Building a M41 Walker Bulldog Tamiya 1/35 Scale Model

This is an out of the box build of the M41 Walker Bulldog from Tamiya in 1:35 scale. I attempted a lot of new techniques in this build.
With every model I always attempt to go one step further and try and improve my modelling and this was no exception as I was relatively pleased with the results.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Building a M41 Walker Bulldog
00:28 Materials Used
01:13 Construction of the hull
03:06 Construction of the turret
05:52 Priming
07:35 Pre shading
08:43 Painting
12:37 Chipping
13:55 Tracks
14:15 Exhaust rust affect
20:46 Panel lines
22:18 Oil paint filter
26:02 Final thoughts
Music: BenSound (www.bensound.com)
#m41 #walkerbulldog #tamiya #plasticmodel

[@peterdean606]

I really enjoyed this honest presentation. Your style is relaxed, easy to follow, looking forward to following your journey.

[@redneckwarriors1]

bought one as my first model kit, ready to see what i can do

[@45degreesmodelling]

It’s a brilliant kit to get started with, nice and simple and the fit it spot on. Hope you enjoy it like I did!

[@stevemoskal1017]

This will be my first tank build and your calm demeanor makes me really want to carry on and finish it. As a young kid in the 1950s, we never had paint or weathering techniques (just a tube of glue and what came out of the box!) so this is a new adventure for me.

[@45degreesmodelling]

Great to hear. If it’s your first model and you don’t have an air brush I’d definitely recommend getting some Tamiya primer in a can and some extra thin cement, it will make the build so much easier. It’s a great tank to start with.

[@brianfoley4328]

I thoroughly enjoyed your video...refreshing. I've built this kit and it's a fun build. You did a great job with it...great narrative (next time maybe turn down the television in the background). Well done Sir, well done indeed.

[@45degreesmodelling]

Thank you Brian, glad you enjoyed it. I think it’s the back ground music you can hear in the video not a TV, but getting my audio right on my videos is a bit of a challenge, I’m constantly trying to improve that!

[@AdamWeber-pi1gs]

Very late to the party here.🙂 Very well done, Sir. I try to keep a few of this model in my stash, to "cleanse my palette" after tough builds, to build for fun. One of mine took second place at an "out of the box" themed show, which I am very proud of, but your rusted exhaust shrouds are better executed.

[@45degreesmodelling]

Thank you, that’s kind of you to say! It’s a really nice and simple kit isn’t it? I’m thinking of building it again and comparing to see how much my modelling has improved!

[@TheModelorian]

Really nice! Thank you for sharing. This is a good start for a channel. Cheers, mate!

[@slappybag69ify]

I just picked up this kit and wanted to thank you for your video. Your finished tank turned out great! 👏

[@erickirwan8703]

Really nice work mate👍

[@statoilbensin2190]

This kit can be built in one afternoon, I love this fast kits.

[@45degreesmodelling]

It’s a great kit, I enjoyed building it.

[@65melody17]

Just ordered this kit as a starter and complete beginner myself after seeing it was a good starting model, thank you for this clear video!

[@ManuelDeFire]

For the decals, apply microscale - microset and gloss varnish first so that it does not happen to be noticed the decal mark. the color tones of the oils enrich the model very well.

[@BigFred1925]

Beautiful work. I finally built this one, inexpensive and fun to build.

[@45degreesmodelling]

Thank you, yeah it’s a great little kit imo!

[@johntaylor8095]

Excellent work! Appreciate the video, I'm working on this tank currently.

[@45degreesmodelling]

Thank you, it’s such a good kit. Now my skills have improved I’m tempted to build it again!

[@flyboy2610]

Nice job! I just bought this kit, looking forward to building it! The reason that the 532 has so much silvering is because it was applied over a satin surface. A decal should be applied over a gloss surface, then a flat clear coat should be applied over the decal. That will eliminate the silvering, and hide the decal edge. I learned that the hard way.

[@45degreesmodelling]

Yeah, not having a gloss varnish was a pain at the time! Thanks for watching.

[@williamfotiou7577]

Thank you for a great tutorial. Enjoyed it. I'm starting this model soon, haven't built for a while, and looking forward to it.

[@45degreesmodelling]

Thank you. I just see it as a build video and not a tutorial, as I’m no expert. It’s such a great kit. Just have fun and don’t worry about making mistakes!

[@themajesticmagnificent386]

I recently got this kit and pleased with what you get for the money..Is a old kit but Ok..Plan to do it from Vietnam and cover my one with sandbags..Which isn’t cheating🥶.. Great build and video..Thanks and all the best..

[@lesthiele4921]

Another great build my friend, it is one of Tamiya's older kits but still a very good base to start of with, my only wish with these older kits is, that Tamiya take the time to update them, but I suppose COST is the issue, best regards from Australia 👍👍👍👍👍

[@45degreesmodelling]

Thanks! Yeah it would be nice to have an update, something like what Airfix do with their kits sometimes. It’s great regardless!

