Blitzkrieg in the West (France 1940) Sept. 18 2011 - March 1 2012

aargh!!! i suppose the potez 693 will work on this gb  

just ordered some day ago the 1/72 Smer kit at 6.70 € 

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/smer/kit_smer_165.shtml

too busy on others gb but will follow to see some rare subject here

Did you mean Breguet 693? I couldn't find a Potez 693. The Breguet looks as though it would qualify for the time frame. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breguet_693 

Over on Dragonusaonline, they had the Pz 38(t) E/F for just $22! 

http://www.dragonusaonline.com/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=DRA6434 

Is Krupp Protze with 3.7cm Pak allowed?  It is by Tamiya in 1:35.

Cheers...

Yes, as near as I can tell, it looks like the Krupp Protze is a go.

If you so choose, it's a go.

Satch-thanks.  Yes, I am referring to Trauloft's Black Chevron-Triangle-and Bar.  Based on my limited Google research, it is of the April 1940 time frame.  However, it's always to get confirmation from someone with more knowledge and reference material.  The problem with the internet is that there sometimes seems to be too much information available.

Darren-good to see you here-we haven't crossed paths for awhile.  My BoB Spitfire is still 95% complete-just waiting for me to paint the canopy and attach the landing gear.....maybe I'll finish it for the next BoB GB....  I would appreciate it if you check your resources and see if you come up with the same results.

As a back up plan, I can order an  E-3 canopy and some different decals.....or purchase the Tristar Pz 38(t) kit....just trying to get by with pulling something out of the stash.

Eric,,,    that is what pushed me over the edge on the Pz 38(t)....  saw it was very inexpensive, so of course I HAD to have it. Then I noticed the GB      - - - - -     Timing is everything!

bsyamato,,, that is an interesting aircraft. I like it!

bobbaily

Satch-thanks.  Yes, I am referring to Trauloft's Black Chevron-Triangle-and Bar.  Based on my limited Google research, it is of the April 1940 time frame.  However, it's always to get confirmation from someone with more knowledge and reference material.  The problem with the internet is that there sometimes seems to be too much information available.

Darren-good to see you here-we haven't crossed paths for awhile.  My BoB Spitfire is still 95% complete-just waiting for me to paint the canopy and attach the landing gear.....maybe I'll finish it for the next BoB GB....  I would appreciate it if you check your resources and see if you come up with the same results.

As a back up plan, I can order an  E-3 canopy and some different decals.....or purchase the Tristar Pz 38(t) kit....just trying to get by with pulling something out of the stash.

The Osprey profile says that's an E-4 in April.  Upon further review, William Green's Warplanes of the Third Reich, has the 4 introduced in "summer to autumn of 1940".  There is a picture of JG 27 E-4s on the Channel Coast in June 1940, which would place them in the final phases of Fall Gelb. 

Green also states that the E-4/N reached service evaluation before "combat in earnest between the Luftwaffe and the RAF began in the BoB."

This research begs a question, what's the difference between the 3 and the 4?  The center mounted cannon and MG FF vs MGs in the wings seems to be the major external difference.  However, several E-3s were field modified with canopies and wing guns.  I think you can make a case that your aircraft and scheme are appropriate.

BaBill...;

GREAT KIT, IMO!  Another great 38(t) with a complete interior- even a motor!  The Dragon has less brass inside, there may be some uncertainty about the radio placement (in both Tristar and Dragon), and I think the Dragon seats and seat-mounts lack... But picky picky picky!  The MagicTrack - NICE! (and, yeah, the links DO come with casting numbers... just use your magnifier on 10x to see!).

Of course you still get to see all that great stuff thru 3 dinky hatches... Dragon's hatches are no larger nor in greater numbers than are Tristar's!.  But, Dang! couldn't those Czechs have foreseen this and designed accordingly?

Just begs for a dio with a knocked-off turret!

I think it's hard to beat the quality and build fun (for us Pz 38 fans, anyway) for $22!  I'd go get another, if I had any space!

Bob

tigerman

Did you mean Breguet 693? I couldn't find a Potez 693. The Breguet looks as though it would qualify for the time frame. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breguet_693 

yes i mean the Breguet ... i confused the manufacturer , smer included even potez planes and i not too familiar with french planes. Need to fill this gap; even if not real french plane was an excellence in ww2 there was a large variety of intresting desing planes. Plus have in the stash a started morane saulnier 406 in camouflage stage. 

At least i'll post the kit sprues pictures if someone intrested. 

BaBill212

..

bsyamato,,, that is an interesting aircraft. I like it!

i suppose you mean the bregut 693

here a cybermodelller preview of the kit. On the same customer i spotted lots of other low price french kit from smer. Sure i'll get some other as the leo 451  ,less than 9 €.

For now just following this GB

tigerman

Yes, as near as I can tell, it looks like the Krupp Protze is a go.

If you so choose, it's a go.

OK, I am in with the Krup Protze then.

 Cheers...

tigerman

Yes, as near as I can tell, it looks like the Krupp Protze is a go.

If you so choose, it's a go.

OK, I am in with the Krup Protze then.

 Cheers...

