Enjoyable review and the the kit looks great for one originally made a half century ago. M41 has always been a favorite....as Bob Hope might have said ''Tanks for the memories".
Another great video Peter and i love these old Tamiya kits. I used to drool over the Verlinden dioramas in their catalogue 😂 Such good times 😊 Rubber band tracks 😂😮
Hi Peter thanks for the video. When I returned to the hobby a few years ago this was one of the first 1/35 armour kits that I tried my hand at. It went together pretty well and was a fun build. Not bad for a 1970s tooling. I gave the completed model and figures to a friend who appreciated it. I was surprised that your boxing came with no English instructions as there was in mine. I suppose you might have an earlier release though.
This is a fun little build. Goes together quite well I have no issue heating the treads with a flat head pin. The 2 piece barrel is a weak point because of its length and diameter. English and Japanese instructions were included (got it in 2022). I always like the tank images on the side of the box. These pictures are from the box tops of the kits when they were motorised and had a full war scene depicted as opposed to the current MM style box. This box art is weird because it shows the rear view of the tank with the turret reversed.
Built this a few years ago, along with a few more Tamiya 1/35s from the same era when I went on a bit of an 'armour-spree' (I mostly build WW2 aircraft) All look pretty good to my 'Far-less-than-expert' eye. The Churchill came with not only a crew, but also a civilian French-farmer-looking guy, and a trolley with bottles of wine - Farmer posed handing a bottle up, and one of the crew leaning down to receive it - A lovely touch I thought.
Many of the older Japanese kits had unintentionally hilarious English interpretations from the mother tongue. For instance, the Fujimi kit of the F-1 jet (the Jaguar look alike) had an "electronic machinery room" behind the cockpit! By the way, I have found the rubber band tracks a lit easier to cope with than the 200 piece track sets included in modern kits!
I remember Tamiya armor kits back in 1975 were a bit rich for my 10 year old budget here in the States. I remember many of them were motorized back then, and I also used to greatly admire the realistic box art. I had a friend who had a early 1970s 1/35th Tamiya Jagdtiger, and Peter, it was the coolest model I think I ever saw at the time done up in it's camouflage netting and Zimerett. anti-mine paste. (This particular friend ended up going to the US Naval Academy, and later skippering a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.) So, I believe plastic modeling developed great character as well as skills! Lol. Too bad the instructions are in Japanese. As you say, the kit looks very straightforward, although a builder would definitely want to know how to make the canvas gun cover over the mantlet, as I don't know how accurate the M-41 would be without this? Thanks Peter for another enjoyable episode!
Same for me in Canada. The motorised kits were about 15 bucks in Canada and I could get an AMT car kit for about 5 bucks. Tamiya were always beyond my budget in the mid 1960s to the 80s. But they were so cool looking on the box art.
Great review, lovely model. I recently finished the Tamiya 1/35 scale Chieftain, a 1975 year kit. I put it on a road type base, added oil drums and Jerry cans, with my limited skills it ended up looking pretty good. I think it was a bit of a wake up call for other plastic kit manufacturers at the time. Ten out of ten for you Peter and nine out of ten from me regarding the kit, cheers.
Built it when I was getting back into the hobby in 1993. Even then I was a bit disappointed. We need a good Walker Bulldog and there ain't one. Takom, time to step up
I normally don't build armor but I picked this up a few months ago when Hobby Lobby (in the U.S.) was having a 50% off sale. Cost me $11. Like others stated, mine came with English instructions but the plastic is a very dark, olive drab green vs. the lighter green/brown in your kit. Haven't built it yet but it looks like it'll be a fun little project. With some weathering it should look great.
Hiya just to say every tamiya kit i had back in the 70s had two lots of instructions one in Japanese and one in English. Had this kit back in the very early 80s and infant still have it in my mom's loft with loads of my old kits . Loft insulation at its finest 😂.
Thanks Peter for thses trips down memory lane and even though l never actually purchase this kit l did buy Tamiya then l must say l would just rip open the bags 😳young person enthusiasm these kit were so good the detail was so far in front of anyone else can't remember when Airfix stop they kits in little plastic bags but they l think were with Matchbox and maybe Fog the only ones around sorry if l got that round my neck 😕my dad let me have the box room and after many bags of plaster of paris l would have a diorama and l would sit with paint brush happy days 👍
Named after General Walton Walker commander of the US 8th Army in Korea. He was killed in a Jeep accident in Korea. The tank replace the M24 Chafee. Armed with a 76mm gun.
