1:72 Hotchkiss H-35 late version

Hotchkiss H-35 late version 1:72 - a First to Fight kit

A plastic kit of the French Hotchkiss H-35 light tank in 1:72 scale from the Polish manufacturer First to Fight. The late version designation refers to the later production form of the vehicle. The contents of the package, the number of parts and the marking options are given in the instructions supplied with the kit.

The real subject

The Hotchkiss H-35 was a French light tank of the second half of the 1930s, designed to accompany cavalry units. It is characterized by a hull and turret made up of castings joined with bolts, a crew of two and a rotating turret with a short-barreled 37 mm gun. The arrangement with one man handling both command and the armament was typical of French light vehicles of the day and in practice limited the rate of fire. Vehicles of this type saw action in 1940 and some of them were later operated by other armies as captured equipment.

Building and painting tips

• In 1:72 scale the parts are small, so use a thinner cement for plastic that wicks into the joint rather than a thick gel.
• Finish and paint the running gear and the tracks before you close up the sides of the hull.
• The cast surface texture can be suggested by gently stippling with a stiff brush and liquid cement, but proceed carefully.
• Apply the base over a primer; French multicolor camouflage is built up in layers starting from the lightest shade.
• Apply a gloss intermediate coat before the decals and a matte one after them, otherwise the carrier film of the decals will show.

Who the model is for

• For collectors of French interwar vehicles in a small scale
• For modelers building a collection of the light tanks of 1940
• For diorama builders who need a smaller format of vehicle
• For modelers with experience of small parts in 1:72

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.