M-41A3 Walker Bulldog - ARVN Vietnam 1970s - Build

[lmcq11]

Continuing the Driver's hatch

Front view with hatch opened.

M41a3 1/16 Walker bulldog driver's hatch fixed and enhanced

The light cast effect is wanted.

M41a3 1/16 Walker bulldog driver's hatch fixed and enhanced

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This is the new hatch from above. The round M19 periscope mount was salvaged from the Heng Long part, its good.

M41a3 1/16 Walker bulldog driver's hatch fixed and enhanced

Regards, Louis

[c.rainford73]

Brilliant Louis simply doesn't get any better

[wibblywobbly]

I've done three Bulldogs, and seen a lot more, but the work you have done on the lower hull is exceptional. I am awaiting your fix for the track width as that was the only thing that stopped me from narrowing the track fenders.

[greengiant]

I did the whole narrowing and lowering thing quite a while back. Had to sink gearboxes deeper into the hull so the lowered hull top would fit also the Narrowed the tracks to (that was quite a job) the correct size.
The details on the turret top, blower size and 50 cal mount need to be worked on also. he blower is to small and the 50 cal mount is to far to the turret rear.
I thing my pics are still in some forum.
Never did get rid of the extra shocks or get the correct roadwheels.

[Model Builder 4]

Another master piece in the making Louis

Cheers, Lee.

[lmcq11]

Hi, thank you everyone for your feedback. This is actually a quick build but with a lot of history in the making.

I did the whole narrowing and lowering thing quite a while back.

Yes, I do remember some builds years ago that really inspired me to rebuild another M41 one day but this time push it as far as I can. After a few Ludwigs kits behind me, everything seems so much easier than before...

Continuing with the upper hull.

Here are the headlights. They were a real pleasure to build.

The book "Walker Bulldog" by David Doyle has excellent pictures of the M41 headlights. This book really complements the Squadron walk around with different angles. Shown here are the Heng Long headlight guards that I found were lacking in finesse and I decided to replace and have fun at the same time.

M41A3 1/16 RC headlights Heng Long rebuild and fixing

The glacis is sanded, removed of all embedded details, holes plugged in with residual plasticard and superglue, and polished. The base frame for the headlights is made from 6mm wide heavy brass strips.

M41A3 1/16 RC headlights Heng Long rebuild and fixing

The Heng Long parts for the headlights were reused pretty much as is. I found them to be acceptable. After some more or less easy drilling, a 5mm LED was inserted inside the 2 headlights that use bright lights. The other 2 are IR night vision lights and the lenses should be painted black.

M41A3 1/16 RC headlights Heng Long rebuild and fixing

Right headlight and guards. The guards are made in 2mm wide and heavy brass strips, flat for the front and in L shape for the back support. The blackout light on the left is the Heng Long part that was modified, and the LED was reduced in depth with a nail file to be more realistic.

M41A3 1/16 RC headlights Heng Long rebuild and fixing

A small triangular metal file is required to create the angle on the back support on the vertical L section, and then the top brass folds easily at the right angle.

M41A3 1/16 RC headlights Heng Long rebuild and fixing

Meng plastic bolts and nuts are essential for such build.

M41A3 1/16 RC headlights Heng Long rebuild and fixing

Once the glue is dried up and everything is solid, I will create weld joints with putty in the angle that you see empty.

M41A3 1/16 RC headlights Heng Long rebuild and fixing

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Left headlight and guard.

M41A3 1/16 RC headlights Heng Long rebuild and fixing

Rear view

M41A3 1/16 RC headlights Heng Long rebuild and fixing

I could not find a Clark board for the M41 on sale anywhere. This is an M26 TK-22 control board at a good price from Chariots of War, the sound is close enough.

M41A3 1/16 RC headlights Heng Long rebuild and fixing

Next step are the idler wheels.

Regards, Louis

[lmcq11]

Hi,

Here are the Idler adjusters and wheels

The Heng Long Idler does not have any adjustment possible. With the tracks that I am planning to use (Plan A is still a secret operation...), an adjuster is essential.

M41A3 Idler and Henntec adjuster

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I could not find a Henntec adjuster for the M41 on sale anywhere, but I find that anyone seems to work on such build. This one is for the Taigen Jagdtiger and installed as shown after complete removal of the HL components.

M41A3 Idler and Henntec adjuster

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M41A3 Idler and Henntec adjuster

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It is always an issue fitting a idler wheel to the Henntec adjuster. The wheel had a 5mm shaft and the Henntec has a 4mm hole. I inserted a 5mm aluminum tube in the HL idler hole and used a M4 x 15mm pin sold on ebay from China for a few pennies as a shaft.

M41A3 Idler and Henntec adjuster

2 washers are used between the idler and the adjuster.

M41A3 Idler and Henntec adjuster

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Everything is perfectly aligned.

M41A3 Idler and Henntec adjuster

Regards, Louis

[Will01Capri]

Keep going, love the detailing. Good work

[HERMAN BIX]

Just cant believe its the much bagged-out bulldog going to be an award winner.............
Massive amount of work and research to get this right, what an epic

[BarryC]

Slow up man, I just broke my pencil. . . .

Now where was I. . . .

Note 35, drivers hatch. . . .

I feel the same way!

Barry