Schneider CA-Early, 1/35 - Hobby Boss 83861

The Schneider CA-Early Hobby Boss 83861 is a military model kit to be assembled at 1/35, dedicated to an early version of the French Schneider CA tank. Made in injection-molded plastic, this kit recreates one of the very first French armored vehicles deployed during the First World War. It makes a striking subject for a collection of 1914-1918 vehicles or for building a diorama of the Western Front.

The Schneider CA tank

The Schneider CA, also known as Schneider CA1, is considered the first French tank. Developed during the First World War to meet the challenges of trench warfare, it was intended to accompany the infantry by crossing barbed-wire obstacles and providing support against enemy positions.

The first Schneider CA were deployed in 1917. The vehicle can be recognized by its very distinctive silhouette, featuring a tall, angular hull, side tracks, and armament placed along the sides of the superstructure. Its primitive yet functional look makes it an iconic subject from the early days of armored warfare.

The Hobby Boss 83861 model kit

The 83861 reference from Hobby Boss represents the Schneider CA-Early at the 1/35 scale. This scale reduces the real vehicle’s dimensions by a factor of 35 and provides a size well suited for working on details, painting, and weathering.

The kit includes over 300 plastic parts as well as photetched elements. The upper hull is molded using a multi-sliding-drawer technology, while the tracks are provided as individual links. These parts allow for careful work on the distinctive shapes of the running gear and the fine details of the armored vehicle.

Assembly and finishing

Assembling a 1/35 tank model requires careful preparation of the parts: clean separation from the sprues, removal of any mold lines, and test-fitting before gluing. The individual track links are best assembled gradually to maintain a regular alignment around the wheels and running-gear components.

Applying a suitable primer layer to the plastic then helps ensure uniform paint coverage and makes it easier to reveal any flaws to correct before final finishing. The hull details, rivets, armament, and mechanical areas naturally lend themselves to techniques such as washes, dry brushing, and applying dust or mud to evoke the harsh conditions of the Great War battlefields.

Glue and paints needed for assembly and coloring must be purchased separately. Precision tools, fine sanding paper, modeling putty, and brushes or an airbrush can be useful additions to your build setup.

Technical specifications

• Brand : Hobby Boss
• Reference : 83861
• Type : military vehicle model kit to be assembled
• Subject : Schneider CA-Early
• Scale : 1/35
• Material : injection-molded plastic
• Included details : photetched parts
• Running gear : tracks with individual links
• Period represented : First World War