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A good Bradley Kit

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  • Member since
    December 2013
A good Bradley Kit
Posted by sgt1255 on Friday, December 13, 2013 9:53 PM

Right now, I am working on a 1/35 Tamiya M1 ODF kit. After I complete this one, I like to get a Bradley ODF kit also. I am planning on making a diorama with these two models. Can any suggest a good kit for a Bradley? I have seen the Tamiya and the cheapest I have seen is around $80 for it. I don't the model number. Is there any other worth recommending>

 

Ken

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by sgt1255 on Friday, December 13, 2013 10:07 PM

This is the Bradley kit I was talking about model #35264

Ken

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Friday, December 13, 2013 10:08 PM

First off, it depends when you are modeling the Abrams from.  You say ODF, which doesn't make sense.  Do you mean ODS (First Gulf War, '90-'91) or OIF (Iraq, 2003-2011)?    Which Bradley kit to get depends on when you want to depict.

There is only really one Bradley kit, Tamiya's original M2A0.  The later Tamiya and Academy kits are all based on this Tamiya kit.

Meng has announced a new M2A3 BUSK kit that is due out in Jan '14.  

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    November 2012
Posted by udel09 on Friday, December 13, 2013 10:10 PM

Meng just came out with a new M2A3.   Talked about here in the forum:

cs.finescale.com/.../157331.aspx

Looks cool I think I saw a release price around $49.99

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by sgt1255 on Friday, December 13, 2013 10:12 PM

Yes, I meant ODS. Sorry

Ken

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Friday, December 13, 2013 10:24 PM

For an ODS Brad, you want the older Tamiya M2A2 kit, #35152.

It will build into a Operation Desert Storm (ODS, '90-'91) M2A2 Bradley out of the box.  If you want to add to it, check out Pavel's article on Acurizing Tamiya's M2A2 kit.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by sgt1255 on Friday, December 13, 2013 11:50 PM

My bad. I am doing a M1 OIF not ODS. This what happens when you post at work and not home lol.

Ken

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Saturday, December 14, 2013 1:49 AM

In that case, again, depending on when you want it to depict during OIF, you can get either the Tamiya M2A2 ODS kit (#35264) or Academy's M2A2 OIF kit (#13205).  Both build into a Bradley used in Iraq from about '03-'05.  By the way, M2A2 ODS refers to improvements made to the Bradley from lessons learned in ODS, not a vehicle as seen in ODS.

The Tamiya one represents a rebuilt to latest standards M2A2 ODS version as used by 3 ID in the initial invasion (March '03). It has most of the ODS mods that were seen at that time, but still shows parts that were removed or changed as well.  It also has you adding obsolete parts such as the flotation system rods on the rear and left side of the hull.

Review from PMMS: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/tamiya/tam35264.htm

Tamiya M2A2 ODS

 

The Academy M2A2 OIF kit represents a new-build M2A2 ODS from about the same time as Tamiya's. It has many newer features that Tamiya left off, like the new driver's hatch hinge, anti-foul bars in front of the driver's hatch, new lower front glacis plate, etc. It also has nicer side armor, sprockets with lightening holes, and better details in some areas. It has incorrect, old-style, triangle block track in the kit though. The triangle block track hasn't been used since the mid-'90s. Furthermore, Academy molded the track incorrectly as well, with the pads being molded 180 degrees from how they should be. AFV Club makes a great set of indi-link, square block, plastic track for them though.

Review from PMMS: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/academy/acd13205.htm

Academy M2A2 OIF

 

Neither comes with PE. Eduard does a few good PE sets though, one being a full turret interior. Legends and Voyager also have PE sets for them.

The M2A2 and forward kits deleted the interior that came in Tamiya's original M2 kit (and Academy's copy). For an interior, you can find either older M2 kit on eBay pretty cheaply and use the interior out of it for an older M2A2 ODS w/out interior seating mods (changed to long seats along the hull like an M113 with full mods), or use it as a base for a new interior.

 

If you want to build it from later in the conflict, wait for Meng's forthcoming M2A3. It represents a vehicle from about '07 forward or so. It is the latest version with an added Commander's Independant Thermal Viewer (CITV); Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE); Bradley Urban Survival Kit (BUSK) III which includes ERA tiles for the hull and sides, commnder's shields, A/C units on the rear hull; and full IED jammer equipment. It is also supposed to have a full hull and turret interior including engine and tranny. It is due out in Jan '14.

Meng M2A3 BUSK III

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by sgt1255 on Monday, December 16, 2013 11:34 PM

Thank for the help. I think I will wait for the Meng. That is what I am looking for.

Ken

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Kincheloe Michigan
Posted by Mikeym_us on Saturday, January 18, 2014 9:53 PM

Funny thing you meantioned the Academy kit I just happened to order that kit off of Ebay for the exact purpose of adding an interior and I do have the interior from the Academy M2A0 and the Eduard set as well as a M2 Bradley stowage set that I bought ages ago as well as more MRE boxes.

HeavyArty

In that case, again, depending on when you want it to depict during OIF, you can get either the Tamiya M2A2 ODS kit (#35264) or Academy's M2A2 OIF kit (#13205).  Both build into a Bradley used in Iraq from about '03-'05.  By the way, M2A2 ODS refers to improvements made to the Bradley from lessons learned in ODS, not a vehicle as seen in ODS.

