M-41 Anti Aircraft Tank

[Max-U52]

Well, the M41 project is finally to the point where all it needs is dirt and weathering, and that can be a process completed slowly over time, so I decided it's time for this Baby to have her own Show off thread.

I want to say that this tank would most likely not exist if it weren't for the help and encouragement of a great tanker and one of the most talented scratchbuilders I've yet to find, Mr. Rex Ross.

I also have the original Bulldog hull top so I can swap back and forth between a regular Walker Bulldog and the AA version with the quad .50s on it. I've also been toying with the idea of obtaining a third hull top and outfitting it with an IR turret (have to build that, no one makes an IR M-41).

I'd also like to know if anyone knows where to get a driver's hatch for this tank. That and metal roadwheels/suspension arms are also a possibility for future upgrades. Are these things ever really done?

[greengiant]

Looks pretty good. Very interesting there are some pics of stuarts with the quad 50 mounted in place of the turret but never bothered to see if they were prototypes or field modifications .
The part you put on the back is a tool used to pull the track ends back together when replacing track pads.
Might I suggest some type of armor plate attached to the "turret". Even some of the halftrack units added that to give some protection to the crew members as they reloaded the 50's.
I don't think the hatch was ever offered as a separate detailing part but it not all that difficult to cut out the molded in one and make it workable, you would just have to put back its open position holders on the front.

[TKcommander]

I think this is a really neat paper panzer.

The idea of extra armour round the quad should be considered, I think it would best support sentry duty / infantry defence, similar to how the Duster was utilised.

[greengiant]

TK, They did actually mount some quad 50's in the back of deuce and a halves during Vietnam with added armor almost the same as that pictured in the half tracks above mostly to be used as convoy security gun trucks.

[Max-U52]

Good ideas. I think I will see about beefing up the armor a bit. I also have another M-16 that might look good with the additional plates, as long as clearance doesn't become an issue. The fold down sides aren't functional.

GG, what halftrack is that in the photo? I don't think it's an M-16 because it doesn't have the fold down pieces on the sides, but i don't know much about halftrack variants, except to say that they were legion.

I also like the roller on the front of this one, and might convert the M-16 to something similar. I hear the Torro model is incorrect there anyway. Mine looks more like a winch.

[greengiant]

Pretty sure its the straight M3 halftrack, with rear troop entry door because it was really built to haul personnel. But many had the quad unit added before the dedicated quad 50 M16 version was built to allow better anti personal firing capability with the lowering of the side and rear panels. The added armor was always cut back enough on its lower ends to clear the sides and rear and never extended down very much lower then the compartment sides and was, as can be seen in the pictures, mounted very close to the main tub of the mount with the gunners leg area sticking out through it.
Not researched much by me but I think the roller was only used on the troop transport halftrack versions along with the rear troop door and cargo carrying racks on each side of the rear door and often mine carrying rails on the troop compartment sides.
I think there have been some builds of those types using quad 50 unit as a starting point but can't find any in our forums.

Did some research for you and found some pics of M3 restorations that are different but have the front roller and without the protected pulpit for the 50 cal that seems to have been added very quickly after we invaded Europe as were the winch bumpers. couldn't find any showing the back of the troop box with the door and storage racks.