Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Pendraken Releases, Requests and Photos! => Older Previews => Previous Years' Previews => New Figure Previews => 2010 & 2011 Previews => Topic started by: Leon on 19 July 2011, 09:18:04 PM

Title: New French tanks!
Post by: Leon on 19 July 2011, 09:18:04 PM
As mentioned elsewhere on the Forum, these were completed this week and sent down to Pendraken HQ.  

The first is the absolute monster that is the Char 2C!  At nearly 70 tonnes, and 33 feet long, this is the largest tank ever taken to production.  Despite there being only 10 of them built in the 1920's, and quickly becoming rather outdated, all 10 were reactivated in 1939 and put into their own unit, the 51st Bataillon de Chars de Combat.  Sadly, they're limitations were obvious, and they were pulled out before being destroyed.

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5955221795_455415e378.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5955221795/)


The second one is almost the exact opposite, being the Renault R35.  This little tank was produced in numbers upwards of 1500, and was used by a variety of other countries, including Poland and Romania.  Most of them were captured by Germany, and put back into use as the Pzkfw. 35R.  Some were passed on to Italy as well.  So, quite a few uses for this little tank!

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5955230777_366c654ef8.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5955230777/)


These should give us enough plastic masters to fill a mould, so we'll get these sent off, and should hopefully have them ready to go pretty soon!  A small note on the Char though, this is one big bit of kit, so the price will have to reflect this.  I'd estimate around the £4-£5 region depending on how much metal it takes.
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: nikharwood on 19 July 2011, 09:22:11 PM
Very nice...very nice indeed  8)
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: CorvetteK225 on 19 July 2011, 10:20:31 PM
:o Shiny metal object, shiny metal object!!!!! @-)

Dave
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Hurrah on 19 July 2011, 10:47:01 PM
Oh Heck!

I can see the local Anglicans getting a Char 2C and it will be coming right at me!

(lovely kit though!)
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Sandinista on 19 July 2011, 10:57:14 PM
Quote from: Hurrah on 19 July 2011, 10:47:01 PM
Oh Heck!

I can see the local Anglicans getting a Char 2C and it will be coming right at me!

(lovely kit though!)

And not just the Anglicans...
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Squirrel on 20 July 2011, 06:21:10 AM
Excellent 8) More goodies for the VBCW list :D

Cheers,

Kev
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Steve J on 20 July 2011, 06:35:15 AM
Groan ;). Both very nice models and added to the list.
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 20 July 2011, 07:53:07 AM
But why the Char 2C when tghere far more important vehicles missing - like anything post war. Instead we get a vehicle that saw no combat, of which 10 (yes 10) were built.

IanS :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Martyn on 20 July 2011, 10:31:36 AM
Re Char 2C.
I was of the understanding they were all destroyed by air attack whist being transported by rail.
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Bernie on 20 July 2011, 10:57:13 AM
Go with Martyn on that in that they were destroyed before ever seeing action
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Hurrah on 20 July 2011, 11:43:30 AM
The R-35s however, several users, commercially sold (Poland, Romania for sure, offered elsewhere), so could feasably wind up anywhere in the world!
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Hertsblue on 20 July 2011, 01:48:36 PM
Sod's Law states that all the nicest models will be of the most useless vehicles. Impressive models, though.
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Steve J on 20 July 2011, 02:58:24 PM
Personally I'm not bothered that few were produced or that they were destroyed on route. For me they will be perfect for AVBCW, 'what if?' type actions before or during WWII. Each to his own I suppose.
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: NTM on 20 July 2011, 03:16:30 PM
Italy ended up with a fair few R35's IIRC.
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Hurrah on 20 July 2011, 03:43:41 PM
I heard Italy used them for training, supporting CV3's in security work (e.g. Tito's partizans captured a few from Italian and Croat forces) and some may have seen action in Sicily.
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Leon on 20 July 2011, 03:44:27 PM
Quote from: ianrs54 on 20 July 2011, 07:53:07 AM
But why the Char 2C when tghere far more important vehicles missing - like anything post war. Instead we get a vehicle that saw no combat, of which 10 (yes 10) were built.

Because post-war vehicles are in hand elsewhere.  So there.   :P

Quote from: Martyn on 20 July 2011, 10:31:36 AM
Re Char 2C.
I was of the understanding they were all destroyed by air attack whist being transported by rail.

I thought the German's claimed they'd taken them out, when actually the French destroyed them themselves?  I might be mistaken though.
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Steve J on 20 July 2011, 03:50:11 PM
R-35's definately used in Sicily in counter attacks on the Gela bridgehead.
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: GrumpyOldMan on 20 July 2011, 10:55:35 PM


Scene:- a garret somewhere,

A large sigh bounces around the walls as GrumpyOldMan reaches for a much corrected piece of paper headed "Shopping List" and start furiously crossing out entries and making new ones..........

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Another lashing to our international trade balance. Definitely will have to sneak some past the SWMBO radar  :D :D.

Thank you

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Leon on 21 July 2011, 12:16:25 AM
Quote from: GrumpyOldMan on 20 July 2011, 10:55:35 PM
Definitely will have to sneak some past the SWMBO radar  :D :D.

That could be tricky with the Chars, they're massive...   :D
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Pruneau on 21 July 2011, 04:03:32 PM
Excellent stuff, I love the Renault!  It's gonna do very well for early war stuff!  The VBCW is a nice angle as well, but as it stands I have no more time available for new projects, what with the gameclub and all.
Title: Re: New French tanks!
Post by: Hurrah on 22 July 2011, 03:57:27 PM
Quote from: Martyn on 20 July 2011, 10:31:36 AM
Re Char 2C.
I was of the understanding they were all destroyed by air attack whist being transported by rail.

As my only VBCW force that is painted and ready to roll right now is the airforce  :o there in lies a plan ;)

never getting a full weekend to hit the painting/basing regime is turning out to be a pain (i'm a part time carer)