Thanks Satch.  I did a little decal research and found that 'Assi' Hahn's plane for France was an E-3 with an E-4 canopy.  I've got to figure that was quite common.

Hopefully Darren will check his sources and agree and then I'll plead my case to Eric....

bsyamato,,  yes, the Breguet,,, nice looking bird

Bob,,  I am looking forward to delivery on the 38(t),,, sound like a great kit.    Casting numbers on the tracks?!  Wow!        A knocked off turret diorama,,,,  hmm,   will have to evaluate once I receive.    And you're right, $22.00 is a steal!

Castle,,  which manufacturer / kit are you going with for your Krupp?      I recently finished the good old Tamiya offering.

I spent part of the late evening looking for camo schemes. It should be interesting, though I think I could get away with a single color too. 

I'm having a rough go finding good sites for French armor. I've found a few leads, and they are interesting to say the least. 

Colors might be interesting as well. Olive drab?

TM - I've have several books on french tanks and use them for my refs.  The French had some crazy looking camo jobs but many of there tanks were done in a solid French Khaki color.  Its a brighter green then your normal khaki, found that the MM enamel French Khaki is a good match to my refs.  They were also done in all brown.  Once again the MM enamel chestnut is a good match.  I had painted my H39 with these colors.

MANSTEIN - Built that same kit a few years ago.  Good fit and fun to build.  It did have a lot of small parts though and the tracks were a pain in the butt!  Difficult because of there size. 

BISH - My S35 will be French.  It will have a three tone camo and will assign it to the 1re DLM 18e Dragons.

Does anyone know who makes AM tracks for the S35?  I opened the box last night to have a look and the tracks have to be replaced!  They are the old crapy vinyl silver tracks like you used to find in the older Italeri kits.

Rob, it looks like Fruils have them. here they are on sale at Greatmodels

http://www.greatmodels.com/~smartcart/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=FRIATL67 

Here they are at Spruebrothers for a bit more:

http://store.spruebrothers.com/categories.aspx?Keyword=Somua 

Question about the colors, I prefer Tamiya or MM acrylics. Any ideas?

Eric, thanks for the finding the tracks going over now to take a look.

Not sure about acrylics, rarly use them.  Looking at the MM color chart, they do not make those colors in acrylic.  Once again compareing my paints to the acrylic color chart, looks like the closest thing for the French Khaki would be MM acrylic Dunkegrun RLM 71 (4781).  Thats not a perfect match but its close.  The chestnut, dont see anything in the acrlic that is even close.  Tamiya colors I have no idea?  Do not use them except for the buff, black, and white.

Hi Eric, I was in touch with Bill Carls and chatting away we decided to build the same kit, I will try and secure a Char B1 bis before the weekend and keep it for the build.

i' m really looking forward to this one thanks again for the idea and hosting.

Terry.

Just ordered the Fruil's for the S35 from Sprue Brothers.  Now have to see what the wife says when she sees the invoice in the email

Thats the joy of seperate bank accounts and e-mail addies. That and all my model stuff goes to barracks

Be keen to see how your kit comes along, i would like one of those to do in German markings.

Thanks Rob and glad you scored your tracks.

So were there many single colored H 39's? I think I have the MM Dunkelgrun. How about Tamiya Khaki Drab?

Thanks Rob and glad you scored your tracks.

So were there many single colored H 39's? I think I have the MM Dunkelgrun. How about Tamiya Khaki Drab?

Terry, got you down and thanks for participating.

Sorry about the double post.

Looking through my refs there were just about as many solid color (khaki) vehicles as there were camo ones.  Take a look at this one.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/echidna/3556439760/

Looking on the net you can of course find many pics of the Hotchkiss tanks.  Even though they are black and white you can tell many of them are of a solid color, at least they appear to be.

I think there were several solid color vehicles and if thats the route you went, do not think you would be wrong to do so.

When you ask about the Tamiya colors, I can only guess.  I think the Tamiya is to tan colored but I am not sure.  Do not have Tamiya Khaki Drab to compare it to?  Maybe someone else in the group uses Tamiya and would know?

Does Friul make tracks for the Pz 38?        I did some sniffin around and I didn't see any...... 

Any help is always appreciated

Bill

Bill, yes they do, i have a couple of sets for my Marder III's. Set ATL-13

http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/FO35013

Rob, which colour do you need the Tamiya Kaki Drab compareing to.

TM - In that pic of the Hotchkiss, it was propably repainted but the color looks like the same color as some of my refs.

BILL - I know Fiul makes tracks for the Pz 38.  Will take a look and see if can find them.

If I were you, would use the magice tracks.  They build up nicely and it will save you the money, unless you dont like them.  In that case you can send them to me

BaBill212

Does Friul make tracks for the Pz 38?        I did some sniffin around and I didn't see any...... 

Any help is always appreciated

 

Bill

Yuppers.

http://www.friulmodel.hu/en/atl-13-panzer-38-t-i17/ 

Rob, my instructions call for Tamiya XF-62 for the Olive Drab. I don't know if that is close enough, but I'm sure I could live with it. It appears that I have most of the Tamiya paints it calls for, but the painting instructions are a pure joke. Nothing to go by.

I like this scheme:

What colors would you say those are?