I see this kit sitting on the shelves at my local Hobby Lobby, I should really pick it up even if I'm not a "tread head" it a really nice kit. My friend Dana built and painted this kit, she loved it and the three figures from 1973 (50 years old!) are still nice-looking figures! This kit is worth it and it's affordable.
A lovely little kit - I got it dirt cheap from local shop early last year and it is a really nice build, even for a novice like me. I completed mine in Japanese army scheme. A couple of things to watch out for - some of the small fiddily bits that go on the front and rear hull are not clearly pointed out in the instructions and there are two small holes in the hull (for radio controls I suspect) I covered these up with plastic card. You can see these holes in the instructions but I notice that since you have the 2019 reissue, Tamika have helpfully covered them up. But it builds up into a really nice looking kit. I highly recommend it!
Thankfully they've updated the instructions to include english. At least the one I have has english instructions. You can pick these for pretty cheap here in the states, around $15 USD.
I bought their U.S. Light Tank M5A1 (MM-197) a few months ago, built it as a kid, after being to the cinema to see Race with the Devil with my parents, imagine parents take their kids to see a movie like that today, I think that I was 7 or 8, how times have changed, eh? Think that I'll have to pick up their Mk. II Matilda (MM-124), Sturmgeschütz IV (MM-187), Sturmpanzer Brummbär (MM-177) as well, those are the kits that I remember slapping together with the classic Humbrol glue.... Oh well, back to thumbing them vintage catalogues I think....with a cuppa! Btw, do you have any old catalogue that you could waffle about, would be interesting..... To your good health and continued success with your channel Squire! 🍻
Great kit for the time but Tamiya was way out of my price bracket for me. Mind you, 1/35 was generally out of my price range all together. 1/72 aircraft and armour and 1/700 for vessels, (Airfix, Matchbox and Frog etc....), were more affordable or I'd just have to hang out for Birthday/Christmas gifts. I remember painting a mystery brand Mig 19 in Dulux silver I found in Dad's shed. I got in big trouble when I was about 11 for pinching a can of Humbrol from John Martins (a large ,now defunct, department store). That didn't go down well at home. My dream kit at the time was the Italeri 1/9 Zundapp KF 750. (I have it now and it is still a great kit that is 50 years' old this year). I see that all the set up for an battery operated electric motor is still there and the hull top clips on/off for battery access. Hence poly caps for all the road wheels. Tamiya should do "classic" release with motor etc present. I'd build one just for the fun of it. Thanks for another, enjoyable bit of modelling nostalgia Peter. Cheers 🦘🦘🦘
Tamiya makes an amazing .50 in 1/16 scale. I search them out as spares sprue kits from shops and use them on all of my 1/16 RC US armor where called for. Tamiya only got better as the years went by. Kind of sad but their prices did not. Still worth it as well engineered kits go.
Using 1975 standards, it would have had a 9.5 out of 10. Tamiya has just announced the upcoming release of a 1/48 F-35B, so you Brits can do the 617 Squadron one..
You are very wrong on the original cost though , tamiya was among the most expensive in late 70s early 80s , you could buy 2 italeri or esci armor kits for 1 tamiya
You say there is no English, It says, Apply Decals! 😂 If it was reissued in 2019, Why would there not be English instructions,at least a web site with PDF file?
Not to pick nits, but would an original have 2019 stamped on the hull? Plus the rubber threads look very new, which points to a reissue. It would be interesting to know where the person who sent you this got it from. I know of a few hobby shops in the US that get some of their stock from collections and other sources, other than their main distributor. Keep up the good work.
@@williamd.1424 Yes a curious thing...the 2019 could be coincidence, as it does say 1975 first, yet others with the re-issue say it was all English instructions. Very odd?
Hi Peter! Incoming Nerd-out!!! The language on the '12' decal is Korean, as are the Tiger symbol decals. You can tell the difference between Korean and Japanese/Chinese by the 'blockiness' (is that a word?) of the characters, and the integration of ovals into the characters (호랑이 means 'Tiger' which holds a sacred, protective/strength meaning for Koreans). Also, unlike Japanese and Chinese, Korean uses an alphabet instead of the symbolistic characters of those languages. Anyway, the M41 slowly began development in 1946, and was rushed into production at the start of the Korean War -- a classic example of Western militaries' penchant to wait and then hurry up -- but it saw little service. Unfortunately, the rush-into-production led to many design and technical weaknesses which made it unsuccessful. It was unpopular with crews, mostly because the turret and crew compartments were very cramped -- ironic since it was produced by Cadillac, though, in fairness, it wasn't designed by them. It was too large and slow for recon (or 'recce' to the Brits 😉), and too small and underarmed/underarmored to be a MBT. As a result, it was relegated to RoK troops and the U.S. Marines (Hoo-Rah! 🦾), mostly in support roles. It was Pershings and Shermans that were used as MBTs, in one of the few times U.S. tanks faced Russian T-34s directly. After many modifications and upgrades, the M41 was eventually replaced by the M47 Patton, but continued to serve in various roles in various armies into the late 60's -- including the RVN in Vietnam and Japan, thus the Japanese flag decals (you can see M41s in the early Godzilla movies, along with Chaffees. The models in those films were made by, guess who? Tamiya 😁). Overall, the M41 was a dog, but more of a Pug than a Bulldog. In any case, Tamiya's made a great kit of it 😀.