[@dandy193]

I've had this in my stash for a couple of years, not knowing what dio to put in it. Then last weekend I watched Full Metal Jacket and there a couple of M41s in the film, loaned to Kubrick by the Belgian Army. So I'm doing a Full Metal Jacket last battle scene dio, maybe even punt for another one off ebay to add to it

[@45degreesmodelling]

Sounds great! I never knew they were from the Belgium Army, I knew the film was filmed in the London docklands though as he didn’t like flying.

[@dandy193]

​@@45degreesmodelling The former RAF Bassingbourn airfield in Cambridgeshire was used to recreate the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina. The abandoned Beckton gasworks in East London was used to film the bombed-out city of Hue in Vietnam. The Norfolk Broads and Stiffkey Marshes were used as Asian paddy fields, and the Broads National Park was used for the scene of the US Army helicopter shooting into the "Vietnamese countryside". Other filming locations in England include Isle of Dogs, London, RAF Swinderby, and Compton Acres, Canford Cliffs.

[@danknispel4588]

Looks very good, I've built this kit twice now.. it's just fun. If you add some small dots of a darker gray to the center of some of your light chips it looks like the chip goes all the way down to the metal of the vehicle. There's a guy who's channel is called Nightshift (not me) who builds awesome armor and he has some fantastic videos on chipping and other weathering techniques.

[@jamesmcansh6393]

Great build and paint work , new sub thanks for sharing ! ✌🏻🇨🇦✌🏻

[@45degreesmodelling]

Thank you for watching and choosing to subscribe. Really appreciate it!

[@vonschleppin]

Just bought my kit. Always loved the Bulldog. This is a trophy worthy of any show case. My only criticism, the 532 decal has a sheen outlining the entire decal. I would dull it down. Great job.

[@45degreesmodelling]

Thank you, I love the bull dog too. Yeah I had a snag with the decals on this one.

[@siamodyssey]

Great job, working on this one now.

[@45degreesmodelling]

Thank you, it’s a great kit, nice and simple with decent detail, especially for its age!

[@d9_1056]

Just bought this kit and looking forward to it collecting dust while it sits on my backlog.

[@45degreesmodelling]

It’s a great kit to build. It could be built in a few hours or over a weekend!

[@81artmonk]

I found that if you paint the wheels black then come back and use the Olive drab and lightly spray the inside of the wheels it won't overspray onto the already black part of the wheels saving you time from having to repaint the outside black.

[@45degreesmodelling]

Yeah I think I may have done that technique on the Centaur tank recently .

[@dennisgraham3087]

Thanks. I'm thinking about buying and building this model maybe next week

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling Thanks I hadn't really considered building tanks at this time. Since I've been working mostly on airplanes WW-2 and some modern jets. BUT my brother has been building some ( tanks) and it's gotten me interested again. ( I used to build modern armor year's ago) so now it looks like Im going to be getting back into them again. Thanks for the video. It was very informative and interesting

[@dennisgraham3087]

I went and bought one from my local Hobby lobby this afternoon. Will probably start on it later in the week while I'm laid up from having had surgery later this week.

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling thanks im going in for a hernia repair on Friday. Afterwards I will be off work for at least 3 weeks, so that will give me something else to do besides reading a book

[@johnlinford3791]

Be careful with them enamel thinners....can strip paint , odourless thinners are way better for the weathering stages . Nice finish on that one .

[@45degreesmodelling]

Thank you! Yeah I’m always cautious when it comes to the thinners. Thanks for watching.

[@animalyze7120]

Just curious about the decal problems you were discussing, do you use any decal solutions? Micro Sol, Micro Set & Decal film. All made by Microscale (Can be bought as a 3 set as well) easily ordered off Amazon and most Hobby shops carry them, they really help and the end results are always far better than just using soapy warm water. Try it if you haven't already! Great Build you really did an Amazing job on this Tank.

[@dennisgraham3087]

When you did the clear coat. Did you use it straight from the bottle or mix it with thinner ?

[@t1mmyxd156]

Id love to build a m41 walker for my second kit

[@45degreesmodelling]

Give it a go, this is a great simple kit imo!

[@madden1261]

Question: does anyone have a fit issue with the top and bottom? I’m have a gap at the opposite end of retaining clip. I can take it out with a lot of preload. Is this expected.

[@45degreesmodelling]

Sorry, I’ve just seen your question, it’s been a while now since I built this but I don’t remember a fit issue with it. Hope you managed to sort your issue out!

[@dennisgraham3087]

Also. When you were using the sponge with the exhaust effects. how many pieces of sponge did you use, did you clean it with anything in between colors. Sorry I'm asking so many questions. ALOT of this is new to me. So I'm trying to get as much info as I can.

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling excellent

[@81artmonk]

When you said you mixed your main color4:1 obviously 4 drops to 1 drop isn't enough paint.....so how does that work out for a larger amount of paint. I never understood the ratios. Is it doubled 8:2.....16:4......24:8?

