Char B Is this Tar?

Now that's interesting...at first glance it definitely looks like something was applied over the surfaces...but if it is zim, it would have to be a "field applied" job as it doesn't appear to have any kind of pattern or method to it. Does look pretty rough and you can see a thickness to it and it extends down to the fenders as well. Quite a mystery you've got here Andy!

This is an ex-German operated Char B1 bis that was stationed on the Channel Islands  -- the unit was sPzAbt 513. They rec'd experimental anti-magnetic coatings.  The hull sides rec'd a rubberized matting while the turrets rec'd a plaster/zimmerit type of finish.  Here's my model of one

Are you sure that is the history to this particular tank as this is in french markings and the whole tank looks to be untouched since the war so there is no evidence of this particular B to have been used by the Germans .

The vehicle was repainted and it has several distinct, German-only, features about it.  It's the Bovington Char B1 and note the casement above the 75mm gun, the tool clamps atop the fenders, and the remnants of the matting on the hull sides.  This plus the coat on the turret and drive sprocket -- lead it directly to one of the few sPzAbt 513 Chars B1.

I'm 100% sure.

Thanks for that, i was wonsdering about it for ages. That must have been repainted a lot of years ago then as it looks a very old and original paint job. Not even the staff in the museum put any light on the subject when i asked. How did you find out its history?

Andy.

I could tell it was a sPzAbt 513 survivor because 1) the unit was unscathed by war so its Chars B were recovered (two others are in France), 2) documentation and photos of sPzAbt 513's anti-mine experiments exist and 3) Bovington's example has those features extant -- there is no other explanation for those features. 

The logical conclusion is that this survivor was brought back from the Channel Islands and repainted.  Hope this helps.

Cheers, I do know that it came from the chanell islands, but i dont know if it was repainted over there or over here in the UK.

Here is another shot of it

Bodge, from your pic I can see four German added features besides the anti magnetic coating. 

1. hooks on glacis for spare tracks
2. tool stowage brackets atop fenders near the front
3. casement above 75mm gun
4. antenna base for German aerial

Well done you may have a cookie, No seriously thanks for pointing them out.

It's a pretty sad indictment eh?  99.99% of the human population would never see those items.  But a scale modeller?  Sees 'em everytime! 

LOL

T26E4

It's a pretty sad indictment eh?  99.99% of the human population would never see those items.  But a scale modeller?  Sees 'em everytime! 

 

LOL

Yes.  It's why we say, "Ah, this is the life!"

While others say," Wow, he needs to get a life!"

Very true wing nut. very true were a bunch of.000s