i just bough this kit and started on it last night. im planning on entering it in a compotition late this month and was wondering if there were any cheap ways to scratchbuilt parts for it. i spent most of my christmas money so i cant buy much, but if there is an aftermarket item that would make it look alot beter comments are welcome. but mainly i just want to know what areas need to be “fixed up” to make it look better. im no expert on scratchbuilding anyhoo. thanks.
Nice to here that juniormodeler. Good luck on the build and if you are able to please post some pictures of it once finished.
mark956
What competition are you going to? I am going to one in Atlanta at the end of the month. Maybe I will see you there
Nice to see you back around Jr. You planning on being at the AME? Check out the Community Announcements, been a bit if talk going on about it.
Good luck on your endeavor.
Yep, its the one thats in atlanta. its was in some high school last year. Yea i havent been posting in like 2 months. school and wrestling parctice every day during the week [xx(] , and on the weekends in just to busy to work on models[|)]. i have also been screwin with my other hobby, R/C cars. and over christmas break i have been in chicago. im probably gonna enter my bulldog and somethin else, not sure. but i will be there and im probably bringin my friend who is a new modeler aswell. but i will update yall soon. i hope to see yall there.
There is/was a lot of aftermarket available for this kit. That is until AFV Club and Skybow both released superb kits of the exact same tank. I have all three of the M41 Walker Bulldog kits and just about all aftermarket that was made for the Tamiya kit. Don’t waste the money on the various AM sets for the Tamiya kit, one or two items will cost as much as one of the better kits.
Since you are short on funds, I’ll give a reader’s digest version of some items that can be improved with little or no expense.
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Blank off the undersides of the sponson boxes (underside of fender boxes) with simple sheet styrene.
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Notice in the box art that the sides of the center sponson boxes have X shaped strengthening imprints. Using the box art and top of the sponson box relief as a guide, carefully scribe the X with a sharp knife or other scribing instrument. Once you have the X groove, use a source of heat to stretch some sprue to fit into the groove. Cut to size and use liquid cement to attach.
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The forward sponson boxes just have a series of vertical strengthening ribs, use the same techique to add them as well. (Box art shows tank with turret over rear)
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Blank off the motorization holes on the underside of the lower hull and around the final drive housing of the drive sprocket. Also on the sides of the hull are some holes that need to be filled. Place the interior bulkhead first.
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The outer sprocket half should have 4 lightening holes in them, but the recess is too shallow to add them. The compensating idler wheel should also have lightening holes in the rim (see box art), but only add them if you think you can do it and make them look even (I’d omit this too).
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I’d consider replacing the tool rack with something from the parts box. Same deal with the 5 gal. cans and the .50 cal machine gun.
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To detail out the driver’s vision blocks, I’d fill the gap with something simple like Elmer’s white glue and paint the face gloss black when dry.
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The actual headlight guards are flat pieces of metal welded together, you can carefully sand them down to a more appropriate scale thickness or you can find some scrape pieces of photoetch fret to cut to size and replicate.
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One thing I would consider spending some money on would be replacement tracks. I’m not talking about high-priced individual links, but AFV Club makes a set of vinyl tracks #AF 35052 that run about $7-8. The kit tracks have no detail on the inner surface except for a token center guide (guide teeth). Also if you put out a want ad on various model forums, someone may have a set of the vinyl tracks that came with their AFV Club kit that they subsequently replaced with the AFV Club single link tracks. Those are #AF 35046 and run about $14-15 a set.
Sorry to run on so.
HTH
thanks dude, thats exactly what i am looking for. i have a question though: when you mention the vision blocks, r them the ones one the hull, in the front? and i have alredy replaced the 50cal with one from an Academy accesory kit, and the fuel drum things. but is the tool rack that thing on the front fender? if so im just gonna leave it of, it looks like crap. i already tried carving out all the tolls on it and stuff-didnt work. tahnks dude. [:X]
Yes, the driver’s vision blocks are the small periscopes he can look through when the hatches are closed. The kit has no optics, just an empty space. You can either cut small pieces of clear styrene sheet to act as the periscope glass (cost some money) or use a few drops of Elmer’s glue to build up the space (probably have some at home).
Yes, tool rack is the shovel, pick axe, sledge hammer rack.
Hi junior try this site below
they have a discussion on the walker bulldog awhile. it is a comparison of tamiya and skybow walker but then they have step step built maybe it gives u some idea of what u might want to create on your own for competitions
http://www.guntruck.com/M41WalkerBulldog.html
http://www.guntruck.com/M41A3BullDog.html
thanks guys, i just hope ine turns out half as good as that one pictured!
Junior, don’t let his photos get you down. That’s the website of a friend of mine named Jim Lewis. He’s a professional. NBC hired him to scratchbuild their satellite truck they used in Iraq in 1/35 scale to be displayed at NBC HQs in NYC along with a model M88A2 their embedded reporter rode on. The reporter died there and the vehicle was renamed the Bloommobile or something like that.
thnkas man, that akes me feel better. i always compare my models to peoples like his and get discouredged, the also motivate me to do better to. tell him i said good job![:p]
The clear plastic that is vacum formed around new toys, tools, etc. or the clear plastic sleeve that packages of paint like vallejo come in can be used for the same things you’d use clear styrene for. Just used the clear sleeve from my paint package to make vision blocks.
If you hit the bakeries in some large supermarkets, their baked goods come in the clear plastic containers (that are usually sealed with some sort of industrial tape that you usually need to blast off the package to open it) can be cut up and used similarly.
Mike
sorry junior i din mean to discourage u , just that the model seems nice and maybe we learn something from there. I just order a M41bulldog from AFV will be coming in tomorrow. i browse thru search site to get a good look over how a M41 be built and i found this site.
BUt its ok just use your own idea Junior trust yourself
rdgs
han
dont be sorry man, those tanks gave me some great ideas. i just wish i would have bought the skybow or atv club one [xx(]. but i have already started to fix my bulldog up. i got a 50 cal from an academy kit, bags and stuff from spare boxes,aftermarket jerrycans and straps, a rubber manlet cover from atv club, im surprised i found that one, and im breaking a modeling rule, im using some tie downs and handles from an old t-55 pe set. but i think it will turn out fine. i may even order the atv club rubber track set.
since AFVs tracks fit tamiyas M41, try to get their individual link set
Thanks Rob! Man - no wonder people don’t ask me modeling questions anymore - I hope I don’t intimidate anyone [:(]! The fun of the hobby is sharing with others…
Juniormodeler - you go for it and have fun building your Walker BullDog. That’s one of my favorite tanks. I’ll be cheering for you all the way! Don’t get too caught up in adding a ton of details unless you’re comfortable with that.
Gunnie
Gunnie:
i find work like urs not intimidating but inspirational ! [:D]
this site is so full of great modelers who r willing 2 share tips
& techniques…
juniormodeler:
re: scratchbuilding… don’t b afraid 2 start over if the part doesn’t look rite,
sometimes it takes a couple of tries, but u’ll get it eventually ! [:D]
good luck w/ ur build & at the comp !
frosty [:)]
Thanks Frosty - makes me feel welcomed here! 
juniormodeler - go for the scratchbuilding efforts too! Remember, the only way to get good at it - it to try and try again. Also - don’t be afraid to redo something. I’ve found that sometimes when your attempt doesn’t work out for your present model - the experience helps you in the next one!
Gunnie