The Char D2 was designed as a cheaper and lighter version of the Char B.

It suffered many mechanical problems which made it unsuitable for combat and less than 100 were eventually manufactured.

The Char D2 was an improved version of the older Char D1 and was mainly developed as a possible replacement for the Char B.

Development began in 1930 and the first 50 were delivered in 1936 and 1937.

A further batch of 50 were ordered, intended to replace the first batch which had quickly become worn but deliveries were not completed by the time of the Battle of France.

They served with one of France’s elite tank units but their mechanical condition and the chaos of the Battle meant they achieved little to prevent the German advance.

Of the 84 D2s known to be delivered only 21 were destroyed by enemy action, most were abandoned after breakdowns.

This model represents a Char D2 of the 19th Bataillon de Chars de Combat, c. May 1940.

Sparrow Casting 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in March 2010.