FOB09 Char B1 Question (1 Viewer)

[lenswerks]

Could someone who has the FOB09 Char B1 vehicle give me their thoughts on the set - color and detail accuracy? Thanks.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Could someone who has the FOB09 Char B1 vehicle give me their thoughts on the set - color and detail accuracy? Thanks.

I have both FoB009 and FoB010. They are fairly simple, early K&C models. They are not highly detailed but seem reasonably accurate, but I am not nearly as familiar with the French tanks as with the German/US and British ones. They have less of a combat history - not only short but many did not even get into battle and were obsolete before D-Day.

The 009 model looks very green in the brochure and photos but is darker in person as the green is really an olive green, the brown is a light chocolate brown and the tellow is a butternut squash yellow. The colours are very pronounced especially as they are separated by thick black borders - almost a cartoonish appearance. The actual camo on the bis was not separated by thick black lines and was more subdued.

Here is a brochure photo of the 010 and of two actual bis tanks.

Terry

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Could someone who has the FOB09 Char B1 vehicle give me their thoughts on the set - color and detail accuracy? Thanks.

I have both FoB009 and FoB010. They are fairly simple, early K&C models. They are not highly detailed but seem reasonably accurate, but I am not nearly as familiar with the French tanks as with the German/US and British ones. They have less of a combat history - not only short but many did not even get into battle and were obsolete before D-Day.

The 009 model looks very green in the brochure and photos but is darker in person as the green is really an olive green, the brown is a light chocolate brown and the tellow is a butternut squash yellow. The colours are very pronounced especially as they are separated by thick black borders - almost a cartoonish appearance. The actual camo on the bis was not separated by thick black lines and was more subdued.

The 75 mm gun is fixed. Note the extra detail on the actual tank just above the turret ring.

Here is a brochure photo of the 010 which I colour corrected to look like the model) and one of an actual bis tank.

Terry

 

[Canadian Samurai]

I finally managed to secure an FOB009 at a great price a couple of months ago. It's a nice piece, all the moreso because it's a unique subject. Detail is decent. I like the aerial on it which you plug in the back. I don't have any books on this tank so can't comment on accuracy. However, I am looking to get one book which has the FOB009's general paint scheme on the cover, right down to the name Anjou. Undoubtedly it was the "inspiration" for K&C paint job. Given that, I'd say it's a safe bet accuracy wise: http://www.tracks-n-troops.com/shop/images/trackstory/TRS003.jpg

Probably the only big knock against this tank is that like most of the earlier K&C vehicles, it seems quite a bit under scale. Though I have not measured it in detail, in the hand it does not seem like the big tank it was in reality.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I finally managed to secure an FOB009 at a great price a couple of months ago. It's a nice piece, all the moreso because it's a unique subject. Detail is decent. I like the aerial on it which you plug in the back. I don't have any books on this tank so can't comment on accuracy. However, I am looking to get one book which has the FOB009's paint scheme on the cover, right down to the Anjou. Undoubtedly it was the "inspiration" for K&C paint job. Given that, I'd say it's a safe bet accuracy wise: http://www.tracks-n-troops.com/shop/images/trackstory/TRS003.jpg

Probably the only big knock against this tank is that like most of the earlier K&C vehicles, it seems quite a bit under scale. Though I have not measured it in detail, in the hand it does not seem like the big tank it was in reality.

That's a good photo. The colours are more subdued (realistic) and there is a black line separating the colours - just not as prominent as on the model. As for the size, it does seem quite small next to the FoB Fob Panzer II and to the FoB Panzer IV which is probably a recent enough model to be an actual 1/30 scale.

Terry

 

[lenswerks]

Thank you both for the information.

The actual dimensions are 251" L, 98" W and 110" H. Interesting since a Panzer II I think is 189" L, 90" W and 79" H.

 

[jazzeum]

The Char Bs are very well done and although it may be undersized (which I don't necessarily to be the case), they give a sense of how big a tank they were.

They are some of my favorites tanks made by K & C, next to the
Matilda.

Now, I do find it funny to hear the Chars characterized as early tanks as they are from the 2005 time frame. To me an early tank might be the Easy Eight or the first
Panther.

 

[Canadian Samurai]

I entered the hobby in 2006 so for me they're early. At the time, I narrowly missed out on acquiring an FOB009 since it had recently retired when I started looking, so it has been a giant hunt for me to get one at an affordable price ever since, thankfully recently ended.

