M1IP & B1 bis Questions

[Armored_Sprue]

1. I just started building the Panda Hobbies M1IP, using the following photo as inspiration. The question is regarding the application on the anti-slip coating. I’m getting conflicting answers as to if Desert Storm M1s had it or not.

2. Just finished building the Tamiya B1 bis and plan on painting in the recaptured FFI B1. Period photos show this vehicle as very dark while color plates show it either as Pz Gray or OD. What is the consensus as to the which color would be more accurate.

So please let me know what y’all think!

Thanks in Advance

[Dan]

Yes, on the IPs having anti slip but it was very mild compared to modern tanks.

[Armored_Sprue]

Thanks Sir!

Any significant differences in the pattern from the A1s?

ER

[Dan]

That I don’t remember. It wasn’t something that one really paid attention to.

[Uncle-Heavy]

@Armored_Sprue

Period photos show this vehicle as very dark while color plates show

The photo you posted shows the tanks shadow on the ground on the viewers side.
This means that the light is coming towards the camera and surfaces in shadow
will appear darker than they really are.

[SableLiger]

My uneducated assumption would be that it was painted in Panzer Grey and put into German service before being liberated by the Free French, all German markings obliterated and new FFI markings applied in the field.

[Armored_Sprue]

I wish to Thank everyone who took the time to reply. I would like to do the B1 in OD but the reality is Pz Gray is more likely. As for the M1IP anti-slip I’ll be using Rustolium Terracotta which produces a much more scale effect. Thanks again.

[Frenchy]

Here’s a view of the B1Bis other side (no “BB” here…)

close-up

H.P.

[Uncle-Heavy]

So they were painted with a dark or a light colour?
Nice to get some definitive clarity.

[Frenchy]

Got no clue about the color, but this B1bis is in fact an ex-Panzerkampfwagen B2 Flammenwerfer (like the towed one), hence the extra fuel tank in the rear…This fuel tank is barely visible in the OP post (the two waving guys are seating on it). On this German variant, the hull 75mm gun is replaced with a flamethrower.

H.P.

[Armored_Sprue]

Thanks for photo Frenchy! This one I have not seen before, so therefore helpful. For myself this presents a new question. Does the Extended Fuel Tank = B2 Flammenwerfer? Meaning if the Ext Tank is installed it can only be a Flammenwerfer. Or was the Ext tank an accepted modification by the French Army before hostilities broke out and installed on just a few vehicles? The Reason this matters, to me anyways, is my B1 build is complete but with the hull mounted 75mm.

[Frenchy]

I guess it’s up to you, accuracy-wise…The extra fuel tank pictured above is a German flame tank feature but it appeared that “some” B1bis tanks were experimentally fitted with a French-designed extra tank in 1940. The shape was different though, as seen in the picture below…

from this French forum thread

This turretless B1Bis was knocked-out on June 22,1940

https://www.chars-francais.net/index.php/classement-individuel/chars-b1-et-b1-bis?view=article&id=739:505&catid=22

H.P.

[Armored_Sprue]

Thanks for the quick reply Sir. I like my builds mostly “accuracy-wise”. This is a rather large mis-step I’ll have to give this some thought and see how much it really matters. Thanks Again for your help.