Felix's Gaming Pages Blog

Despite having been designed from 1933 as a rather slow but well-armoured light infantry support tank, the type was initially rejected by the French Infantry because it proved difficult to steer while driving cross-country, instead being adopted in 1936 by the French Cavalry. From 1938 an improved version was produced with a stronger engine, the Char léger modèle 1935 H modifié 39, that from 1940 was also fitted with a longer, more powerful 37 mm gun.

Having made up the models, the next stage was to give the models a white undercoat.

See the workbench feature on the Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39.

A veteran of World War I, in the 1920s and 1930s de Gaulle came to the fore as a proponent of mobile armoured divisions, which he considered would become central in modern warfare. During World War II, he reached the temporary rank of Brigadier General, leading one of the few successful armoured counter-attacks during the 1940 Fall of France, and then briefly served in the French government as France was falling.

Charles de Gaulle is available for Flames of War and comes with a Somau S35 objective. The blister contains the metal parts and resin objective.

The base for De Gaulle is quite simple, De Gaulle, a staff officer and a motorcycle combination. The most challenging part of this base is the motorcycle combination. At one point I did consider leaving it off entirely….

Has certainly put me off buying any French motorcycle combination platoons!

The Somau S35 objective was much easier to put together.

See the workbench feature on General de Gaulle.

Despite having been designed from 1933 as a rather slow but well-armoured light infantry support tank, the type was initially rejected by the French Infantry because it proved difficult to steer while driving cross-country, instead being adopted in 1936 by the French Cavalry. From 1938 an improved version was produced with a stronger engine, the Char léger modèle 1935 H modifié 39, that from 1940 was also fitted with a longer, more powerful 37 mm gun.

Having made up the hulls, the next stage was to sort the turrets out.  The metal components were fitted to the turret.

See the workbench feature on the Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39.

Despite having been designed from 1933 as a rather slow but well-armoured light infantry support tank, the type was initially rejected by the French Infantry because it proved difficult to steer while driving cross-country, instead being adopted in 1936 by the French Cavalry. From 1938 an improved version was produced with a stronger engine, the Char léger modèle 1935 H modifié 39, that from 1940 was also fitted with a longer, more powerful 37 mm gun.

In order to fix the tracks to the hulls, I scored the hull sides and the tracks.

The tracks were then glued to the sides of the hull.

As you might guess from the page title, I have decided to make these up as the H-39 model. Battlefront are very good in marking the rear decks with H35 and H39 so you know which is which. They fit very easily onto the resin hulls. Here are the three hulls.

See the workbench feature on the Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39.

I was recommended these Forged in Battle miniatures at a gaming shop in Birmingham. They look well casted and a similar size to Flames of War infantry.

The mortar crew were given a basecoat of Green Brown (879) whilst the mortar itself was given a basecoat of Gunship Green (895).

See the workbench feature on the Forged in Battle 15mm French Mortar Team.