After nearly three months of work, my semi-scratchbuilt M2A2 Bradley is FINALLY finished!
I completed the model about three weeks ago but was waiting for decent weather and the opportunity
to borrow a digital camera.
For anyone who hasn't seen my previous posts about this model, it is based on a toy tank I purchased
at a second-hand sale. The basic hull and turret "hulk" of the original toy are retained, and everything else
(including all the surface detail) is scratchbuilt, mostly from Plasticard and rod/tubing with a few parts
from the "scrap box". The scale is almost exactly 1/24.
It has a full interior (apart from the engine; I have not built this yet due to a lack of reference material, but may
do in the future) and all of the various hatches and doors are openable to see inside. The hull roof (complete with
turret) is also removable, as most of the interior is still hard to see even with the hatches open.
Unfortunately the gun does not elevate, nor is the TOW launcher movable - I wasn't able to make the pivot points fit
tightly enough to stop them from dropping down due to gravity! The TOW launcher is modelled in the firing position.
The model is a M2A2 Bradley IFV, with the CIP (Combat Identification Panel) system - the louvred panels on the side skirts and rear storage boxes. It is not an ODS Bradley - I found the reference material on the ODS variant after I had already made the relevant parts (exhaust cover, troop hatch etc.) , and didn't really want to have to build them again! Instead the model represents a standard M2A2 which has been upgraded with the CIP system. Do any vehicles of this configuration exist? (hope so :D )
It's painted as a present-day NATO vehicle in three-colour camouflage. I painted the base coat (green)
with an airbrush, then brush-painted the other camo colours, details and weathering. All painting was with Humbrol/Revell enamels. The "KFOR" lettering was added with Letraset rub-down transfers, then varnished to seal it. The only other marking
I could find on this Bradley colour scheme was a tiny black star on the top of the rear door; however, I had nothing suitable for this in my decal spares box, so I have left it off, to add later if I find a suitable decal!
All the model needs now is some figures (crew and maybe infantry), and some spares and stowage, inside and outside (storage boxes, spare wheels, infantry weapons, fuel cans etc.). As well as possibly an engine for the interior, if I find
some reference material on it.
Unfortunately I can't find any 1/24 figures for sale (other than a few WW2 infantry figures, and the figures supplied with Academy's 1/25 range which aren't sold separately) but I have a few toy figures (which came with another second-hand toy vehicle purchased for rebuilding) in approximately the right scale, which may possibly be convertible to US crew figures with a lot of "plastic surgery" and Milliput!
Whilst some stages of building it were tedious (notably cutting and attaching the 120+ bolt heads, made from thin slices of hexagonal rod), overall I really enjoyed this modelling project and am very pleased with the result. It's the best AFV model in my collection I think, and certainly the largest! (nearly an inch longer than my 1/24 Sherman, also a rebuilt ex-toy)
My next scratchbuilding project is another toy rebuild (M551 Sheridan) and a number of WW2 AFVs (5 tanks and 1 armoured car). The WW2 subjects will be totally scratchbuilt, other than the wheels of the armoured car. I'll post more info/pics on them vehicles later. Suffice to say I've now definitely caught the "scratchbuilding bug"!
Finally - for those of you familiar with the Bradley, there is one significant inaccuracy in my model (an unfortunate legacy of the original toy it was based on). Can you spot it? It's not so much something missing, as something there which shouldn't be..
(Every other inaccuracy/omission I corrected, but this particular one was beyond my skills)
Anyway - here are the pictures:
External views
All hatches and doors are openable
Looking into the troop compartment
Looking down into the turret interior
For anyone who hasn't seen the previous posts, here are a few interior pics - driver's
seat, turret interior, and troop compartment.