Nice video from Peter 'Jimmy Edwards' Oxley again
Enjoyable review and the the kit looks great for one originally made a half century ago. M41 has always been a favorite....as Bob Hope might have said ''Tanks for the memories".
Another great video Peter and i love these old Tamiya kits. I used to drool over the Verlinden dioramas in their catalogue 😂 Such good times 😊 Rubber band tracks 😂😮
Hi Peter thanks for the video. When I returned to the hobby a few years ago this was one of the first 1/35 armour kits that I tried my hand at. It went together pretty well and was a fun build. Not bad for a 1970s tooling. I gave the completed model and figures to a friend who appreciated it. I was surprised that your boxing came with no English instructions as there was in mine. I suppose you might have an earlier release though.
I recently bought mine in December 2023 and mine too have both Japanese and English instructions.
This is a fun little build. Goes together quite well I have no issue heating the treads with a flat head pin. The 2 piece barrel is a weak point because of its length and diameter. English and Japanese instructions were included (got it in 2022). I always like the tank images on the side of the box. These pictures are from the box tops of the kits when they were motorised and had a full war scene depicted as opposed to the current MM style box. This box art is weird because it shows the rear view of the tank with the turret reversed.
One of the first Tamiya kits I ever built , great stuff and memories, recently returned and built this kit , lovely
Built this a few years ago, along with a few more Tamiya 1/35s from the same era when I went on a bit of an 'armour-spree' (I mostly build WW2 aircraft)
All look pretty good to my 'Far-less-than-expert' eye.
The Churchill came with not only a crew, but also a civilian French-farmer-looking guy, and a trolley with bottles of wine - Farmer posed handing a bottle up, and one of the crew leaning down to receive it - A lovely touch I thought.
Brilliant! We need more additions like that in our kits
Many of the older Japanese kits had unintentionally hilarious English interpretations from the mother tongue.
For instance, the Fujimi kit of the F-1 jet (the Jaguar look alike) had an "electronic machinery room" behind the cockpit!
By the way, I have found the rubber band tracks a lit easier to cope with than the 200 piece track sets included in modern kits!
I remember Tamiya armor kits back in 1975 were a bit rich for my 10 year old budget here in the States. I remember many of them were motorized back then, and I also used to greatly admire the realistic box art. I had a friend who had a early 1970s 1/35th Tamiya Jagdtiger, and Peter, it was the coolest model I think I ever saw at the time done up in it's camouflage netting and Zimerett. anti-mine paste.
(This particular friend ended up going to the US Naval Academy, and later skippering a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.)
So, I believe plastic modeling developed great character as well as skills! Lol.
Too bad the instructions are in Japanese. As you say, the kit looks very straightforward, although a builder would definitely want to know how to make the canvas gun cover over the mantlet, as I don't know how accurate the M-41 would be without this?
Thanks Peter for another enjoyable episode!
Same for me in Canada. The motorised kits were about 15 bucks in Canada and I could get an AMT car kit for about 5 bucks. Tamiya were always beyond my budget in the mid 1960s to the 80s. But they were so cool looking on the box art.
Great review, lovely model. I recently finished the Tamiya 1/35 scale Chieftain, a 1975 year kit. I put it on a road type base, added oil drums and Jerry cans, with my limited skills it ended up looking pretty good. I think it was a bit of a wake up call for other plastic kit manufacturers at the time. Ten out of ten for you Peter and nine out of ten from me regarding the kit, cheers.
Thank You! I always fancied that Chieftan! I might get it now...👍🏻
A better kit. I started my second one with PE for old times sake. It's a Mk. 3 though
I have built this tank a couple times,its a great kit for a first time 1/35 modeller.
Oh yes. A great starter kit.
Built it when I was getting back into the hobby in 1993. Even then I was a bit disappointed.
