M-41A3 Walker Bulldog - ARVN Vietnam 1970s - Build
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 2:04 am
Hi,
Presenting my new project, something a bit more main stream and simpler, the rebuilding of a Heng Long M-41A3 Walker Bulldog in ARVN markings. We all know the model is full of flaws, and fixing a lot of them will be core of the project. I used to own an M41 when it came out a long time ago that I modified with new gun and a few fixes but I was never happy with it and as soon as the electronics gave up, I put it in pieces for spare parts. This time, I am more experienced and I am going all the way.
The model will feature;
- reworked hull and fenders
- resized tracks
- new gun barrel
- gun recoil and flash
- TK-22 control board
- headlights and taillights
- Tamiya M2 MG
- general detailing
I was happy when i noticed that the M41 was shipped unbuilt with all the details and accessories still on sprues, it will save a lot of time and allows for easier modification and reuse of these. And I will be helped by documentations and my faithful but old Tamiya M41 that I build as a young kid in the 80s. It will be useful mainly for hull dimensions.
The good news is that the hull width is of the right dimension. The fenders and tracks will need rework.
Barrel will be replaced, hull lowered and shortened as much as possible, and the slope on the back battery plate will be fixed. I found the turret shape and size to be incorrect, too short and too narrow.
I've seen builds where the modeller removed up to 10mm in height. After a lot of picture and plan analysis where the space between the tracks and fenders always seems to be different, I have determined that I should remove between 7 and 7.5mm in height.
I have a plan to get rid of the shock absorbers on wheel no 3 and 4, more about this later.
Lots of modifications planned in key areas. You will not recognize the fenders when I am done with them.
M41 gearbox needs replacement because it is too high, a HL Jagdpanther gearbox should fit well in its place. Notice the notch at the back of the hull, this is a factor to account for in the resizing and reshaping of the hull.
This is it, let's go.
Regards, Louis
Presenting my new project, something a bit more main stream and simpler, the rebuilding of a Heng Long M-41A3 Walker Bulldog in ARVN markings. We all know the model is full of flaws, and fixing a lot of them will be core of the project. I used to own an M41 when it came out a long time ago that I modified with new gun and a few fixes but I was never happy with it and as soon as the electronics gave up, I put it in pieces for spare parts. This time, I am more experienced and I am going all the way.
The model will feature;
- reworked hull and fenders
- resized tracks
- new gun barrel
- gun recoil and flash
- TK-22 control board
- headlights and taillights
- Tamiya M2 MG
- general detailing
I was happy when i noticed that the M41 was shipped unbuilt with all the details and accessories still on sprues, it will save a lot of time and allows for easier modification and reuse of these. And I will be helped by documentations and my faithful but old Tamiya M41 that I build as a young kid in the 80s. It will be useful mainly for hull dimensions.
The good news is that the hull width is of the right dimension. The fenders and tracks will need rework.
Barrel will be replaced, hull lowered and shortened as much as possible, and the slope on the back battery plate will be fixed. I found the turret shape and size to be incorrect, too short and too narrow.
I've seen builds where the modeller removed up to 10mm in height. After a lot of picture and plan analysis where the space between the tracks and fenders always seems to be different, I have determined that I should remove between 7 and 7.5mm in height.
I have a plan to get rid of the shock absorbers on wheel no 3 and 4, more about this later.
Lots of modifications planned in key areas. You will not recognize the fenders when I am done with them.
M41 gearbox needs replacement because it is too high, a HL Jagdpanther gearbox should fit well in its place. Notice the notch at the back of the hull, this is a factor to account for in the resizing and reshaping of the hull.
This is it, let's go.
Regards, Louis