Tamiya H39 French Light Tank 1:35 build guide

Full Review with Mark Rooks

See all our Tamiya Tank and Armour builds

This Tamiya H39 step by step build review will guide you with Tamiya H39 assembly instructions and model painting and weathering techniques.
Just before we get started, here’s a look at how it all turned out…

Introduction

The Char Leger H-39 was a Light Tank designed in 1937, manufactured by Hotchkiss, it was based on the fully tracked H-35 chassis and was in use from 1938 to 1945. It was commonly called a Hotchkiss.

The vehicle was powered by Hotchkiss 6-cylinder. 5.9 litre’ petrol power plant producing 120 HP which could drive the vehicle on roads at up to 22 mph with a range of about 150 miles before refuelling. Its cross country performance was good providing a max speed of about 11 mph and a range of about 60 miles.

It was armed with one light machine gun, a Mitrailleuse modèle 1931. Its main armament consisted of a 37 mm SA M1938 L/33 which could penetrate 28 mm of flat plate at 400 metres

This was the last model in the range, and sported a long barrelled 37mm gun.

A number of these tanks were captured and and used by German forces after being upgraded with new radio equipment and cupola hatch.

The Tamiya H39 French Light Tank 1:35 kit…

Length: 138mm, width: 56mm
This is one of the most recent releases from Tamiya and, like most modern Tamiya model kits, is a relatively simple build but with plentiful detail. Two options are included, a French version and in addition, a German version with additional parts to modify the radio and cupola.
The compact, rounded form of the French light tank H39 is faithfully captured in style based on extensive research of the actual tank.

On with the Tamiya H39 step by step build…