New Tamiya 1/35 Scale French H39 Tank Kit – Unboxing and First Impressions

Posted by Andy's Hobby Headquarters Canada on 2025 May 22nd

Hi everyone! Andy here from Andy’s Hobby Headquarters, and today I’m excited to introduce a brand-new arrival that just landed in our warehouse this morning—the Tamiya 1/35 scale French H39 tank kit!

This is a fresh release from Tamiya, and it’s already available on our website. Tamiya is known for high-quality, well-engineered kits, and this one is no exception—especially if you're into more obscure subjects like early-war French armor.

A Rare Gem: The French Hotchkiss H39

You don’t often see big manufacturers covering interwar and early-WWII French tanks, so the H39 is a welcome addition for diorama builders and history buffs. It's perfect for early war scenes and adds variety to your armor collection.

The H39 was a French light tank equipped with a 37mm gun, which might not have packed a punch against later-war armor, but it was quite typical for the period. In fact, many of these tanks were pressed into German service after the fall of France in 1940—making it a great subject for both French and German-themed builds.

What’s in the Box?

As expected from Tamiya, the kit is clean, precise, and not overly complex—ideal for a relaxing build or as a palate cleanser between more intensive projects.

Inside the box, you’ll find:

  • Beautifully molded turret and hull with subtle cast texturing

  • A figure included in the box (possibly a French tanker)

  • Two sprues of suspension and track components, including molded sag in the longer track lengths and some individual links for drive sprockets

  • Pioneer tools and accessories that could also be used for the German captured version

  • Decals for both French and German service options

  • A poly cap set and a length of chain for added detail

Tamiya has even kept the price accessible—just $28.99 CAD on our site. That’s excellent value for a detailed and historically interesting model.

Painting & Markings

The included painting guide gives you a couple of great options:

  • A French camouflage scheme from spring 1940 featuring olive green and reddish brown

  • A German three-tone camouflage from as late as January 1945, showing just how long these vehicles stayed in service

There’s also a helpful multi-language history insert, giving a little background on the H39 and its place in WWII history. Whether you’re a seasoned builder or just diving into early WWII armor, this kit is both approachable and rich with creative potential.

What’s Next from Tamiya and Takom?

In addition to the H39, Tamiya has just announced a 1/35 M36 Jackson, and we’re expecting a sample soon for review. We’ll show you the inside of that kit the moment it arrives.

Takom is also getting ready to release their Sherman Big Box, which includes:

  • An M51 Sherman

  • An M4A1 cast-hull Sherman

  • A bonus 1/16 scale figure

We’ll have that in-hand shortly as well and will give you a full look.

And finally, we’re getting close to completion on our 1/16 scale M3, which will be back up on the website for pre-order soon. We’re estimating arrival around late June to early July, barring further shipping delays.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're a history enthusiast, a builder of obscure armor subjects, or just looking for a fun weekend project, the Tamiya French H39 checks all the boxes. It’s compact, well-detailed, and gives you some great historical context right in the box.

As always, thanks for reading—and stay tuned! We've got more exciting kit releases and unboxings coming your way soon.