My first non WW2 Tank-M41 Walker Bulldog

[The Smythe Meister]

This was my first 1/35 tank and it’s always been my favorite just look at my avatar. I’ll be watching

Lee,I hope all`s well with you and yours mate,
I`ve had a very close look at your avatar pic,and i must say,you certainly made a very nice job of it:thumb2:!

[The Smythe Meister]

Couldn't believe they were still trying to sell it to third world countries back in the early eighties. I saw one up close in the first pre LIMA show in KL dressed in desert yellow with some upgrades. My first experience of rubber fenders on the front and back.
Built one eons ago and nearly put it in a dio as a German panzer thanks to hollywood movies. :smiling6:
Lovely shaped tank and still is. Got my bean bag ready and see how this shapes up.

Cheers,
Richard

Richard,
I guess the fact that they were around for so long shows that apart from just looking so damned sexy..... they also had the cahoonas to go with it!!:tears-of-joy:
I`ve visited The Tank museum at Bovington a few times,but,due to my previous single mindedness regarding WW2 stuff,i didn`t even notice if there was one there !
Plump up that beanbag mate:thumb2:!

[The Smythe Meister]

Andy,
If you have an itch, it has to be scratched, looking forward to what you do with this old 'un.
Mike

It certainly does Mike.... as RATT once said..... "Scratch that itch"!!
i love that avatar by the way

[The Smythe Meister]

Hiya Andy,
Look forward to see you work your magic with this, hope it plays ball for you mate :thumb2:

Hey Si,how you doing buddy?!
Not sure about "Magic" mate.... more "Mayhem"!!:tears-of-joy:

[The Smythe Meister]

I should`ve written this first i guess!!
Well,the week was very hectic but i have managed to make some good progress assembly wise,i`ll put up a proper progress report post later this evening.
I`d like to say just how surprised i am at the amount of interest in this,and thanks to ALL of you for taking the time to comment:thumb2:,
Cheers for now,
Andy

[Lee Drennen]

Lee,I hope all`s well with you and yours mate,
I`ve had a very close look at your avatar pic,and i must say,you certainly made a very nice job of it:thumb2:!

Thanks we’re doing good my wife has no side affects but I’m still fighting them. That tank has a special place in my heart. Thanks for the complement

[The Smythe Meister]

OK then guys..... an update of sorts!
Firstly i`d like to say what a very pleasurable kit this is to build,as i know that many of you will agree,having built it in your modelling past,
The date stamp on the sprue puts it at 1973,(I was 8 at the time!!:dizzy,however,in my humble opinion,it`s a cracking little kit for the money,and,if you approach it like i am,it sure looks like what you want:thumb2:,I was initially concerned about the 2 part barrel,but having spent just a little time sanding the seams down,it`s acceptable:thumb2:.
The kit itself is very sparse in parts,and therefore,only a few build stages in the destructions.... what a refreshing change:hungry:!!
Anyhoo,ere`s some early pics.......

The turret with some dodgy glue blobs,(or i prefer to blame a dodgy welder!!)..... easily sorted:thumb2:...... next up,the running gear......

Typical Tamiya...... crisp,perfect fit and very enjoyable :thumb2:
Last pic for now,the upper deck stuff.....

So,as you can see,it`s all good with this beastie at the mo........ most bits fitted,just awaiting primer in a short while!
Thanks for looking in guys,and a "Happy Easter" to you all!....................(not that i`m REMOTELY religious!!),
Andy

[Tim Marlow]

Looking good Andy. Might be sacrilegious, but it looks a bit like a Chaffee on steroids!

[The Smythe Meister]

Looking good Andy. Might be sacrilegious, but it looks a bit like a Chaffee on steroids!

Tim!! Not sacrilegious at all Sir,(I don`t think?!!:thinking::tears-of-joy.
Funny you should mention the Chaffee,(and this dark secret is just between you and I ),but that`s also a Tank that caught my eye when i dropped my WW2 guard......... hence i bought the Tamiya Chaffee AND Patton at the same time!!:surprised:
There`s definitely something going on with my focussing gyro!!

[scottie3158]

Andy,
Lovely job mate you really can't beat Tamyia even on an old kit like this for fit.

[The Smythe Meister]

Andy,
Lovely job mate you really can't beat Tamyia even on an old kit like this for fit.

Cheers Scottie,
This kit really has it all.......... by that i mean.......
If you`re just after a nice rendition of a Bulldog,then it`s perfect.
If you`re wanting to build something a bit more accurate and authentic,then this is a perfect "Base" model.
...... BUT,the main thing,no matter what you`re after,is that it goes together a dream,and is great fun! :thumb2:

[Guest]

Looking good Andy. Might be sacrilegious, but it looks a bit like a Chaffee on steroids!

It is, essentially. They started with a blank sheet of paper but clearly with the experience of the M24 in mind, and carried its good points over to the M41.

[The Smythe Meister]

It is, essentially. They started with a blank sheet of paper but clearly with the experience of the M24 in mind, and carried its good points over to the M41.

Excellent info Jakko :thumb2:
I had no idea at all about that!!..... But now you say that,it makes perfect sense!!
Cheers mate!

[Guest]

I have all but two of R.P. Hunnicutt’s books about American armour (I’m lacking Stuart and Firepower), and read each of them at least once all the way through. Some of it has even managed to stick in my memory

[Graeme C.]

Going together nicely Andy, as you say, typical Tamiya!