We need a good Walker Bulldog and there ain't one.
Takom, time to step up
Tamiya no matter the age or subject the one thing you'll always get is quality 👌
I normally don't build armor but I picked this up a few months ago when Hobby Lobby (in the U.S.) was having a 50% off sale. Cost me $11. Like others stated, mine came with English instructions but the plastic is a very dark, olive drab green vs. the lighter green/brown in your kit. Haven't built it yet but it looks like it'll be a fun little project. With some weathering it should look great.
Hi Peter just watched your pre Xmas dusting pain video what a great gem love your models got all mine in boxes all over the place
Great review Peter. That was my first Tamiya kit back in the 70's, although mine was the motorised version. Loved Tamiya ever since.
And a good beginner's kit. More important was that Tamiya made 1/35 the major military modelling scale with kits like that.
I got this kit also…
Love this classic kit, I have built three of them. Learned a lot, too, like how to block off motorization holes and scratchbuild periscopes.
I have built this one mulitple times..one of my faves.. I love this kit
Hiya just to say every tamiya kit i had back in the 70s had two lots of instructions one in Japanese and one in English. Had this kit back in the very early 80s and infant still have it in my mom's loft with loads of my old kits . Loft insulation at its finest 😂.
Thanks Peter for thses trips down memory lane and even though l never actually purchase this kit l did buy Tamiya then l must say l would just rip open the bags 😳young person enthusiasm these kit were so good the detail was so far in front of anyone else can't remember when Airfix stop they kits in little plastic bags but they l think were with Matchbox and maybe Fog the only ones around sorry if l got that round my neck 😕my dad let me have the box room and after many bags of plaster of paris l would have a diorama and l would sit with paint brush happy days 👍
Named after General Walton Walker commander of the US 8th Army in Korea. He was killed in a Jeep accident in Korea. The tank replace the M24 Chafee. Armed with a 76mm gun.
Gidday mate did buy this kit last month went together well with aussie instructions like your show see ya!,
I see this kit sitting on the shelves at my local Hobby Lobby, I should really pick it up even if I'm not a "tread head" it a really nice kit. My friend Dana built and painted this kit, she loved it and the three figures from 1973 (50 years old!) are still nice-looking figures! This kit is worth it and it's affordable.
A lovely little kit - I got it dirt cheap from local shop early last year and it is a really nice build, even for a novice like me. I completed mine in Japanese army scheme. A couple of things to watch out for - some of the small fiddily bits that go on the front and rear hull are not clearly pointed out in the instructions and there are two small holes in the hull (for radio controls I suspect) I covered these up with plastic card. You can see these holes in the instructions but I notice that since you have the 2019 reissue, Tamika have helpfully covered them up. But it builds up into a really nice looking kit. I highly recommend it!
Nice little jit for the money. I think the UK instructions were just missing as in all my Tamiya kits I've got 2 sets, Japanese and English 🤔
Thankfully they've updated the instructions to include english. At least the one I have has english instructions. You can pick these for pretty cheap here in the states, around $15 USD.
Funny I just bought this 40% off at hobby lobby
Built one many years ago when I had dark hair and could run a 7 minute mile in combat boots.
Still a very nice kit.
Amazing kit for the time
I bought their U.S. Light Tank M5A1 (MM-197) a few months ago, built it as a kid, after being to the cinema to see Race with the Devil with my parents, imagine parents take their kids to see a movie like that today, I think that I was 7 or 8, how times have changed, eh?
Think that I'll have to pick up their Mk. II Matilda (MM-124), Sturmgeschütz IV (MM-187), Sturmpanzer Brummbär (MM-177) as well, those are the kits that I remember slapping together with the classic Humbrol glue....
Oh well, back to thumbing them vintage catalogues I think....with a cuppa!
Btw, do you have any old catalogue that you could waffle about, would be interesting.....
To your good health and continued success with your channel Squire! 🍻
Peter, that’s obviously an original Japanese issue kit, I brought the kit back in the late 70’s and it came with full English instructions
Great kit for the time but Tamiya was way out of my price bracket for me.
Mind you, 1/35 was generally out of my price range all together. 1/72 aircraft and armour and 1/700 for vessels, (Airfix, Matchbox and Frog etc....), were more affordable or I'd just have to hang out for Birthday/Christmas gifts. I remember painting a mystery brand Mig 19 in Dulux silver I found in Dad's shed.
I got in big trouble when I was about 11 for pinching a can of Humbrol from John Martins (a large ,now defunct, department store). That didn't go down well at home.
