Underneath the Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Despite having been designed from 1933 as a rather slow but well-armoured light infantry support tank, the type was initially rejected by the French Infantry because it proved difficult to steer while driving cross-country, instead being adopted in 1936 by the French Cavalry. From 1938 an improved version was produced with a stronger engine, the Char léger modèle 1935 H modifié 39, that from 1940 was also fitted with a longer, more powerful 37 mm gun.

Having made up the models, and having given the models a white undercoat, the next stage was to basecoat the models. In order to add shadow I gave the underneath of all three models a spray of Warpaint German Armour.

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

See the workbench feature on the Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39.

Flames of War Renault FT-17

The Renault FT or Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917, inexactly known as the FT-17 or FT17, was a French light tank; it is among the most revolutionary and influential tank designs in history.

The FT was the first operational tank with an armament in a fully rotating turret, and its configuration with the turret on top, engine in the back and the driver in front became the conventional one, repeated in most tanks until today; at the time it was a revolutionary innovation.

France still had several thousand First World War Renault FT tanks in 1940. Over 500 of them were still in service in independent bataillons de chars de combat (BCC) tank battalions in the front lines. Although adequate for infantry support, they were totally outclassed by German tanks in a mobile battle.

It is one of my favourite tanks, I have always had a fondness for this little tank, probably as a result of making that Matchbox plastic kit of the Renault and the Char B1 when I was young. As I am creating an Early War French army I got some of these little tanks for Flames of War. I was pleased with the amount of detail in the model.

These were not in my opinion the simplest of models to put together. The model is not as easy as it looks, I had some trouble putting the tracks into the resin hull.

I like the fact you get two turret variants, one with a 37 mm gun or one with the 7.92 mm machine gun.

Undercoating the Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Despite having been designed from 1933 as a rather slow but well-armoured light infantry support tank, the type was initially rejected by the French Infantry because it proved difficult to steer while driving cross-country, instead being adopted in 1936 by the French Cavalry. From 1938 an improved version was produced with a stronger engine, the Char léger modèle 1935 H modifié 39, that from 1940 was also fitted with a longer, more powerful 37 mm gun.

Having made up the models, the next stage was to give the models a white undercoat.

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

See the workbench feature on the Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39.

Flames of War General de Gaulle

A veteran of World War I, in the 1920s and 1930s de Gaulle came to the fore as a proponent of mobile armoured divisions, which he considered would become central in modern warfare. During World War II, he reached the temporary rank of Brigadier General, leading one of the few successful armoured counter-attacks during the 1940 Fall of France, and then briefly served in the French government as France was falling.

Charles de Gaulle is available for Flames of War and comes with a Somau S35 objective. The blister contains the metal parts and resin objective.

Flames of War General de Gaulle

The base for De Gaulle is quite simple, De Gaulle, a staff officer and a motorcycle combination.

The most challenging part of this base is the motorcycle combination. At one point I did consider leaving it off entirely….

Flames of War General de Gaulle

Has certainly put me off buying any French motorcycle combination platoons!

The Somau S35 objective was much easier to put together.

Flames of War General de Gaulle

Flames of War General de Gaulle

Flames of War General de Gaulle

Flames of War General de Gaulle

See the workbench feature on General de Gaulle.

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Despite having been designed from 1933 as a rather slow but well-armoured light infantry support tank, the type was initially rejected by the French Infantry because it proved difficult to steer while driving cross-country, instead being adopted in 1936 by the French Cavalry. From 1938 an improved version was produced with a stronger engine, the Char léger modèle 1935 H modifié 39, that from 1940 was also fitted with a longer, more powerful 37 mm gun.

Having made up the hulls, the next stage was to sort the turrets out.  The metal components were fitted to the turret.

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

See the workbench feature on the Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39.

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Despite having been designed from 1933 as a rather slow but well-armoured light infantry support tank, the type was initially rejected by the French Infantry because it proved difficult to steer while driving cross-country, instead being adopted in 1936 by the French Cavalry. From 1938 an improved version was produced with a stronger engine, the Char léger modèle 1935 H modifié 39, that from 1940 was also fitted with a longer, more powerful 37 mm gun.

In order to fix the tracks to the hulls, I scored the hull sides and the tracks.

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

The tracks were then glued to the sides of the hull.

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

As you might guess from the page title, I have decided to make these up as the H-39 model. Battlefront are very good in marking the rear decks with H35 and H39 so you know which is which. They fit very easily onto the resin hulls. Here are the three hulls.

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39

See the workbench feature on the Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39.

Forged in Battle 15mm French Mortar Team

I was recommended these Forged in Battle miniatures at a gaming shop in Birmingham. They look well casted and a similar size to Flames of War infantry.

The mortar crew were given a basecoat of Green Brown (879) whilst the mortar itself was given a basecoat of Gunship Green (895).

See the workbench feature on the Forged in Battle 15mm French Mortar Team.

Painting the Flames of War Char B1 bis

After deciding to create an Early War Flames of War French force I went and got the French Early War Paint Set.

After purchasing the set and getting out some French Infantry to paint I was disappointed to find that the box set didn’t contain Green Brown (879)for the uniforms or Olive Grey (888) for the helmets. I had a pot of Green Brown, but no Olive Grey. So I left painting the infantry until I placed an order for some Flames of War miniatures and ordered a pot of Olive Grey paint.

So you can imagine my frustration when after that arrived and I sat down to give my Char B1 tanks a basecoat of Tan Yellow (912) the standard basecoat for French tanks was also not in the box. There was an assumption that you would have other box sets… I didn’t… so I needed to get another pot of paint in order to paint my models… I bought the box set so that I would have all the paints I needed, in the end I think it may have been easier to just buy the paints separately.

Once the Tan Yellow (912) arrived I gave the three Char B1s a basecoat.

Painting the Flames of War Char B1 bis

Painting the Flames of War Char B1 bis

Painting the Flames of War Char B1 bis

The turrets were stuck to a wooden stick to make them easier to paint.

Painting the Flames of War Char B1 bis

See the workbench feature on the French Char B1 bis.