[@45degreesmodelling]

I just use the increments on the pipette to be honest, so for one paint I’ll go up to the forth increment and for the other paint I’ll just go to the first increment. If I want more paint then yea it will be 8:2 etc. hope that helps you.

[@martinoconnor4314]

Hi, did you thin the Vallejo black primer? I can spray the Vallejo grey primer ok with a bit of airbrush flow improver but no matter what I do with their black it clogs my airbrush, I've tried mixing with thinner, flow improver and a mixture of both but still no joy.

[@martinoconnor4314]

@@45degreesmodelling Thanks for your reply, I'll give it a try. I don't understand why its only the black primer that I have a problem with, I have read plenty of YT comments about people having trouble with the Vallejo grey primer yet I have had no issues with the grey.

[@martinoconnor4314]

@@45degreesmodelling Hi, yes I've made a paint shaker out of an old jigsaw so the paint is well shaken, my bench is in the shed which is like an oven with the doors shut so I have them open for ventilation. I'm thinking that you were right about putting some airbrush thinner though the brush first as each time I have tried the primers I've gone with black first then I've had to thoroughly clean the brush to put the grey through which works fine. I think that after removing all traces of the black the airbrush is still lubricated so the grey flows better, I've only tried putting the black through at the start of using the airbrush so I presume that some of the black may dry fast on first contact with the dry internals of the brush. I've never just started out with the grey so that may be the reason I haven't had any problems with it so far. I only mix paint in plastic shot glasses from the £1 shop and never mix it in the airbrush. I'll be trying the black again next week so I'll let you know what happens 👍

[@martinoconnor4314]

@@45degreesmodelling Hi, I was able to spray the black primer with no problem by running some Vallejo Airbrush Thinners through before using the black. I don't use my airbrush frequently so I guess it becomes bone dry inside giving the paint a nice dry surface to settle on. Thanks for your help, regards, Martin.

[@dennisgraham3087]

What were the oil colors besides white yellow brown and black ?

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling okay. Thanks. I just wanted to make sure which colors you had used. Mine is coming along pretty good. Thanks for your feedback and help.

[@dennisgraham3087]

What were the 4 colors you used for the exhaust. I couldn't see the exact info

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling yes it did. I plan on using the method you showed on my tank as well.

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling just a quick update. I went to my local Hobby Lobby and found the rust and chipping effects set. so now I have the colors I need to do that process you showed.

[@vanthien23]

Can the springs bounce?

[@45degreesmodelling]

Unfortunately not, but you could probably cut them up and move them to make it look like the weight is distributed over an obstacle.

[@dennisgraham3087]

Did you paint the underside. I know some people do. Do you. I have in the past.

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling thanks again. Yeah on the kit I bought the holes were already filled in.

[@dennisgraham3087]

Did you use thinner when you used the Gloss Varnish

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling yeah I applied some gloss and didn't like the way it looks. Next time I will go with the matt varnish. So I'm going to use a lite mist of buff paint to dull down the gloss look

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling what about the weathering phase ? I'm just about to do some oil based paints for the weathering effects.

[@dennisgraham3087]

So one more question, have already applied the matt varnish? or afterwards ?

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling okay thanks,

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling one more thing. What was the air pressure that you used when applying the post shading

[@dennisgraham3087]

@@45degreesmodelling Thanks. I will be starting one of these in a few days. As I am finishing up an M-41. Then I have plans to get an M-60A3 ( italeri kit)

[@hibbosmodelbench2351]

Great build mate. I have a challenge with 2 mates on Aussie Modellers Live (check it out, it’s funny). It’s either a WW2 plane or tank. None of us has done a tank before. Please head over and vote. You have given me some good ideas mate. Model on brother

[@bigblackcrocs5158]

Yo where tf does piece A9 go

[@45degreesmodelling]

It’s been a while since I built this but isnt this kit known for not using A9 😂 I think I remember asking the same question when I built it.

[@MODELMAN131]

FUN FACT M41 WALKER BULLDOGS WERE NEVER USED BY US CREWS AND FORCES ALSO I RELISED I DIDN'T PAINT MINE SO I WILL HAVE TO AGAIN .

[@simonbarnes7620]

Yes they were, just never outside of the US, i.e Germany or Vietnam although it was by the ARVN.

[@strgil]

Glue melts plastic not burn it

[@45degreesmodelling]

Just re watched that bit. No idea why I said burns 🤣

[@sgowski]

You need some stencils, then just paint the numbers by hand…

[@murphs-fk5pv]

damn, i dont have an airbrush

[@45degreesmodelling]

You could use Tamiya spray paints? Certainly for the primer, then use some oil paints to blend the main paint coat?

[@murphs-fk5pv]

@@45degreesmodelling I use Tamiya acrylics but I mean airbrush have better results like yours man