My dream kit at the time was the Italeri 1/9 Zundapp KF 750. (I have it now and it is still a great kit that is 50 years' old this year).
I see that all the set up for an battery operated electric motor is still there and the hull top clips on/off for battery access. Hence poly caps for all the road wheels.
Tamiya should do "classic" release with motor etc present. I'd build one just for the fun of it.
Thanks for another, enjoyable bit of modelling nostalgia Peter. Cheers 🦘🦘🦘
Tamiya makes an amazing .50 in 1/16 scale. I search them out as spares sprue kits from shops and use them on all of my 1/16 RC US armor where called for. Tamiya only got better as the years went by. Kind of sad but their prices did not. Still worth it as well engineered kits go.
A simple mojo rejuvenator simple not too many parts...My first Tamiya was the M-42 Duster that had a wired remote control.
I have the 1/16 Bulldog with Metal tracks which l found for £20
I staple tracks like that together (small staples) , bit of paint on the staples and then hide them as best i can .. usually over an idler wheel .
The figure in the box art does look a little over sized, how do do you get three or four men in that little thing!
Are you sporting an Omega dark side of the moon wristwatch ?
It's sort of like a mandatory type of kit required for us tread- heads . Have,... but not much of a hurry to build 😂
Using 1975 standards, it would have had a 9.5 out of 10.
Tamiya has just announced the upcoming release of a 1/48 F-35B, so you Brits can do the 617 Squadron one..
THE DAMBUSTERS are back! 👍🏻😉
But I have to say, it is well detailed for such an early kit. But I think the Box Art let's it down a bit?
If you Goggle the Tamiya M41 Bulldog instructions and you will find a English version .pdf Peter.
I built their similar vintage PZ.II which is still a peach. The figures were gash though 😂
You are very wrong on the original cost though , tamiya was among the most expensive in late 70s early 80s , you could buy 2 italeri or esci armor kits for 1 tamiya
Aka the Hobby Lobby tank.
You need to buy yourself staple remover. You can get one for pennies at any office and school supply shop ;)
I have that kit, it is not one of the better ones. I have the glencoe M 41 in 1/15th scale.
Pre 75 , 72 or 73 maybe . £3.99 from hannants Loowestoft.
You say there is no English, It says, Apply Decals! 😂 If it was reissued in 2019, Why would there not be English instructions,at least a web site with PDF file?
In fairness, I understand the 2019 reissue does have it in English, but this was a '75 original.
Not to pick nits, but would an original have 2019 stamped on the hull? Plus the rubber threads look very new, which points to a reissue. It would be interesting to know where the person who sent you this got it from. I know of a few hobby shops in the US that get some of their stock from collections and other sources, other than their main distributor. Keep up the good work.
@@williamd.1424 Yes a curious thing...the 2019 could be coincidence, as it does say 1975 first, yet others with the re-issue say it was all English instructions. Very odd?
Hi Peter! Incoming Nerd-out!!! The language on the '12' decal is Korean, as are the Tiger symbol decals. You can tell the difference between Korean and Japanese/Chinese by the 'blockiness' (is that a word?) of the characters, and the integration of ovals into the characters (호랑이 means 'Tiger' which holds a sacred, protective/strength meaning for Koreans). Also, unlike Japanese and Chinese, Korean uses an alphabet instead of the symbolistic characters of those languages. Anyway, the M41 slowly began development in 1946, and was rushed into production at the start of the Korean War -- a classic example of Western militaries' penchant to wait and then hurry up -- but it saw little service. Unfortunately, the rush-into-production led to many design and technical weaknesses which made it unsuccessful. It was unpopular with crews, mostly because the turret and crew compartments were very cramped -- ironic since it was produced by Cadillac, though, in fairness, it wasn't designed by them. It was too large and slow for recon (or 'recce' to the Brits 😉), and too small and underarmed/underarmored to be a MBT. As a result, it was relegated to RoK troops and the U.S. Marines (Hoo-Rah! 🦾), mostly in support roles. It was Pershings and Shermans that were used as MBTs, in one of the few times U.S. tanks faced Russian T-34s directly. After many modifications and upgrades, the M41 was eventually replaced by the M47 Patton, but continued to serve in various roles in various armies into the late 60's -- including the RVN in Vietnam and Japan, thus the Japanese flag decals (you can see M41s in the early Godzilla movies, along with Chaffees. The models in those films were made by, guess who? Tamiya 😁). Overall, the M41 was a dog, but more of a Pug than a Bulldog. In any case, Tamiya's made a great kit of it 😀.