Tamiya 1/35 M-41 Walker Bulldog

[stikpusher]

Jan 9, 2024 17:14:34 GMT -5 Mike said:

No, there are not many options for this tank, but there are not many options for the M-46 or M-47 either. It's just not a popular time period, the early cold war era. I did check out the figures for the Tamiya Sheridan and they will work fabulously for the A3 when I go to build that up later.

The upgraded M47's used by Spain and Iran look the same, but not quite... 105mm main gun and the same Allison diesel power pack that went into the M48 and M60 family make them look just somewhat different from the basic standard M47 seen all across NATO. Or even a USMC M47 with searchlight and wading kit can alter the look a bit. Otherwise it's ow thejust the paint schemes.

Now the M41, having lasted almost as long in service saw some interesting upgrades. I think it was the Danes who really went to town with night sights, smoke grenade launchers, and a new power pack as well. Otherwise, yeah, again its mostly a question of paint schemes...

[Mike]

Paint schemes, yeah I've noticed that too. The Danes sure did make it look cool though. Maybe I should try and model that version eventually. Not like I can't find this kit again, right? lol!

So for tonight's update I made a little more progress. I've added the driving lights and their guards, assembled the driver figure and set him up in the hatch, and got some primer on the upper hull.

Tamiya 1/35 M-41 conversion by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

Tamiya 1/35 M-41 conversion by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

Tamiya 1/35 M-41 conversion by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

I have to say, I really think those sand skirts turned out better than I thought they would now that they are not all white. I'm starting to see some results here that make me kinda happy with my choices so far.

edit; A few things I haven't mentioned yet because they're so minor, but maybe you'll see it in the pictures. I carefully used my micro saw to undercut all of the stowage bin handles and you've probably already noticed the antenna replacement. The hatch handles have all been replaced with the staples Tamiya always conveniently provides with every kit. There are other small, insignificant improvements wherever I think to add them. The driver figure is being held in place with a cocktail stick stuck into a small mound of Milliput so I can later remove him from the stick. I have no plan for how I'll keep the TC in place yet. The bottom of the turret sits differently on the hull as you all know. I made a platform for the last build so the TC could be mounted in the hatch without him being jostled about. If I go the same route with this build I'll have to cut the feet off of this figure and I'm trying hard to avoid that. SOme clever engineering and planning is needed here.

One last thing, I don't know if anyone has figured this out yet besides me, but if you water down some PPP you can use it like a wash, dipping a paintbrush into it and just dabbing it in small areas that need to be filled. Cleanup is obviously the same and just as easy. If you look at my pictures you'll see I've done this around the driving light guards. One obviously needed a bit more filler after I primed as you've probably already noticed that. I figured out this little trick after watering some PPP down too much one day. Turned out that's exactly what I needed for the task at hand. So put that little feather in your cap for later guys.

[Mike]

Today I've been working on adding the rest of the parts to the lower hull and all I have left to do is that travel lock. I remember the dang thing being a pita last time modelling it closed, but you don't wander about with it open and free to flop around. That's the last piece I have to cut up and modify.

I decided to add one of the driver's hatch rests so the hatch doesn't keep moving around on me.

IMG_20240110_214430758_HDR by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

I forgot to mention this little cover I opened up much earlier in the build. I assume it's something to do with a backup motor or crew heater exhaust.

IMG_20240110_214403373_HDR by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

I redrilled the cooling vent holes on the .50, but because the sprue glue is a softer plastic my drill just went back into the same holes over again. I suppose I should've tried using Milliput for this correction because its a harder substance. Well, ya win some, ya lose some. Next time I'll know. Otherwise it doesn't look bad.

IMG_20240110_214411501_HDR by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

And I remembered to take pictures of the torso on a stick while I had the hull apart this time. Now you can see what you've probably already imagined.

IMG_20240110_214146354_HDR by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

IMG_20240110_214157794_HDR by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

Not much progress again, but parts cleanup just eats time like crazy.

IMG_20240110_214355417 by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

Thanks for taking a look. She's almost ready for a paintjob.

[406 Silverado]

Dude.....you and Russ (rbaer) are gonna get along great!! Progress on this is looking swell Mike.....real swell. 

[Mike]

Jan 12, 2024 9:22:12 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Dude.....you and Russ (rbaer) are gonna get along great!! Progress on this is looking swell Mike.....real swell. 

Lol. Russ has provided me with many years of inspiration. I'm sure we'll get along as well as we always have.

And I'm sorry for the lack of progress lately. I've not been feeling very productive these last three days.

[406 Silverado]

Jan 15, 2024 21:20:42 GMT -5 Mike said:

Jan 12, 2024 9:22:12 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Dude.....you and Russ (rbaer ) are gonna get along great!! Progress on this is looking swell Mike.....real swell. 

Lol. Russ has provided me with many years of inspiration. I'm sure we'll get along as well as we always have.

And I'm sorry for the lack of progress lately. I've not been feeling very productive these last three days.

  Ol' Russ has been around for a while on forums abroad and has been a great member here as well. 

As far as the productive gig goes.....you and me both brother. Good to see you here Mike ol' buddy. 

[Mike]

Hey guys. Sorry for the lack of updates but the last couple of weeks had me feeling out of energy to do much of anything. Some odd strength sapping virus of some sort is what has been guessed at, but I'm starting to feel a bit more energetic and I got around to putting a base paint job on the M-41 this evening.

I started with an overall layer of Tamiya O.D., played a bit with some modulation using a self-mixed faded O.D., blended that back with a light misted layer of Tamiya O.D. again, and topped it all off with a chromatic layer of that same faded self-mixed O.D. for the final result. I'll let you guys decide how well that turned out with a few pictures I took of the finished result. Like the Panzer IV I did before this I kept the effects subtle.

Tamiya 1/35 M-41 conversion by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

Tamiya 1/35 M-41 conversion by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

Tamiya 1/35 M-41 conversion by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

Tamiya 1/35 M-41 conversion by Mike Brindos, on Flickr

I still feel like keeping these effects subtle helps them look more realistic in natural lighting, even if they don't appear to show up very well under indoor lighting. In the end they lend themselves well to a natural looking paintjob in my humble opinion.

Tell me what you think.

[Steve Zuleski]

Lookin great from here!

[lyle]

very nice.