody things were like tree trunks!

I might get them undercoated tonight, but unfortunately I'm working all day tomorrow so I'll have to wait until tomorrow night to make a start on painting.



Here's an original picture showing the size of the radio antenna!

 

[yak face]

Jeez Alex that’s a big aerial , It’s more like a flagpole ! if you compare it to the blokes finger in the photo it must be about 1-2 inch in diameter! For once the kit makers got it spot on , although like yourself if I hadn’t seen the photo my first instinct would be to replace the kit aerial with something a lot thinner

 

[Mini Me]

More like a "Mast" than an aerial Rick H.

 

[Jakko]

that’s a big aerial , It’s more like a flagpole ! if you compare it to the blokes finger in the photo it must be about 1-2 inch in diameter!

Older tank antennas are often much thicker than people think, and frequently tapered rather than with parallel sides.

For once the kit makers got it spot on

It will break off anyway (I say from experience with this kit ).

More like a "Mast" than an aerial Rick H.

They could put a sail on it to make the tank go faster in a suitable wind. It kind of needed that, with its top speed of 28 km/h on a good, flat road.

Oh, and:—

 

[Windy]

Bit of progress at last. Wretched things like work keep getting in the way! Figures are done, though they need a coat of matt varnish yet, and I've made a start on the B1. I decided I couldn't live with the kit antenna after all so I replaced it with a bit of wire. I also added a couple of hooks for the tow chain to the rear plate.

 

[Neil Merryweather]

very nice Alex

 

[Jack L]

Detail on the figures is great!

 

[Windy]

That's the Char B1 ready for washes and weathering tomorrow. Decals are for a tank named Bourrasque and the camouflage pattern was taken from the Tamiya scheme for the same vehicle. Brush painted with Humbrol enamels - Green 150 and Ochre 94.

 

[Windy]

Did a bit of work on the FT 17 this morning. Added a tow chain, tools and a stowage box, and undercut the engine cover. Ready for primer now but it'll have to wait until later as the dogs keep looking at me hopefully!

 

[Fernando N]

Neat paintwork on the Char and figs Alex

 

[adt70hk]

Alex

Looking very good so far.

I was at Tankfest a couple of years ago when they shipped over the only running Char B1 from France. I've got a few pics if you'd like to me share them on here?

ATB

Andrew