Tamiya 35282 - 1:35 Char B1 Bis French Army

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the French Char B1 bis tank

Tamiya 35282 reproduces the Char B1 bis – a French heavy tank with an unusual, tall silhouette and characteristic tracks running around the entire hull. In May 1940, these vehicles stood up to the German armoured forces during the French campaign, earning respect for their thick armour and strong armament.

The model uses a one-piece upper hull formed with slide-moulding, faithfully reproducing the hundreds of rivets on the armour plates. The newly designed individual link tracks snap together without the use of cement. The 75 mm gun and periscopes are movable, and the turret hatch can be assembled open or closed.

What's in the box:

• One-piece upper hull with reproduced rivets and the remaining sprues
• 75 mm hull gun (movable) and 47 mm turret gun
• Snap-together individual link tracks (assembled without cement)
• Choice of two fender and exhaust types
• Metal chain to represent the tow cable
• Commander figure (Tamiya's first WWII French figure)
• Turret hatch can be assembled open or closed
• Decal sheet for four marking options
• Illustrated instructions with a full-colour painting guide

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35282
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 182 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (snap-together link tracks)

Note: This kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The model is approachable thanks to excellent part fit, and the newly designed individual link tracks – which snap together without cement – considerably shorten the most tedious stage of the build. The choice of fender and exhaust type is best linked to the chosen marking option. The movable gun and periscopes allow for an effective display.

For painting, the multi-colour French camouflage schemes of 1940 are recommended, with their characteristic hard-edged patches. The instructions give paint codes for the four options. Because of the hard edges, masking can be helpful. Military vehicles are usually finished with a matt varnish, and the rivets and recesses benefit from a wash.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Polystyrene cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched and metal parts
• Brushes of various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Optionally: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Char B1 bis:

The Char B1 bis was a French heavy tank developed from the earlier Char B1, designed back in the 1920s. Production of the bis version began in 1937, with strengthened armour and an upgraded powerplant. The vehicle had an unusual armament layout: the riveted hull housed a short-barrelled 75 mm gun, while a small, one-man turret carried a longer 47 mm gun.

With armour reaching up to 60 mm in places, the B1 bis was among the best-protected tanks of its time and was resistant to fire from German 37 mm anti-tank guns. In duels with German tanks it performed very well and was feared by the enemy. Its effectiveness was, however, limited by problems with production dispersed among many suppliers, which reduced the number of vehicles built, as well as by the way it was used tactically.

Original specifications (Char B1 bis):

• Length: approx. 6.37 m
• Width: approx. 2.58 m
• Height: approx. 2.79 m
• Combat weight: approx. 28 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 75 mm gun in the hull and a 47 mm gun in the turret
• Secondary armament: two 7.5 mm machine guns
• Powerplant: Renault petrol engine, approx. 300 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 28 km/h
• Range: approx. 180 km
• Armour: up to 60 mm
• Production: from 1937, approx. 400 examples

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. The company initially traded in timber, but from the late 1940s it produced wooden models, and in 1960 it launched its first plastic assembly kit. Two years later it introduced its iconic 1:35 scale tank, which set the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is renowned for exceptionally precise injection moulds and excellent part fit, which is why its kits are favoured by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this model belongs, comprises hundreds of items and is considered one of the most comprehensive 1:35 catalogues of military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling supplies: paints, glues, tools and brushes.