Finished my first ever armor model!

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I started this in 03 and today finally finished it. Life kept getting in the way with change in career, moving etc that pushed my modelling in the closet. Was able to bring it all out again and finish this model. It’s a Tamiya M41 Bulldog. I used PE, some resin parts and some scratch detail.

I have been building model cars and planes on and off for as long as I can remember but really started to take it seriously about 3 years ago with this model. I wanted to learn all the detail techniques I saw in magazines and online.

This is the first time I have ever done PE, scratch building and weathering. I used a lot of what I read on different forums and in any books I could find. I tried to make this model look like a picture I found of an M41 in Vietnam on a dusty road in country.

Please comment and do be critical as I want to get opinions on my skills and where I can improve. Sorry about some of the pictures. My photo skills have improved over three years as has the quality of the camera.

You can go and see the full gallery of photos here:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/abangash/album?.dir=/5542re2

2

looke great. on the first glimpse I thought it was an AFV kit. never really seen a Tamiya one built as nice as this. you might want to also consider getting a set of AFV tracks for their M41 to get that missing detail on the inside of the tracks.

3

Thanks for noticing. Early on this build I got the AFV tracks but the AFV tracks were a bit to big. They would not sit right. I considered metal tracks and I may do that in the future but I wanted to get one armor model under my belt so that I could move to another and continue to build my skills. When I got this kit it was on clearance at a hobby store for under $10 buck so I fugured this would be a great way to start into armor.

I found out later about the AFV version and how much better the detail was but I was already half way into this one so I figured to keep going with it.

4

Well congrats, its a lovely first armour model. You obviously brought some skills from your car modelling.

Regards,

Terry.

5

That looks awesome! I don’t know much about American sbjects, but this looks good.

6

I have to agree with terry. Great finish. Excellent work! Steve

7

Quite simply it is damm nice work. I am blundering through my first model build (M41 Tamiya) after about 25 years and I see and learn alot from your photos. Before I drive you crazy with a bunch of questions I want to thank you for all the work you did putting together the post, in addition to the model.

The .50 BMG: what is the extra wire on top of the handles? And there are extra brackets on the turret top associated with the .50 which I had also seen in actual photos of venicles, what is their purpose? I would like to try to scratch build them.

[tup] Bonus points for the additional work on the cmdrs hatch vision blocks. That was an extra I decided not to fiddle with on my first build, now I kinda regret it but it would be more difficult to work on the turret at this point. The work you did in that area of the model, and all over in fact, is very neat and clean. [:I] I’m afraid that even with extra work mine simple isn’t going to be that “polished.”

How did you make the protective guard above the loaders vision block? I used wire and CA glue but it is not as good as yours.

Did you scratch build the headlight brush guadrs?

You added pads above the vision blocks on the drivers hatch. They look good. Where the fender supports forward PE?

Well done holes in the fenders for skirts. I am not looking forward to that. Looks like you used a smaller drill bit than I have available.

What source did you use for the tow cable, and especially the eyes. I haven’t ordered anything for that part yet.

And finally; could you explain a little more about the problem you had with the AFV tracks? Last week I received a set for my model but have not started work on them yet. Maybe I’ll be better off not spending time on something that won’t work.

Good model. Looking forward to hearing more from you, what other projects do you have in mind?

“I tried to make this model look like a picture I found of a tank in Vietnam on a dusty road in counrty.” “…in country” ?? vet?

8

Looks like your perseverance paid off in getting this one to the shelf! [tup]

9

Great build! Especially for a first build! Your first tank oudoes my first car kit:-)

10

Thakn you Bob for taking notice. Before you put me on a pedestal I can not take credit for a lot of the detail. Most of the detail you have refered to came from aftermarket sources.

The .50MG is a Verlinden resin kit. The kit comes with enough parts to create 4 .50MG’s. I did not like the kit MG as it lacked a lot of detail and I had the Verlinden MG kit from a previous plane build.

Most of the detail you mentioned comes from the Eduard PE set 35428. I also found another PE set from another manufacturer that I can not find the name to but it also came with some resin bits like the mount for the .50MG and the clamp for the tow cable.

The only scratch work I did was grab handles, the big loops on the turret and front of chassis where a crane at the factory or during heavy maintainence would attach to. All was done with copper wire or similar found around the house.

The Barrel came from the Barrel Store, it is a turned metal piece that I then attached the kit plastic muzzle to.

The jerry cans came from a tamiya gas can kit that supplies U.S. and German jerry cans.

Much of the other parts like tools or other detail came form my spare parts and left over parts.

The tow cable is picture hanging wire that I had laying around with eyelets from an M20 Grayhound kit that I have. I had to cut a small section of brass tubing and pass the wire in one end the eyelet in the other.

The AFV tracks are much better in detail and accuracy as they have detail on both sides but they are a but too long. Once on the wheels they would not hold tight around the wheels. I did not want to tackle fixing them to make them work so just used the tamiya tracks.

I found the picture online when I was looking for reference pics. I liked the idea of trying to make a tank look dusty since I never did that before. It gave me a chance to use powders which I never did before.

No not a vet, to young, 32. Just got a deal on this model and figured if I messed up on it, no big deal before moving on to better kits.

Current project is a Spitfire mk 14 in the works about 50% done and an AMT Outcast T bucket Hot Rod that my girl friend want me to do. I usually have 2-3 models going at once so I do not have to wait for paint to dry before I can do something else. When doings cars the paint takes so much longer to dry then armor or planes and you cars usually need more then 1 coat of paint to look right.

Asad

11

Fantastic. All the extra deeds paid off. I’ve heard that this is the perfect model to start an armor build on. My one critique is the weathering on the lower hull. I’m not sure if you wer going for a dusty look, but if you were, I would have chosen a lighter color like Tamiya buff. If I’m wrong, please ignore my observance.

12

Very nicely done for a first armour build. [:)]

A very minor observation if I may…

It appears some time between pics 6 and 7 (unweathered/weathered) the tracks have been removed and reinstalled backwards? Correct me if I am wrong, but the “vee” of the track pad should point down when viewed from the front?

13

Thank you Tigerman for your observations. You would think that if going for dusty look to go with Buff but in the reference pic I used the dust was a reddish color. I guess that in Vietnam the dust is different with more of a red color mud.

It would makes more sense Phil that the V goes the other way, thanks for pointing that out yes I did have them on wrong. I double checked my reference pics, sure enough. I have corrected them on the tank. Luckily the rubber band tread was easy to switch around.

14

That’s a first tank? Damn… May there be many more.

NTM

15

A superb build. Great to see this. As others said, plenty of very nicely executed detail.

16

Wow, very nice work indeed! Especially considering it’s your first! I’m looking forward to seeing more of your builds! [8D] [tup] [tup]

17

Nice build. Looks good to me[tup]

18

Thanks again for the great responses. You guys have only given me more motivation to try another armor model. I think I will try one with a camo paint job. I like the look of chipped paint using the salt method and may try that next. Hopefully the next one won’t take 3 years to complete.