Tamiya 1:35 B1 Bis in German service

The kit proposed by Tamiya company includes a plastic model kit of French heavy tank in 1:35 scale.

The defeat of the French in 1940 was primarily the result of an outdated and ineffective military doctrine. Contrary to the circulating opinion of the French army, it had great armored units, as exemplified by the heavy B1 bis tank. In clashes during the French campaign, they were spread between different units, so they could not present their full combat value. Tanks armour was extremely strong (at Stonne Char, 1 bis withstood 140 hits from German tanks!), the drawback, however, was a one-man turret, and cannon built into the hull. Turret gun proved to be impossible to use in combat for one person, which was a tank commander, and the howitzer aim was too limited. Despite it’s flaws, 161 Char B1 bis were incorporated into the Wehrmacht after fall of France and took part in campaigns in the Balkans and the Eastern Front. Some of the vehicles has been converted into a self-propelled artillery and flamethrowers. 

Tamiya Company kit allows the assembly of the French tank in the German service named Char B1 bis Pz.Kpfw. B2 740 (f) together with the commander. Box includes a part of the hull, 6 sprues with model parts, tracks with the individual cells chain and decals (allows reconstruction of tanks from the German Heavy Tank Battalion 213 and 102. Armored Battalion or 13th Dragoons Regiment of the Free French).

Plastic parts should be cut out of frames, fit together and glued according to the assembly instruction. You should paint the whole model using modeling paints according to the proposed paint scheme in the instruction. It is important to remember that some plastic parts require painting before gluing. In the end, it is needed to apply decals according to markings or graphics in instruction.

Paints recomended by the producer to obtain the best effect:

• Tamiya XF-63 or spray TS-4 (armor, Panzergrau color)
• Tamiya XF-60 or spray TS-3 (armor, Dunkelgelb color)
• Tamiya XF-64 or spray TS-1 (Brown Camouflage)
• Tamiya XF-61 or spray TS-2 (Green Camouflage)
• Tamiya XF-62 or spray TS-5 (olive armor, Free French)
• Tamiya XF-56 + XF-64 (tracks, metal parts, proportions of 1:1)

Commander (German):

• Tamiya XF-1 (uniform)
• Tamiya X-18 (belt, shoes)
• Tamiya XF-15 (leather)

Commander (French):

• Tamiya X-9 + Tamiya XF-10 (uniform, aspect ratio 1:1)
• Tamiya XF-55 + Tamiya XF-57 (trousers, aspect ratio 1:1)
• Tamiya XF-64 (belt, holster)
• Tamiya XF-57 (mousse)
• Tamiya XF-58 (helmet)
• Tamiya XF-15 (skin)

Set contains:

• The assembly instruction.
• Frames with plastic parts.
• Decals.
• Track link set.
• Crew member.

Kit does NOT contain paints and glue.

Here are the basic tools and materials you need:

• Pilers for cutting plastic parts.
• Modeling penknife.
• File or sandpaper.
• Cement for plastic models.
• Brush or airbrush.
• Modeling paints.

If you are not sure of any accessories or colors of paints you need for your model kit, please ask us, we will be glad to help you.