Can anybody tell me what the differences are (beyond markings) between the AFV Club M-41A3 Walker Bulldog kit with serial number 35041, and the AFV Club M-41A3 Walker Bulldog with serial number 35S12.

Judging by the box, it looks as though the difference may be limited to the latter kit coming with markings for a camo R.O.C. vehicle, whereas the "standard" 35041 version includes markings for both US and R.O.C. M41A3s. That said, the 35S11 kit (M41A2 JGSDF Walker Bulldog), comes with different PE mudguards and one or two other minor detail changes.

The reason I ask is that Hobby Fan's M-41D upgrade specifically states that it's for the 35S12 kit. However, if there's no actual difference between the two kits beyond markings, there's no need for me to pick another one up (since I'm up to my armpits in M41s as it is).

Thanks,

Al

Al, I have both kits. My AF 35041 has a special sticker that says "Initial Sales Premium Machine Gun Shield ARVN M41A3" so that may add an item not found in a "regular" AF 35041 kit. The rest is the same except for markings.

The gun shield is a small 4 piece sprue from the M88 kit (2 parts are M88 hatches & unused). There is a small errata sheet that shows how to use the two pieces to assemble the gun shield and mount it.

The instruction sheets are identical. On the ROC kit, there is a new page glued onto the final page of manual with a "NATO-flage" style ROC Marine scheme. Same scheme for two different tanks.


The ROC kit has:
A. same as regular kit, US Army tank
B. & C. ROC Marine Corps 3-color camouflaged tank
D. ROC Army olive green tank
E. ROC Marine Corps, field green tank
F. ROC Army Armor School, olive green tank

So, of my two kits, the initial issue regular kit has 2 more parts, but the ROC kit has markings for a camouflaged pattern.

Hi Guys, since the subject of the AFV's M-41 has popped up I've got a question. I'm working on the German "G" model and I'm wondering about the protective covers over the mufflers. Would the heat from the exhaust cause the paint on the covers to break down and rust to form ? (I can't think of a better way to put it) Thanks in advance people ! Tom

That's in at least one of my "regular" AF 35041 kits. Glad to hear that it's just markings - the 35S11 kit, which is the other "special" M41 they put out, in this case an M41A2 in JGSDF markings, has a completely new "sprue" G (it's shown as a sprue but it's actually a PE fret, albeit with pre-shaped parts) to provide "full" rounded mudguards at front and back. The only other difference with that variant, as far as I can tell, is the inclusion of a small rear light (part D7) at the rear, and the omission of the M2 on top of the turret. It also *appears* to differ in the final drive area, using parts K11 and K15, instead of two parts K15, but since there's only one part K15 in the regular kit, you have to use K11 there anyway.

If anybody's looking to build the Japanese version, but can't find the kit, if you can find AFV Club's separate PE details set for the Walker Bulldog, the included fret with mudguard parts is the same as "sprue G" from the M41A2 kit. Given that the only other difference (part D7) is provided in the kit as standard, all you then need is to come up with markings.




Ah, good - so all I've got to do is dig up a photo or two to find any vehicle specific markings (since the kit by default has R.O.C. national markings included). I can get the camo pattern from the M-41D box photo.

Thanks, that just saved me $40 or so :-)

Cheers,

Al

I can scan the marking page for you if need be.

Ivanhoe, I'm fairly sure that the AFV Club AF35S25 M41G kit is the orignal Skybow kit. Or at least page 37 of my 2004-2005 AFV Club catalog says it is.

The heat normally faded the olive paint to a lighter color. I guess it could eventually begin to ruse, much like the old crew heater exhaust pipes on the M60 series tanks.

Thanks, I'd appreciate that.

I guess another question I'd have for anybody who knows their M41s is, has anybody ever produced a conversion for the upgraded Brazilian M41? When I take out the M41A2 kit, the M41A3 that I'm going to build as an M41D, and the Skybow M41 that's I got as a combi-kit from AA to build as a Danish vehicle, I'm left with two M41A3s, one AFV Club, one Skybow. One's got to be built as a US M41, but I'd like to build the other as something different, and the most obvious candidate would be the Brazilian upgraded version, if a conversion exists.

Al