Vietnam Bulldog

[vonrundstedt]

Just like to show how im getting on with my HL Bulldog.
Main coulor is finished, Several layers of various shades of olive, from dark green, building up to light Kahki. All dry brushed on.
The moulded periscopes have been removed and replaced with open ones to allow more sound out.
The main exhuasts have been rusted with oil paints and the APU muffler has been removed and a new, Larger one made,to be later fitted on the front fender
The 50cal armour shield was cut from thin copper plate, and new metal tracks, sprockets and gear box's have been fitted.

[Matdragon]

very nice saw this at cobbo it's a stunning tank!

great work,

Matt

[vonrundstedt]

A bit more done today.......

[[ICE]monkey]

nice build
all the best, ice

[wibblywobbly]

I like this, is that heatshrink on the antennae? Looks really good!..I might pinch that idea...

[vonrundstedt]

Yep! ive used some thin gauge welding wire, soldered it into a small spring and then heat shrank around it. The main antenia need a slightly bigger spring to fit over the brass post. Took about 5mins.

[Saxondog]

Very interested in this build,two oldest brothers served in 68 and 69 but never talked about the armor or for that matter anything else,the Vietnam era is not as open as other wars have been,to political.But your build is something of personal interest in that I would like to model this tank in that era,any tips on research material,or sites maybe? Sax

[Wight]

Fantastic work,some really great ideas.
I like the heat shrink for the antenna idea,may have to use that one myself.
The painting is amazing,I would never have guessed you dry brushed it all in different shades,very effective indeed.
How did you do the tool handles?
Did you paint them or did you make them from wood?

Cheers.
Steve.

[vonrundstedt]

Hi Wight,Thanks for the comments, the tools.......I CHEATED big time!!!! the handles have been wrapped in wood effect, stickey back plastic, the kind you would re-cover the kitchen units in about £5 from diy stores.

[vonrundstedt]

Hi Sax, im finding it pritty hard researching for this project. So far the most significant thing thats turned up is, the US never used the bulldog in combat! It was used in Korea purley as an evaluation vehical. Nearly all the photo's you might find of Bulldogs in Vietnam would be of ARVN tanks ( south vietnamese). The US were'nt fans of armour in Vietnam due to the conditions there.Most of research so far has been through Wikapedia, But so far, its been quite hard going. I guess the North destroyed or sensored alot of stuff when they took over.