Hello, m8s !

I got this morning by my newspapers shop the 3rd issue of the new 1/43 Eaglemoss AFVs series, launched as a test exclusively in France: it's a French light tank SOMUA AMC (=Auto-Mitrailleuse de Cavalerie) S35 ("67257 - white 81") said as belonging to the 1ère DLM (Division Légère Mécanisée - Light Mechanized Division - ancient Cavalry Division), 18ème Régiment de Dragons (Flying Dragoon symbol), 1er escadron (blue insignia), 2ème Peloton (white heart), Quesnoy, France, May 1940. Selling price: 17€.

The 1st item was the SdKfz 251/1 "Stuka zu Fuss" rocket launcher:

http://www.scalemodelcollectors.com/photo/sdkfz-251-1-ausf-c-wurfra...

The 2nd was the M16 MGMC :

http://www.scalemodelcollectors.com/photo/us-m16-multi-gun-motor-ca...

A) What can I say vs these 3 first issues:

This 'new" series was yet distributed in France by ATLAS collections in 2011/2012 with other liveries.

As for the Altaya/IXO 1/72 series, the models are half diecast / plastic.

Their moulds and finition are relatively acceptable, though some bugs are still present, such as the tracks joints which stay approximative, even at such a scale. Some unrecoveravable errors, as the moulded Maxson M45 Multigun mounting placed too rearwards in the M16 and at an incorrect support angle (obligation to break some mounting pieces to rectify position), and tank/track heights proportions inaccurate in the Somua.

Not clearly visible here is the too much rearwards M45 mosition, but very clearly the inaccurate oblic position of the M45 chassis, to give the .50 guns an AA elevation position. In fact, the chassis had a 360°  horizontal  possible mvt, and the guns elevated.

The quite ideal position of the M45 4x.50 Browning MGs mounting, realised after breakage then refixation of the lowest mounting model pieces.

Regarding the details, one could have been luckily surprised... halas, there is no miracle. Though at the 1/43 scale, details are as precise as at the 1/72 !!! That means : average !!

B) This SOMUA S35 by itself:

The proportions: Track height seems too narrow vs tank height, or too much tank length vs height.

The camo and markings: the colours separation should have been black lined (that detail can be easily rectified with some black ink pen).

Some little black ink pen applications to separate the different camo colours.

The flanks French cockades are missing but it is concording with the few photos available of the "81". The front cockade here on the model doesn't exist on the real tank. The rear registration plate should have been right hand placed, not left hand as illustrated, and the French rear cockade, here centered, might have been left hand placed (not 100% sure of that). Colours are not accurate, nor the "67257" registration. Regarding this "white 81", it must have been "67240". 

Effectively, the "67257" registration corresponds to the "white 14" S35 of the 14ème Régiment de Cuirassiers (belonging too to the 1st DLM). So, the registration of the model is not the good one.

It is to be noted that the 1/72 Altaya/IXO model of the "67257" is well associated to the "white 14" markings and presents better accuracy, though at a smaller scale !!

C) In short:

Though interesting vs its scale, this series shows the same bugs than less expensive ones and each model has to be inspected before being bought !

That's what I'll do for the next issues!

Ciao, mates!

Jeff