In Box Review of Heller 1/35th Scale
French Char Somua S-35 Tank
Kit no. 793
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1977
Out of production.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1977
Out of production.
HISTORY:
The SOMUA S-35 was a French cavalry tank of the Second World War. Built from 1936 until 1940 to equip the armoured divisions of the Cavalry, it was for its time a relatively agile medium-weight tank, superior in armour and armament to its French and foreign competitors, such as the contemporary versions of the German Panzer III medium tank. It was constructed from well-sloped, mainly cast, armour sections, that however made it expensive to produce and time-consuming to maintain.
During the German invasion of May 1940, the SOMUA S-35 proved itself to be a tactically effective type, but this was negated by the French command's strategic mistakes in deploying their Cavalry armoured divisions. After the defeat of France in June 1940, limiting production to a total of about 440, captured SOMUA S-35s were used by the Axis powers, some of them on the Eastern Front. A derived type, the SOMUA S-40, with an improved suspension, lowered hull cast and welded turret armour, had been planned to replace the original version on the production lines in July 1940. Agreements to produce this improved type for the benefit of Vichy France, Germany and Japan, ultimately did not lead to any manufacture.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Cavalry tank
Place of origin: France
In service: 1936–1945
Used by: France, Germany, Italy
Wars: World War II
Designed: 1934–1935
Manufacturer: SOMUA
Produced: 1935–June 1940
No. built: ~440
Variants: S 40
Mass: 19.5 tonnes (19.2 long tons)
Length: 5.38 m (17 ft 8 in)
Width: 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in)
Height: 2.62 m (8 ft 7 in)
Crew: 3 (driver, radio operator/purveyor, commander/gunner)
Armor: 47 mm (hull front), 42 mm (turret front), 40 mm (hull sides and turret sides), 20 mm (top)
Main armament: 47 mm SA35 L/32 gun
Secondary armament: 7.5 mm Mitrailleuse mle 1931 optionally coaxial
Engine: SOMUA V-8 12.666cc petrol engine of 190 hp (140 kW)
Power/weight: 9.7 hp/tonne
Suspension: leaf spring bogies
Fuel capacity: 510 L (110 imp gal; 130 US gal)
Operational range: off-road ~130 km (81 mi), road ~230 km (140 mi)
Maximum speed: 40.7 km/h (25.3 mph), off-road: 32.2 km/h (20.0 mph)
The SOMUA S-35 was a French cavalry tank of the Second World War. Built from 1936 until 1940 to equip the armoured divisions of the Cavalry, it was for its time a relatively agile medium-weight tank, superior in armour and armament to its French and foreign competitors, such as the contemporary versions of the German Panzer III medium tank. It was constructed from well-sloped, mainly cast, armour sections, that however made it expensive to produce and time-consuming to maintain.
During the German invasion of May 1940, the SOMUA S-35 proved itself to be a tactically effective type, but this was negated by the French command's strategic mistakes in deploying their Cavalry armoured divisions. After the defeat of France in June 1940, limiting production to a total of about 440, captured SOMUA S-35s were used by the Axis powers, some of them on the Eastern Front. A derived type, the SOMUA S-40, with an improved suspension, lowered hull cast and welded turret armour, had been planned to replace the original version on the production lines in July 1940. Agreements to produce this improved type for the benefit of Vichy France, Germany and Japan, ultimately did not lead to any manufacture.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Cavalry tank
Place of origin: France
In service: 1936–1945
Used by: France, Germany, Italy
Wars: World War II
Designed: 1934–1935
Manufacturer: SOMUA
Produced: 1935–June 1940
No. built: ~440
Variants: S 40
Mass: 19.5 tonnes (19.2 long tons)
Length: 5.38 m (17 ft 8 in)
Width: 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in)
Height: 2.62 m (8 ft 7 in)
Crew: 3 (driver, radio operator/purveyor, commander/gunner)
Armor: 47 mm (hull front), 42 mm (turret front), 40 mm (hull sides and turret sides), 20 mm (top)
Main armament: 47 mm SA35 L/32 gun
Secondary armament: 7.5 mm Mitrailleuse mle 1931 optionally coaxial
Engine: SOMUA V-8 12.666cc petrol engine of 190 hp (140 kW)
Power/weight: 9.7 hp/tonne
Suspension: leaf spring bogies
Fuel capacity: 510 L (110 imp gal; 130 US gal)
Operational range: off-road ~130 km (81 mi), road ~230 km (140 mi)
Maximum speed: 40.7 km/h (25.3 mph), off-road: 32.2 km/h (20.0 mph)
THE KIT:
Heller is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in France. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a S-35 posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts.