The Tamiya one represents a rebuilt to latest standards M2A2 ODS version as used by 3 ID in the initial invasion (March '03). It has most of the ODS mods that were seen at that time, but still shows parts that were removed or changed as well.  It also has you adding obsolete parts such as the flotation system rods on the rear and left side of the hull.

Review from PMMS: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/tamiya/tam35264.htm

Tamiya M2A2 ODS

 

The Academy M2A2 OIF kit represents a new-build M2A2 ODS from about the same time as Tamiya's. It has many newer features that Tamiya left off, like the new driver's hatch hinge, anti-foul bars in front of the driver's hatch, new lower front glacis plate, etc. It also has nicer side armor, sprockets with lightening holes, and better details in some areas. It has incorrect, old-style, triangle block track in the kit though. The triangle block track hasn't been used since the mid-'90s. Furthermore, Academy molded the track incorrectly as well, with the pads being molded 180 degrees from how they should be. AFV Club makes a great set of indi-link, square block, plastic track for them though.

Review from PMMS: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/academy/acd13205.htm

Academy M2A2 OIF

 

Neither comes with PE. Eduard does a few good PE sets though, one being a full turret interior. Legends and Voyager also have PE sets for them.

The M2A2 and forward kits deleted the interior that came in Tamiya's original M2 kit (and Academy's copy). For an interior, you can find either older M2 kit on eBay pretty cheaply and use the interior out of it for an older M2A2 ODS w/out interior seating mods (changed to long seats along the hull like an M113 with full mods), or use it as a base for a new interior.

 

If you want to build it from later in the conflict, wait for Meng's forthcoming M2A3. It represents a vehicle from about '07 forward or so. It is the latest version with an added Commander's Independant Thermal Viewer (CITV); Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE); Bradley Urban Survival Kit (BUSK) III which includes ERA tiles for the hull and sides, commnder's shields, A/C units on the rear hull; and full IED jammer equipment. It is also supposed to have a full hull and turret interior including engine and tranny. It is due out in Jan '14.

Meng M2A3 BUSK III

On the workbench: Dragon 1/350 scale Ticonderoga class USS BunkerHill 1/720 scale Italeri USS Harry S. Truman 1/72 scale Encore Yak-6

The 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron the only Squadron to get an Air to Air kill and an Air to Ground kill in the same week with only a F-15   http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/Mikeym_us/

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Saturday, January 18, 2014 10:04 PM

My Meng M2A3 just shipped from Hong Kong today.  I should have it in about a week.  

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Kincheloe Michigan
Posted by Mikeym_us on Saturday, January 18, 2014 10:43 PM

Should be interesting to see what the interior looks like on the M2A3 as from what I heard other than the changes in the seating on the real M2A3 there were other changes in the interior along with a increase in the Tow reloads in the troop bay. My M2A2 Bradley kit should be in on Friday I got it off of Ebay on the 16th along with some gun parts and military surplus along with a archer instrument dials and placards set for the M113.

HeavyArty

My Meng M2A3 just shipped from Hong Kong today.  I should have it in about a week.  

On the workbench: Dragon 1/350 scale Ticonderoga class USS BunkerHill 1/720 scale Italeri USS Harry S. Truman 1/72 scale Encore Yak-6

The 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron the only Squadron to get an Air to Air kill and an Air to Ground kill in the same week with only a F-15   http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/Mikeym_us/

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, January 19, 2014 4:06 AM

Mikeym_us

Should be interesting to see what the interior looks like on the M2A3 as from what I heard other than the changes in the seating on the real M2A3 there were other changes in the interior along with a increase in the Tow reloads in the troop bay.

It looks like they have pretty faithfully represented the interior.  You can check out build pics here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/368206119873831/#!/pages/MENG-Model-Japan/414115351946796?id=414115351946796&sk=photos_stream

I can't wait to get mine.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Kincheloe Michigan
Posted by Mikeym_us on Sunday, January 19, 2014 12:08 PM

Would have been nice if he had posted the instructions so I can get a grasp of how the parts went together. But a nice touch was the PE mask for the track pads and the rear mounted APU/ACU units change the overall outline of the Bradleymuch like adding the external fuel tanks changed the outline of the M113A3. Now if you build this kit Gino can you try to get alot of photos of the interior before you button it up so we can see what the completed interior looks like.

HeavyArty

Mikeym_us

Should be interesting to see what the interior looks like on the M2A3 as from what I heard other than the changes in the seating on the real M2A3 there were other changes in the interior along with a increase in the Tow reloads in the troop bay.

It looks like they have pretty faithfully represented the interior.  You can check out build pics here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/368206119873831/#!/pages/MENG-Model-Japan/414115351946796?id=414115351946796&sk=photos_stream

I can't wait to get mine.

On the workbench: Dragon 1/350 scale Ticonderoga class USS BunkerHill 1/720 scale Italeri USS Harry S. Truman 1/72 scale Encore Yak-6

The 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron the only Squadron to get an Air to Air kill and an Air to Ground kill in the same week with only a F-15   http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/Mikeym_us/

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