Light tank R-35 late version 1:72 First To Fight PL087

Plastic military model for assembly: Light tank R-35 late version 1:72 First To Fight PL087

Product description: A plastic model for assembly depicting the light tank Renault R-35 in 1:72 scale. It is an accurate replica of the French infantry support tank from World War II. 

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Manufacturer: First To Fight
• Catalog number: PL087

History of the Renault R-35 tank:

The Renault R-35 was designed as a successor to the Renault FT-17 tanks from World War I. In 1933, the French Consultative Commission on Armament presented requirements for a new infantry support tank, and Renault quickly responded by presenting the Renault ZM prototype. After a series of modifications, in 1935 the tank was adopted into the French army.

The R-35 tank featured a modern design with thick armor, which in some places reached a thickness of up to 45 mm. It was equipped with a Renault 447 gasoline engine with a power of 82 HP, which, with a combat weight of 10.6 tons, gave it limited performance. Its main armament was the Puteaux SA 18 gun of 37 mm caliber, which was later replaced by a more modern SA 38 gun.

Users and application:

The Renault R-35 was the most widely used tank in the French army during the 1940 campaign. It was part of many independent armored battalions and armored divisions. After France's defeat, many of these tanks were seized by the Germans, who used them in auxiliary units and as a basis for building tank destroyers.

R-35 tanks were also exported to other countries, including Poland, Romania, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. In Poland, despite initial reservations about their armament, a decision was made to purchase 100 units, some of which were used in the September campaign of 1939.

Kit for self-assembly and painting. Does not include paints or glue. For assembly, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and glue for plastic models (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.