Renault FT-17 - Oh so Cute

Yes a tank can be cute, or at least that is what my first wife said of the Italian and French tanks down in Aberdeen Maryland. She laughed when I told here some were made by Renault and Fiat. :-)

A friend to the entire hobby community, Craig of Gaming Models  has now released my favorite tank of all time, but the Cromwell/Comet/Centurion line is a close second, the Renault FT-17.

This is a tank that was designed in 1917 and saw combat in 1918 and has seen action often ever since, with copies found in Iraq and Afghanistan today.

From the plains of China in the 1920s and 30s, France in 1940 or the streets of Washington in 1932 this was a versatile yet slow tank. Easy to operate and maintain, great for a national army or a local warlord. See your local arms dealer, or Craig, to get yours. Even MacArthur, Eisenhower and Patton were endorsers, or at least users of the FT-17 during there wartime and peacetime careers.

As for the arms dealer comment, there is a lot of truth in this.  If you have cash or better yet gold you to could become an armoured power. Useful to test out, and copy (see Soviet T-18), or use to put down brigands in Manchuria or Spanish Morocco.

For me it is in World War II that interests me the most, from German use of captured tanks for air field defense, anti-partisan actions and coastal positions the Germans kept these museum pieces in action at the same time they were using Tigers and Panthers.

In 1939 Poland had a significant number of FT-17s to use in Operation Case White. From PIBWL Poland had the following tanks in service, more or less.

• 112 light tanks Renault FT-17 (numbers: 1001-1112)
• 6 radio tanks Renault TSF (numbers: 2001-2006)
• 27 training tanks Renault FT-17 CWS (nos:3001-3027)
• 5 tanks Renault M26/27
• 24 tanks Renault NC-27 (in fact, 1 tank, the rest might be FT-17s)
• 174 tanks in total

So I can see a platoon of these for Poland and maybe a couple for some Imagination based in Central Asia where I can use my Ottomans, British and Arabs. May even need to look at the Ottomans from Peter Pig. So many options here.

I So Love Technology

Well I found out today there is a glitch with many blog feeds. This glitch is caused by an image if it is in the top position, so you are missing the great writing I am providing. :-)

As I fix the issue here is what you missed, now just dig back a little.

M51 - A New Old Tank

I have a thing for Israeli equipment. It is more a retro thing I guess. How so, well look at the vehicles used in Lebanon in the 1980s or on the Golan in 1973. The Merkava, right out of Flash Gordon, was used next to the Centurion 105. There were the traditional M113 (with and without bed spring armour) and towards the end even heavy APCs.

By far one of my favorite retro tanks has to be the M51. Known in the west as the Super Sherman or Isherman, this is a Sherman that is married to French 105. While there were changes, including a massive counter weight and muzzle brake, this is a modern AFV able to fight above its weight from the 1960s to the 80s.

Now this vehicle is limited to a number of Israeli conflicts but was never exported in its original form so while the M50 can be used by PLO (captured), South Lebanon Army (exported) and militias (stolen?) the M51 is used on the West Bank in 1967 and a number of actions on the Golan in 1973.

Anyone interested in the M51 will have a hard time digging up information. Information on building models is more common than their combat use or even what units they were assigned to. Recently I found a book on the Israeli Northern Command for 1973 that has helped fill-in the gaps, more on orders of battle latter. Knowing Hebrew does come in handy for research as most online translators return interesting results.

From top to bottom Gaming Models, FOW, SHQ

My renewed interest is that I have now found a new source for the M51 at Gaming Models. This is a company that is little known in the hobby, a niche in a niche hobby, that offers many unique vehicles. The costs are also low enough that if I want to try a new period or theater it is easy. I mean how many R35s does a guy need in German colors. Do not answer that.

So here are my thoughts on the M51 in 15mm from four different suppliers. I was at first surprised that the number was that high for a tank that only 180 were built. Three of the models I own personally, and a gaming chum offered the fourth. I am keeping this simple, basing it on cost and appearance.

Cost

• Flames of War $27 for 2
• Gaming Models $5
• Quality Casting $10
• QRF $6.87 (with today’s currency conversion)

Appearance

FOW to the left, Gaming Models to the right

Flames of War – A good casting and fine detail with heft to the model. It will not be easily knocked around. Paints up well and overall a good model.

Gaming Models – Good casting and detail. It is a resign so it is not overly heavy. Can be purchased primed and is easy to paint up.

Gaming Models left, QRF to the right

Quality Casting – I am reviewing this after see a friend’s miniature and also looking for references online. This was a disappointing model that is not true to scale in height of the body or the turret. Made of white metal and has heft.

QRF - A fair and older design that needs attention. The turret and body seems like it was pushed down, not true to scale. Also made of white metal.

Overall

The Flames of War and Gaming Models are the best of the lot. The M51 is not a vehicle that is not big demand for gamers today or for arms merchants in the past, although it could show up in the arms bazars of some imagination. If you want to fight on the Golan, they are both great looking models and either are worth having on the table based on appearance. But if you are looking to fight on the Golan once or twice a year go with the Gaming Models, they look good and are great for the price.

Paint Table - Oh My

Well to prove Jonathan Freitag right yes I may have a problem, it is not that big, honest. It is lucky for me there is not a Miniatures Anonymous. So by my count I have the following in different states on my paint table.

• 33 Aeronefs based, primed and partially painted
• 11 15mm armoured vehicles and artillery
• 92 15mm infantry, British Paras and Home Guard

Yes it is sizable.

Overall a packed table.
Infantry are behind the bin.

Two Turkish Balloons.

A French pre-dreadnought and two favorite merchants.

Polish, French and British tanks.
Yes, two distinct groups.

Roads Under Construction

Round About - Figures to show scale.

There are some things that gamers can never get enough of. Rules, history books and terrain come to mind immediately. For me I have been looking for better roads than the ones I have been using for the past 15 years (oh my). The roads I bought back than were latex roads from JR Miniatures. These worked great for Poland and farm country as well as Arabia and East Africa, but not so well for towns and cities in Europe.

Recently I found I was not the only one looking for roads as fellow bloggers were on the path to find a better solution. I think I may have found a solution from Gaming Models. Craig has recently released 15mm and 20mm cobblestone roads and they are just what the doctor ordered. I received the 20mm roads and they look perfect with my 15mm forces. My vehicles can even pass on them. More updates on the full set once I get every thing together.