It is in a wave camouflage of khaki and red brown, with no markings shown.The tank commander is looking out of the upper turret hatch. He wears a steel helmet. To the side of the box art there is a line-drawing side view of a S-35.
One side panel of the box shows two color box-arts of other Heller armor kits: a AMX 13 65 and a AMX 13 DCA. These are followed by a list of features of the kit in English and French: 160 parts. Length 154mm (6”) Width 64mm (2 ½”) Height 75mm (3”). Languages are labeled with color illustrations of the flags of France and the UK.
Heller is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in France. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a S-35 posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts.
It is in a wave camouflage of khaki and red brown, with no markings shown.The tank commander is looking out of the upper turret hatch. He wears a steel helmet. To the side of the box art there is a line-drawing side view of a S-35.
One side panel of the box shows two color box-arts of other Heller armor kits: a AMX 13 65 and a AMX 13 DCA. These are followed by a list of features of the kit in English and French: 160 parts. Length 154mm (6”) Width 64mm (2 ½”) Height 75mm (3”). Languages are labeled with color illustrations of the flags of France and the UK.
The other side panel of the box shows 3 more color box arts of armor kits that Heller makes: a AMX 13 75, the AMX 13 DCA again and a AMX 13 155. No kit numbers are provided for these 5 kits. Bad move Heller !
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 5 dark-grey parts trees, black vinyl tracks, a clear tree and the decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
There are 2 instructions.
The main one consists of an unbound booklet of 12 pages in 8” x 12” page format folded once to fit the box.
Page 1 shows a black and white illustration of a S-35 in a forest.
Page 2 is the history and specifications of the tank in French.
Page 3 has the names of the parts and glue capsule instructions also in French.
This kit holds 5 dark-grey parts trees, black vinyl tracks, a clear tree and the decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
There are 2 instructions.
The main one consists of an unbound booklet of 12 pages in 8” x 12” page format folded once to fit the box.
Page 1 shows a black and white illustration of a S-35 in a forest.
Page 2 is the history and specifications of the tank in French.
Page 3 has the names of the parts and glue capsule instructions also in French.
Page 4 on through to page 11 gives a grand total of 14 assembly steps that are not numbered. Instead, they are alphabetized as letters A to O..
Page 12 is the painting and marking- guide, that shows a 5 view of the S-35 in the cover art scheme. You can use one of two license number plates on it. Both begin with a red, white and blue vetical- stripe. One is 67227 and goes on the front, the other is S 35 and goes on the rear.
The bottom of the page has a custormer-assistance coupon on it in French.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Heller !!
The 1st dark-grey tree holds the drive sprockets etc. (69 parts)
Page 12 is the painting and marking- guide, that shows a 5 view of the S-35 in the cover art scheme. You can use one of two license number plates on it. Both begin with a red, white and blue vetical- stripe. One is 67227 and goes on the front, the other is S 35 and goes on the rear.
The bottom of the page has a custormer-assistance coupon on it in French.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Heller !!
The 1st dark-grey tree holds the drive sprockets etc. (69 parts)
The 2nd dark-grey tree holds the figure parts (19 parts)
The 3rd dark-grey tree holds the bottom and sides etc. (31 parts)
The 4th dark-grey tree holds the hull top, turret parts etc. (18 parts)
The 5th dark-grey tree holds the spare tires, leaf springs etc. (74 parts)
The clear tree holds 5 parts.
The 2 black vinyl track runs are next.
The decal sheet completes the kits contents.
I have added two brass PE sets by On the Mark brand to the kit.
Over the years, that I’ve had this kit, the glue capsule dried out and got hard and I threw it away,
The detailing is very good.
Recommended.
The detailing is very good.
Recommended.