The kit is really old and not well detailed at all. With a bit of work, it can come out looking nice. I wouldn’t worry about making it accurate though, unless you want to do a major overhaul. If you are looking for an accurate kit, get either the Skybow/AFV Club M41A3. It is a great kit. Light years ahead of the old Tamiya toy.
I figured out that it wasn’t the most accurate kit as soon as I opened the box and saw that the entire suspension is moded to the lower hull.
I thought there was more detail to this kit, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. So either option I go with will require a lot of little added details.
That’s why I’m leaning more towards the movie prop “panzer” at the moment. That way I can validate myself as I rip off all of the sponsons and pull out the sheet styrene.
But I want opinions before I do anything and I’m not starting this build yet. I have to finish what I’ve started and a complete refab of this kit is a little out of my abilities until I get my desk set back up.
Why would you want to suffer through more than one crappy, poorly detailed, old kit? For the price of a couple of these “gems”, you could get one of the outstanding Skybow/AFV Club kits and have a very accurate and detailed model when done.
I take it you were joking w/the wink. I hope so anyways.
I don’t see why poeple still buy these old Tamiya kits anymore with more modern versions that are much better detailed. I just don’t get it.
Hey Gino, I guess I just assumed Mike was looking for something quick, cheap, and dirty to decompress. I see you point on wasting time on something that’s more like toy than a real model. But sometimes I like to just toss something together, sometimes instead of steak and potatoes I just want a cheap greasy hot dog.
Gino, You’ve got a dang good point there. But alas, I found this kit at Hobby Lobby for $17. The LHS sells better kits, but for $45+. I had a $40 budget so I snagged this kit and some other supplies I needed with $5 to spare.
Maybe I’ll just do my Tank Kun Do on this one as I did with my M-48.
Gamera, I follow ya, buddy. I did a pretty decent job on that “Combat Crushers” M-48 and that was far more toy-like than this kit.
I guess we’ll just have to see how I feel about it later lol. It needs some love, that’s for sure.
The M41 was made by Cadillac. Elvis Presley loved Cadillacs. Elvis was in the 3rd Armored Division, 32nd Armored Regiment. Would you consider an “Elvis” armored assault Cadillac? Maybe pink with a heavy dose of chrome.
Some times it’s good to just build a cheaper out of the box for sanity purposes. You can paint it well mud it up excessively and hide most of the inaccuracies. I don’t think I would get more than one though. Just my opinion.
I am at this time thinking of just going OOB. But not entirely out of box. I’ve already started the usual Tamiya fixes, such as filling in the sponsons, covering the motorization holes, and generally fixing a few shape issues.
I plan on giving her a some love with sprue and card stock. And I’ll replace as many things as I can from the spare’s supply - those water cans are rubbish and the .50cal looks like block of garbage. I have a spare from the M-48 I can use.
Yeah, basically my usual Tank Kun Do, lol.
Keeping the kit tracks for now, but I’ll see about replacing them later on if they just look too crappy.
The figs that come with thte kit are pretty nice actually. Nothing a bit of undercutting a seamwork can’t bring up to date.
So the more I think about it, the more I think I’ll dress her up to look pretty with her big Sister, the M-48. They should look splendid sitting next to each other on the shelf, proudly displaying their big, white stars. Eventually I’m going to need an M-47 sitting up there as well.
Good to see you building! I was just going to suggest “OD with white stars” - but I see you figured it out yourself! Good luck with your build and have a nice day
Rob, Good thoughts, good advice, and good info! Glad to have you along.
Pawel, I think I figured it out too. lol. I think the popular concensus thus far is that I should go ARMY. Besides, as you will see, I’m having fun adding some detail with simple card stock and stretched sprue lol.
I added the box reinforcement creases with some sprue. I’ll give this a light sanding later just to make sure its all even.
I cut the box off the back of the turret. After detailing this I will reattach it with a more realistic system.
I gave a scribe to the Infantry Phone box so It won’t be such a lump.
After the glue had dried this part looks pretty good.
So that’s as far as I’ve gotten. I have the gun tube glued and set aside and I’m waiting til tomorrow to start shaping the turret and adding the details to that as well.
There is a massive opportunity for adding weld details all over this tank. I’m going to make this thing look more “Metal” by the time I’m done. (Rock On!)
Looking good…I was wondering why you covered the motorization holes on the bottom the way you did…why didn’t you cover the holes from the inside with sheet styrene and then putty them from the outside and sand flush? I suppose the ‘plates’ won’t be easily seen but just curious…
Oh that’s simple. First, this was easier. And second, this adds more visual interest than a flat featurless surface. Not that anyone will be looking underneath it besides me. lol.
