Model Forum / General / Models / August 2005

Build it with German markings.  Is one idea, not the one you want.  Other
than that, I don't know what to tell you.  Unless, French markings came as
an option in some other kits.

I

Blast Models has just reprinted their sheet of French markings.  Try
here:

http://tinyurl.com/9votl

Dan

The Heller S35 is the ONLY kit of this tank in this scale, and is now
pretty long in the tooth. It is a typical Heller kit (e.g. why use two
parts to form an assembly when seven will do?) so very busy and with
lousy tracks.

A new set of tracks, some putty and good markings should do a lot for
it though.

Cookie Sewell

    It is the only Somua S35 out there at the present, so
  good or bad is somewhat moot if it is what you want to build.

    That being said, it is typical Heller quality for the
  late 70's/early 80's. Not bad, not great.

    The kit was originally, I am fairly certain, originally
  released in French markings. The German marking and dust
  bin turret cupola were later additions for the balkenkreutz
  boys.

    This one has French and German markings:
http://cgi.ebay.com/HELLER-1-35-FRENCH-WW2-TANK_W0QQitemZ5992803822QQcategoryZ25
88QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

    And, no, it is not my auction.

                            Bruce

It needs better tracks--it was re-released by Gunze Sangyo in the Asia
market with individual link track, but Heller didn't buy those molds
when they took the kit tooling back. I believe there is an aftermarket
track set available from Friul, if memory serves.
The turret isn't very accurate in shape, but there is an aftermarket
resin item available. On The Mark Models in Colorado did a handy
photoetch set for it 15 years ago--useful if you can find it. Fit isn't
too bad--some of the hull parts need to be shimmed between the upper
and lower halves. Heller missed some prominent mold lines on the
original vehicle hull, so you can build those up with stretched sprue
or thin rod melted in place with liquid cement. The mufflers should
have cooling ribs on them--add them from plastic strip.

There's a seller on EBay called 'Decalomaniacs' who sell a set of
decals for 1/35th scale French vehicles.
Check out:-

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Decalcomaniacs_W0QQssPageNameZviQ3asibQ3astoreviewQQtZkm

Hope this helps.