french Archives - Felix's Gaming Pages

Plastic Somua S35

On the cover of Wargames Illustrated this month was a free plastic sprue from Battlefront, either a British Light Tank or a French Somua S35. On my magazine was the Somua S35.

This Somua S35 was on display at the Bovington Tank Museum.

I will probably try to recreate this camouflage pattern.

The Somua S35 was a French cavalry tank of the Second World War. Built from 1936 until 1940 to equip the armoured divisions of the Cavalry, it was for its time a relatively agile medium-weight tank, superior in armour and armament to its French and foreign competitors, such as the contemporary versions of the German Panzer III medium tank.

This is a nice little kit and it went together really easily.

The next step was a base coat of Wraithbone.

I took a photograph of the Char 2C next to the Somua S35 medium tank. The Char 2C was a huge tank in comparison.

Undercoating the French Char 2C

The Char 2C was developed during the Great War, but did not enter operational service until after the war. It was a heavy tank landship designed for the trenches of the First World War.

Battlefront announced that they were releasing models of the Char 2C. They were delayed for a while. However, in the end I pre-ordered a box, who wouldn’t.

You get three models in the box, these are resin kits with metal parts. After constructing the models, the next stage was undercoating the models.

After giving the models a white undercoat, I then gave them a base coat of Wraithbone Spray.

I think this might be lighter than I thought it would be. However I am planning to use a wash on the models. I am attempting to recreate this paint scheme.

The Char 2C is quite a big tank and I took a photograph of the Char 2C next to a Somua S35 medium tank.

The next stage will be the green camouflage pattern.

Constructing the French Char 2c Platoon of Tanks

The Char 2C was developed during the Great War, but did not enter operational service until after the war. It was a heavy tank landship designed for the trenches of the First World War.

Battlefront announced that they were releasing models of the Char 2C. They were delayed for a while. However, in the end I pre-ordered a box, who wouldn’t.

You get three models in the box, these are resin kits with metal parts.

I washed the resin and took the time to glue the tracks to the hull of the tanks. I then glued the metal weapons, of which two are attached to the two turrets and three to the front of the hull.

I decided to glue the rear smaller turret into the hull, as I couldn’t really see any advantage in having it loose.

The next stage will be an undercoat.

These are lovely crisp castings and really look the part. You also realise how large they are, well they were super heavy for their time, even if later in the second world was there were even larger and heavier tanks.

They’ve arrived

I have been thinking about getting some French Char 2c tanks for a while now for my French Flames of War forces.

After Agence Rol, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Char 2C was developed during the Great War, but did not enter operational service until after the war. It was a heavy tank landship designed for the trenches of the First World War. By 1921 , ten tanks were built, and were operational during the start of World War Two. After Germany broke through French defences in June 1940, they were sent away from the front to save them. They were unable to reach safety and deliberately destroyed to prevent capture.

I did think about getting some resin models, even a 3D printed version. However in December 2024 Battlefront announced that they were releasing models of the Char 2C. They were delayed for a while.

So, of course I pre-ordered a box, who wouldn’t.

You get three models in the box, these are resin kits with metal parts.

The next step will be to wash the resin and then give them an undercoat.

Char 2c Tank Platoon

I have been thinking about getting some French Char 2c tanks for a while now.

I did think about getting some resin models, even a 3D printed version. However in December 2024 Battlefront announced that they were releasing models of the Char 2C.

Sadly they were delayed, but will be released at the end of the month. So, of course I pre-ordered a box, who wouldn’t. You get three models in the box, these are resin kits with metal parts.

Type 95 Ha-Go light tank

The Type 95 Ha-Gō was a light tank used by the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War, at Nomonhan against the Soviet Union, and in the Second World War. It proved sufficient against infantry but, like other light tanks, was not designed to combat other tanks.

This one was on display at Bovington.

The French Fourth Republic used leftover Japanese military equipment from the Japanese invasion of French Indochina. An ad-hoc unit of French and Japanese armour including the Type 95 Ha-Go light tank called the ‘Commando Blindé du Cambodge’ was created and this unit participated in the early stages of the First Indochina War

Citroen Civilian 1000kg Dropside Truck

Working on my Bolt Action Citroen Civilian 1000kg Dropside Truck for my French Partisan force.

There seems to be an issue with the rear wheels.

Type 95 Ha-Go light tank

The Type 95 Ha-Gō was a light tank used by the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War, at Nomonhan against the Soviet Union, and in the Second World War. It proved sufficient against infantry but, like the American M3 Stuart light tank, was not designed to combat other tanks.

This one was on display at Bovington.

It’s red

For Bolt Action I am in the process of painting some partisans to fight Simon’s Italians. I have been looking for some vehicles and Warlord Games actually make a fair few civilian models for Bolt Action. Looking through the Bolt Action website I quite liked the look of the Civilian 1000Kg Dropside Truck so I got one.

Having given the model a white undercoat, I then gave the rear of the truck (which was separate) a basecoat of Vallejo 70912 Tan Yellow. I then gave that a wash of Seraphim Sepia Shade which was a little too light, so I then gave a wash of Agrax Earthshade. I also gave the chassis, the tyres and wheels a base coat of Vallejo 70.862 Black Grey.

After much thought, I decided to take the risk and paint the bodywork of the truck red.

I used Citadel Mephiston Red as the base colour and I am quite pleased with how it turned out.