French Saint-Chamond Heavy Tank-Early, 1/35 - Hobby Boss 83858

Planned for September 2026, this snap-fit model kit French Saint-Chamond Heavy Tank – Early from Hobby Boss, reference 83858, reproduced at the scale of 1/35, depicts an early version of the French heavy tank Saint-Chamond from the First World War. This plastic kit makes a standout subject for a collection dedicated to early armored vehicles or to French military history of 1914-1918.

The Saint-Chamond tank

Built in Saint-Chamond by the Compagnie des Forges et Aciéries de la Marine et d’Homécourt, the Saint-Chamond is one of the French tanks deployed during the First World War. Developed alongside the Schneider CA1, it entered combat in 1917. Its very elongated silhouette, its large front overhang, and its relatively short tracks give it an instantly recognizable appearance.

This representation of an Early version lets you build a French armored vehicle from the first years of the armored arm. At 1/35 scale, each dimension of the real vehicle is reduced by a factor of 35—an format well-suited to highlighting the vehicle’s shapes, its equipment, and a careful finish.

Kit contents and features

The Hobby Boss 83858 kit consists of more than 300 parts. It includes, in particular, an upper hull molded in slide-molded sections, tracks with separate links, a photo-etched detail sheet, and a film sheet. Once assembled, the model measures approximately 265 mm in length and 112.5 mm in width.

• Brand: Hobby Boss
• Reference: 83858
• Type: static model kit of a heavy tank for assembly
• Subject: French Saint-Chamond Heavy Tank – Early
• Scale: 1/35
• Main material: injection-molded plastic
• Number of parts: more than 300
• Length (assembled): approx. 265 mm
• Width (assembled): approx. 112.5 mm
• Included items: photo-etch, film sheet, and tracks with separate links

Assembly and finishing

Assembly requires the usual tools for static modeling: side cutters, plastic glue, fine abrasives, and paint. The separate track links allow you to work on the depiction of the running gear with care. Photo-etch adds fine details that are best separated and handled with precision tools.

A primer layer generally makes it easier to check the fit of assemblies before painting. The Saint-Chamond is also well-suited for weathering work that evokes the terrain conditions of the Great War: dust, mud, and variations on the metal parts can be applied gradually, depending on the desired effect.