Introduction
Ostmodels from Tasmania has long been known as a producer of 1/76
resin kits. More recently, Ostmodels also started producing some interesting
subjects in 1/72. One of them is the French "monster tank"
FCM 2C.
Content
The kit is sealed only in a plastic bag, but it arrived by mail safely
packed in a sturdy cardboard box. The biggest part is the hull, which
is made in one piece. Then you get the turrets, guns, pair of drive
sprockets, tracks, exhausts, side doors, towing hooks and antenna.
That's all. Although big, the kit itself is very simple – but
not simplified.
All of the casting blocks are already removed, and only minor sanding
is necessary. There are only a few air bubbles and only some flash,
which can be easily removed. The real vehicle was covered with many
rows of rivets, which are perfectly reproduced.
The door on the port side has hinges on the wrong side, but it can
be easily fixed: just remove the hinges and make new ones on the opposite
side of the hole for the doors. Of course, you must also modify the
door itself.
According to my references, the width is exactly 1/72, but the hull
is slightly longer and closer to 1/70. But with a kit of this size,
I doubt if anyone will notice the difference. Speaking of size: for
better illustration I made a comparison photo with a Tiger tank, so
everyone can see what I am talking about. It had to be an impressive
sight, when these monsters rolled across the battlefield. But they
came too late for WWI, and were too obsolete for WWII.
Instructions and markings
There are no decals, and instructions are reduced to a sheet of paper
with a photo and drawings of the real tank. You may visit the Henk
of Holland website, where you can find helpful images of the assembled
kit (http://henk.fox3000.com/Ostmodels.htm)
As far as I know, the only decals available are made by Black
Lion. On their sheet No. 72031 (The interbellum years) they offer
markings for tank No. 97 „Normandie“.
 
 
 
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