I think all vehicles produced prior to the Tunisian Tiger in 2008 must be viewed as "early" or potentially underscale (but not necessarily), since I believe the Tiger is when K&C publicly acknowledged the polystone mold shrinkage issue for the first time and promised to correct it. If nothing else K&C's Char B makes a great 1/32 or 1/35 model, probably the only one you'll ever be able to get.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

The Char Bs are very well done and although it may be undersized (which I don't necessarily to be the case), they give a sense of how big a tank they were.

They are some of my favorites tanks made by K & C, next to the
Matilda.

Now, I do find it funny to hear the Chars characterized as early tanks as they are from the 2005 time frame. To me an early tank might be the Easy Eight or the first
Panther.

The Char B1 bis FoB 010 was my first K&C tank - I just got one of the last ones available. The FoB 009s were sold out. To me the K&C early period was after they had a big jump in Quality up until the time they began producing full 1/30 scale - roughly 2004 - 2008, but that is just a guess. The very early period is before that when they produced much cruder matt figures and armour ( Easy Eight or the first Panther ) and the really early period is when they were still producing glossy figures. I know next to nothing about the two earliest periods.

Terry

 

[Roustam]

I have both Char B's and am very pleased with them. Yes, they are undersized but in my opinion are well done. The camouflage schemes for both the Anjou and Maroc are completely accurate as they appear to be taken directly from the H&C book, "Chars B Au Combat". As a collector of the 1939-1940 French Army I was delighted when K&C released their FOB line.
Russ

 

[Phantom Warrior]

The Char Bs are very well done and although it may be undersized (which I don't necessarily to be the case), they give a sense of how big a tank they were.

Yes Jazzeum, you could be right - it may not be undersized by much


Char Bis Panzer IV Short Barrel Ausf A-F1
L 20.9 ft +1.5 ft (18 in) 19.4 ft
W 8.07 ft - 1.16 ft (14 in) 9.3 ft
H 9.15 ft +0.35 ft (4 in.) 8.8 ft

The tank models are virtually the same height and the Char is fractionally longer The Char B should be longer by 18 real in. or just over 1/2 in. at 1/30 scale and it is slightly longer. The Char B at 28 tons was classed as a heavy tank while the Panzer IV was a medium tank at 25 tons. Looks like the Char was not as massive as we thought?

Terry

 

[lenswerks]

Thanks again for the information. I picked up a Char B1 a few weeks back now. I like it..

 

[panda1gen]

You did very well to get one, I seem to remember that there were only around 500 made, a small run for late armour.

 

[damian]

I just like them because they are unusual in the toy soldier/ modelling world. Tigers and Shermans are quite common but a French Tank is a bit rare.

 

[jazzeum]

My recollection is that 500 were made of the FoB 009 and 200 of the FoB 10.

In looking back at Terry's earlier comment about it being undersized, I think it is but it's still a very nice model and glad I have them both.

 

[Njja]

The Char Bs are very well done and although it may be undersized (which I don't necessarily to be the case), they give a sense of how big a tank they were.

They are some of my favorites tanks made by K & C, next to the
Matilda.

Now, I do find it funny to hear the Chars characterized as early tanks as they are from the 2005 time frame. To me an early tank might be the Easy Eight or the first
Panther.

...........................................................................

I was thinking the same thing! I usually think of the Original WS15W when people talk about the "rare" winter tiger (only 100 produced) instead of the
WS70SL (1000 pcs). And find it interesting to hear the FOB09 referred to as
an "early" tank.

Of course its all fun, as "Early" really depends on when you entered the hobby......and compaired to many I just got in yesterday and have been playing catch up for quite awhile!

Theres always something you are chasing.....and that makes it more fun!

 

[panda1gen]

My recollection is that 500 were made of the FoB 009 and 200 of the FoB 10.

In looking back at Terry's earlier comment about it being undersized, I think it is but it's still a very nice model and glad I have them both.

Thanks,

I didn't realise that there were just 200 of FOB 10 Brad, that is a much rarer piece than I thought. I also like the period and the tank.

 

[Capitolron]

My recollection is that 500 were made of the FoB 009 and 200 of the FoB 10.

In looking back at Terry's earlier comment about it being undersized, I think it is but it's still a very nice model and glad I have them both.

You know - the interesting thing is that the FoB 09 was in more demand over the years on Ebay than the FoB 10 - even with there being less FOB 10 made ?

I have both and they are great tanks !

 

[Phantom Warrior]

You know - the interesting thing is that the FoB 09 was in more demand over the years on Ebay than the FoB 10 - even with there being less FOB 10 made ?

I have both and they are great tanks !

I am a big FOB fan and have both. They go great together with the Renault tank against the FOB grey Panzers.

Terry