Not Bad For A Sidekick

Historical Background

Following the end of World War 2, France intended to develop new, indigenous armoured fighting vehicles to face future threats. They came up with a number of tanks, of which the AMX-50 was intended to be the medium tank for Western European armies. Financial constraints coupled with American military aid in the shape of M47 Pattons caused the programme to be cancelled. In 1956, a working group called FINBEL (after France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) was set up to draw a requirement for a common tank to replace American- and British-built tanks then in service with those countries. With West Germany being allowed to rearm, the group included the Germans and the acronym was then changed to FINABEL with the A stands for Allmagne, French for Germany (despite the acronym, the active members were just France and West Germany). In October 1956, FINABEL agreed to develop a tank dubbed the Europanzer. The requirement asked for a 30-ton tank with a width of 3.15 meters and a height of 2.15 meters and armed with a 105mm gun. It should also have a power-to-weight ratio of 30 hp/tonne, powered by an air-cooled petrol engine and having a road range of 350 km. Each country was allowed to build two prototypes each.

The French prototypes were developed by the Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Molineux (AMX) with the first one completed in September 1960. The programme however ran into problems; the first of which occurred in 1958, upon the ascension of Charles de Gaulle as the President of France. On 17 June 1958, he decided to refuse the participation of West Germany and Italy to develop a common nuclear weapon. This in turn caused the Germans to start losing interest in the Europanzer project. The rift was further widened when the German Defence Minister began to oppose the project. In July 1963, the West Germans decided to pursue a purely 'national' tank and was decided likewise by the French in November of the same year. By this time the French tank received the designation AMX-30 while the West German vehicle was named Leopard. The final nail in the coffin was when the participating countries couldn't agree on the main armament: the French wanted to use the French 105mm tank gun while the West Germans wanted to use the British-developed L7 gun. The Europanzer programme was cancelled and the parties went their separate ways. The French prototypes were light (comparable to the Swiss Panzer 61) and low (comparable to the T-55). The turret design was conventional, avoiding the oscillating turret of the AMX-50. The first two prototypes were powered by a petrol engine, which was then replaced by a multi-fuel diesel engine. The prototypes were later designated AMX-30A to differentiate them from production tanks, designated AMX-30B. 

The AMX-30 was mostly of cast construction with a pronounced hull front slope and an oval, hemispheric cast turret. It had a combat weight of just 36 tonnes. Armour thickness was 80.8 mm for the turret face and 79 mm for the hull front. At the time, it was the most lightly protected MBT in Europe as the design philosophy relied on its speed, agility and small dimensions. The AMX-30 was powered by a Hispano-Suiza HS-110 diesel engine  producing 680 to 720 hp power output, allowing speeds up to 65 km/h. The AMX had a range of 600 km. The main armament was a 105mm F1 cannon. The unique feature of the gun was its Obus G HEAT round which was designed with two separate walls so that the outer shell spins while the inner one remain stationary. This allow the rifled F1 gun to have an effective range of 3,000 meters. 50 105 mm rounds were carried. Secondary armament comprised of a 12.7 mm machine gun co-axially mounted with the main gun and a 7.62 mm machine gun on the commander's cupola. In 1972 the gun stabilisation system was modernised and in 1973 the 12.7mm machine gun was replaced with a 20 mm Hispano-Suiza dual-purpose cannon. In 1980 the type received a major upgrade programme with the first upgraded tank, designated AMX-30B2 completed in 1982. The COTAC APX M-508 FCS now included a laser rangefinder and an LLLTV while ammunition now include APFSDS rounds. The engine was upgraded to a more powerful HS-110.2 while the orginal (and temperamental) transmission was replaced with a smoother SESM RNC2000. In 1995 AMX-30B2s of 1er/2ᵉ Chasseurs of the Rapid Reaction Force received the BRENUS (briques reactive de surblindage or up-armour reactive bricks) package comprising of 112 ERA 'bricks' fitted on the turret and the hull front. To compensate for increased weight, a 725 hp engine was installed. 

The AMX-30 entered service in 1966 when 501ᵉ Regiment de Chars de Combat became the first unit to be equipped with the tank. In 1991, during the Gulf War (known to the French as Operation Daguet), AMX-30B2s of 4ᵉ Regiment de Dragons formed part of 6ᵉ Division Legere Blindee. 44 AMX-30B2 and 4 AMX-30 Demin (tanks fitted with ex-East German mine rollers) were deployed. The Division was positioned to the west of the main Coalition forces, protecting the left flank of US XVII Airborne Corps. This disposition allowed greater autonomy to the French and at the same time lessening the likelihood of encountering superior T-72 of the Iraqis. The French successfully completed their objectives: 'Rochambeau', 'Chambord' and 'Objective White' (As-Salman Air Base). 270 105 mm rounds were expended during the campaign and with support from USAF A-10s and their own Gazelle helicopters, managed to destroy 10 tanks, three BMPs, fifteen trucks and five mortars. On the other side of the front, Qatari AMX-30s were involved in the Battle of Khafji, knocking out three T-55s and capturing four. At least one Qatari AMX-30 was lost during the battle. 

The AMX-30 was exported to Spain, Greece, Chile, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and UAE. Bosnia-Herzegovina received ex-UAE AMX-30s while Cyprus received theirs from ex-Greece stocks. The French Army received a total of 1,355 AMX-30s plus 195 AUF1 155mm howitzers, 44 ATL Pluton TELs, 134 AMX-30D ARVs, 183 AMX-30R SAM vehicles and 48 EBG engineering vehicles. The AMX-30 gun tanks in French service has been replaced by the Leclerc.    

