Somua S-35 (15mm)

[Fitz]

The French Somua S-35 is widely regarded as one of the best tanks in the world in 1940, when the Germans invaded.

It was well armed, well armoured, and with decent mobility. Its only major flaw was common to almost all French tanks of the time in that it had only a two-man turret, meaning that the tank commander also had to act as loader, and was thus overworked. While he was attending to the gun, he wasn't looking at the battlefield for dangers or targets.

The model is 1:100 scale (15mm), FDM printed  on my elderly Ender 3, from a design by M. Bergman. I've done some structural tinkering to get it to print more reliably, but I haven't added any extra detail this time around.

[blacksoilbill]

Great print, lovely paintjob.

[SJWi]

Lovely. I have 1940 French in 20mm, and am in the process of dusting off my 1/200 French which were painted in the mid 1990s but have never made it onto the table. That said before them I have 100 German 1/200 vehicles of Rommel's 7th Pz Division to complete

[Schlaumeier]

Nice paintshop. I just love all of those weird early war vehicles :-D

Looks like the proportions are a bit off though? Is the hull too low / too long? Or are my models to high / short?

[SJWi]

Looks OK to me except for the width of the gun which looks way bigger than a 47mm.

[Fitz]

Looks OK to me except for the width of the gun which looks way bigger than a 47mm.

The gun is wildly out of whack, due to the limitations of FDM printing in this small scale. If I ever gather together enough enthusiasm, I'll replace it wit a turned brass one that's a bit closer to true scale — but not actually true scale, because in 1:100 that would look too small. You can't win.

[CapnJim]

Looks good.  I got to see one up close at the Patton Armor Collection at Fort Benning in March.  You did a nice job on yours.