M6A3 Linebacker, Bradley M-SHORAD build

HeavyArty

Member since
December 2002
From: Valrico, FL

M6A3 Linebacker, Bradley M-SHORAD build

Posted by HeavyArty on Saturday, June 29, 2024 2:31 PM

I have been working on a new conversion for a little while now. I have thrown together a concept M6A3 Linebacker, a.k.a Bradley M-SHORAD (Mobile - SHOrt Range Air Defense). So far, this is a concept vehicle by BAE that the US Army hasn’t bought…yet. I hope they do because SHORAD systems are woefully lacking in the US Army.

The actual vehicle.

It uses the .30mm chain gun from an Apache, Stinger pod, and all sorts of sensors and jammers.

It is a franken-Bradley of sorts. I used the Academy M2A2 OIF kit as a base, added the Magic Factory M-SHORAD parts and CITV (left over from their M2A4 and M2A2 ODS respectively). I also added some extra parts from a few Orochi M3A3s sprues I had bought, Jacques’ 3-D printed suspension and a few other of his detail parts, ands some scratch parts.

You can see up top I added the additional A3 hull armor plates from some modified Orochi parts. For the added armor around the base of the turret, I used the tops of a couple interior turret walls from a Tamiya interior.

I used the Magic Factory A3 ramp and Jacques’ tail lights. I also cut the Academy rear plate wings off and flattened it out, along with cutting the hull top to fit. Lastly, I added my own angled plates behind the rear stowage boxes.

On the turret, I added the Magic Factory M-SHORAD parts. They fit the Academy parts perfectly. Most of the needed parts are all on the C sprue. A few common parts are from the Academy kit. The CITV also fits without issues. I made the added turret top armor by tracing the Magic Factory kit part onto 0.020 styrene sheet and cutting it to fit. I also used the new GPS, newer hatches, and some other detail parts from the Orochi sprues.

Here it is all together.

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

Reply

Pawel

Member since
May 2009
From: Poland

Posted by Pawel on Saturday, June 29, 2024 5:57 PM

Hello Gino!

Very interesting conversion! On the last photo it looks a bit like it has a scarecrow standing on its turret... Wouldn't scarecrow be a fitting nickname for this system? Like it's there to keep the birds off the field... Good luck with your build (a lot done already!) and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

Reply

HeavyArty

Member since
December 2002
From: Valrico, FL

Posted by HeavyArty on Saturday, June 29, 2024 7:41 PM

Thanks Pawel. It is almost done and about ready for paint. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

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

Reply

GAF

Member since
June 2012
From: Anniston, AL

Posted by GAF on Saturday, June 29, 2024 8:02 PM

Interesting build! I bet the army doesn't accept it though.

Gary

Reply

HeavyArty

Member since
December 2002
From: Valrico, FL

Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, June 30, 2024 6:38 AM

Thanks Gary.

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

Reply

TigerII

Member since
June 2004
From: East Stroudsburg, PA

Posted by TigerII on Sunday, June 30, 2024 12:41 PM

Pawel

Hello Gino!

Very interesting conversion! On the last photo it looks a bit like it has a scarecrow standing on its turret... Wouldn't scarecrow be a fitting nickname for this system? Like it's there to keep the birds off the field... Good luck with your build (a lot done already!) and have a nice day

Paweł

LOL, Pawel, That was funny. Nice conversion Gino.

Achtung Panzer! Colonel General Heinz Guderian

Reply

HeavyArty

Member since
December 2002
From: Valrico, FL

Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, June 30, 2024 1:28 PM

Thanks TigerII.

A little more added.

I have added the tie-down blocks on the sides of the hull from an old Eduard PE set, now OOP.

Here is a shot showing Jacques’ 3D printed suspension parts. They are very nice, highly recommended.

I am also thinking about finishing it as a sand-colored vehicle on rotation in Europe that has the temporary green paint. Something like this.

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

Reply

Gamera

Member since
November 2009
From: SW Virginia

Posted by Gamera on Friday, July 5, 2024 9:16 PM

Oh that's neat Gino, you always come up with the coolest stuff! And she's coming along well!

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

Reply

CapnMac82

Member since
November 2005
From: Formerly Bryan, now Arlington, Texas

Posted by CapnMac82 on Saturday, July 6, 2024 1:01 PM

HeavyArty
I am also thinking about finishing it as a sand-colored vehicle on rotation in Europe that has the temporary green paint. Something like this. image image1088×661 123 KB

That looks like it would be a cool paint scheme.

Reply

HeavyArty

Member since
December 2002
From: Valrico, FL

Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, July 7, 2024 1:09 PM

Thank you gentlemen. I did go with the temp green paint scheme.

Progress continues. I have painted it and added decals. The decals are all home-made by me on computer decal paper. I marked it as a fictional “Assassin 32” from A Battery, 1-3 ADA, 3ID. This unit did have M6A2 Linebackers when they were in use, so I assume they would be one of the M6A3 Linebacker units as well. The symbol on the sides and front are Linebacker ADA Unit map symbols. As seen above on the actual pic, these are used as unit ID symbols in the temp paint scheme.

I used Model Master Sand (FS 33531) as the base and taped off the areas that would remain sand. I used Tamiya NATO Green for the temp green paint over top. I then sealed it all with dullcoat and retouched the gloss for the lights and optics.

Here it is so far.