The Kit

The AMX-30 has been overlooked by mainstream kit manufacturers with just Heller (naturally) producing them in the 1980s. Meng however came up with the baseline AMX-30B kit in 2012 and was followed by the AUF1 in the next year. In 2014 the mould was updated to create the B2 version of the AMX-30. The parts are spread among 12 sand-coloured, 5 dark grey and one clear sprues, a lower hull pan, a turret shell, a rubbery sheet, a length of twine, two PE frets plus a small decal sheet. The parts look well-detailed  and there is also a jig to help with track assembly. Like the previous Meng model kits I've built before, the suspension can be made moveable. The decal sheet provide markings for just one vehicle, '112' of the 4th Dragoon Regiment, 6th Light Armoured Division during the 1991 Gulf War. A small 'numbers jujumble'is also included.

Construction

As usual, construction started at the lower hull. The first step is concerned with wheel assembly but I skipped them and go straight for the lower hull. The suspension fairings were moulded separately needing some time to cement all 10 of them (plus four shock absorbers). The torsion bar limiter and the drive joint were made moveable so that they can be adjusted during the fitting of the tracks. The torsion bars were then fitted and they mimicked the real thing by being workable. As per my usual style, the lower hull and the wheels were painted at this time (with the wheels still on the sprue). The paint were touched-up after the wheels had come off the sprue. While assembly of the wheels was straightforward, some care need to be taken into account to avoid misalignments. Take note when assembling the sprocket wheels as there are two styles to it and Meng instructed you to use Parts A48 and A51. The wheels were then mounted to the lower hull. And before I forgot, holes were drilled into the sponson. 

I then moved on to the upper hull. I started by attaching the various small parts on the front of the hull, the engine deck, hatches and the side plates. I didn't attach the tools on the latter at this stage however.. The smoke generator slotted into their place in a particular manner so you really have to follow the instructions. The upper hull was then cemented to the lower hull. . More parts were added such as the engine deck side plates and the rear plates. The engine air intake, Part P6 did not into it's opening on the engine deck and some sanding were done to allow it to fit. Most of the parts on the rear plate were cemented on to place although the exhausts, some tools and the rear mudguards were left off at this time. Finally, the tracks were assembled.  As with a number of their other kits, Meng provided a track assembly jig (on the same part as the jig for the PE set). The method is quite simple - lay down the bottom part of the track link, then glue the upper part.  Sounds easy right? That would a qualified yes. The tracks lacked 'gripping power' between the links. The locating pins between the upper and the lower halves are adequate I think, but the moulded-on track pins are short and I think therein lies the problem. Anyway, some careful handling during  wrapping the tracks around the wheels allowed the tracks to stay in one piece. By the way, I just link togther 60 pieces per run only as the skirting would hide the upper track run.

Work on the turret started at the gun assembly. The barrel is a three-piece affair and yes, there are seams along the barrel halves that need to be sanded. The breech assembly is separate from the barrel and if you like, can be left off entirely. The blast bags are also a two-piece affair with more seams to be filled and sanded. The mantlet cover is made from a rubbery plastic which has already been cut into shape. This was inserted into place and secured using super glue. The turret halves were mated first and the gun assembly was ten inserted and cemented into place. There are three positions for radio aerials and Meng merely suggests whether to seal them or place radio anerial mounts. So after consulting photos, I place two aerial mounts and close off the third.  While the four smoke grenade discharges at the rear of the turret is a breeze to assemble, the ones on the turret sides are a bit fiddly. The commander's cupola is a bit a model by itself but nothing too difficult was encountered.

Painting and Decalling

As usual, the tracks were painted AK Interactive Track Primer and was then given a wash using AK Interactive Track Wash. After masking the clear parts, the model was painted Vallejo 71.075 Ivory overall. The camouflage pattern was painted using Vallejo 71.038 Camouflage Medium Brown. The painting diagram did not include upper and right-hand views but fortunately there is an upper elevation view on the boxtop side and the boxtop art can be used for the right side pattern. The model was the sprayed with semi-gloss clear paint (I use the one from GSI Creous) to prep for the decals. The decals went without a hitch except for the rear registration plate. I don't thik it was applied over the pioneer tools. But with the tool in question is already moulded onto the rear plate, there wasn't anything else to do but apply the decal over the tool, use some decal softening solution and re-apply paint on the tool. The model then received a wash using AK Interactive Vehicle Wash for US Modern vehicles. .

Finishing

I started by adding permanently the smaller parts such as the tools, the horizontal plates on either side of the hull, and the stowage boxes. Meng has the modeller cut the provided length of twine as towing cables but I found that the plastic ready-made tow cables are adequate; so the twine went into the spares box. The rear-view mirror were next, followed by the co-axial cannon and the commander's machine-gun. The remaining scars were painted over and given the same wash treatment. The model then received a layer of Flat Clear to give some 'bite' to the next layer of weathering. A couple of layers of Tamiya XF-57 was then laid over the model to represent a vehicle coated in desert dust. Further layer of dust was recreated on the lower hull and tracks using Tamiya Weathering Master pack. A final layer of Flat Clear was sprayed on tthe model to finish the build.

Conclusion

The AMX-30 was a rather obscure vehicle in 1/35 as I can only think of Heller's kit which originally dates from the 1970s I think. That kit has been supplanted by this Meng kit (and their 'baseline' AMX-30 kit). I don't have any erferences (just through Google only) but the kit does look like an AMX-30B2 to me. Building this kit up was fairly easy with some fiddly areas such as the IR searchlight doors, the commander's cupola and the tracks. using others' experiences as guidance, I managed to assemble without problems (plus I cheated by not assemblig the upper run!) .