WIP - Tamiya M2A2 Bradley ODS - Lotsa Pics

so far so good, I like the anti slip coating

but the dark yellow.... go with the MM Army / Marine Gulf Armor Sand, I just used it and it really looks good on the M113A2 I just finished. I bet it will look great on your M2

Yeah, I've used that before and agree, it does look real good.  I'm gonna see how this one turns out though.  Worst case it'll get put on the shelf when I'm done and never see the light of day.  I've still got another Tamiya M2 awaiting it's turn under the knife.

Sometimes ya just gotta try something new.

Tonight I was able to get some of the detailing done on the Bradley.  I added the pioneer tools, some ammo cans and the tow cable.  I'm hoping tomorrow night I can get the turret assembled or at least partially.  I've  gotta make a HobbyTown run this weekend to get some more paint before starting the roadwheels and tracks.

Here's what I was able to get done before the Rangers game started! 

I like the anti-slip a lot. I've got a Merk 3 in the stash (picked up Legends turret and skirts at SuperCon, btw :) ) and looking for another set of Friuls, but the whole thing needs the anti-slip. Curious to see how yours comes out after weathering......

I've used the texture paint before, and liked it, but the masking didn't come out as well as yours, plus I think I applied it a little too thick, and it smoothed out a bit when it was drying. Maybe a thinner coat, from further away?

For the masking go to Office Depot / Max and look for "art tape".  They should have it in varying sizes.  It's a LOT cheaper than the Tamiya stuff.  Try using Elmer's glue to mask off bolt heads.  That's what I did.

I would say yes on the thinner coat and further away question.  You used terra-cotta spray paint?  I'm using Valspar brand that I picked up in Lowe's; but Rustoleum's product works well too!

I'm hoping next year at SuperCon we can get a room set aside for seminars and I can do a lecture on doing the non-slip surface.

COOL man! Another "Old Faithful" pulled out of the stash and done up right!

That non-slip is the bomb! It looks tremendous, Richard!

I haven't seen one of these done here in a while. I'll be watching what you're doing!

Thanks man!  I've still got another one on the shelf waiting it's turn on the bench.  That one's gonna wait for a while though.  I've got my sights locked onto the Trumpy up-armored BMP-3.  Especially now that the AM barrels and antennae came in today's mail!! 

I wasn't sure if the non-slip would really be worth the effort; but I gotta admit, I like the results!  I'm starting to get the hang of it.  It's not all that difficult.  It's just time consuming to do all that masking.

Looking good.....the non slip looks good. Old 3M blue painters tape works well also. I use a ton of it for masking

Rounds Complete!!

Looking great so far.  One note, the poles for the swim barrier (poles under the platform with shovel on it, below) should not be there.  The swim barrier is no longer installed on ODS Bradleys, so the poles are no longer there, nor the short pole bundles on the right rear side slope either.

Keep up the good work.

I was wondering what those things were. Too small for camo net system poles and too big for cleaning rods for the main gun. I will remember not to put those on mine when I build it.

Very nice work on the MG tripod and pioneer tools. Nice used look to those items.

Thanks guys!

I had no idea what those poles were for!    I should be able to pop those out pretty easily though!

Thanks for pointing it out! 

here are the poles in use.

kit looks great!

Now THAT's freaky lookin'!  Has anyone around here actually done that?? 

LOL I have, I was the driver in that picture. and Yes, it was freaky, almost scary when your floating around a lake. LOL

I had an instructor at intel school talk about listening to the Russians as they did a river crossing exercise in East Germany and one of their T-55s went belly-up.  No way for a soldier to die from either side..

Well until Mr. Tamiya-san ships some more of his paints here to the Land of the Big PX the M2A2 Bradley is going to the depot.  Once I get some more Dark Yellow I can do some touch-ups then seal it and put my decals on.  So, here's what I've got for now...

It's looking good.  One thing you may want to fix is the noth on the left front of the side armor.  On the real vehicle, there is no cut out there.  Tamiya added it to fit the folded swim barrier.  All you need to do is a dd a piece of 0.40 sheet styrene to fill the notch and restore the line of the armor. 

You can see the added piece on mine.

This whole California paint thing is a PITA, damn Communist Kalifornia.  I am glad I use Testors Model Master Paints.

Thanks for the tip Gino!  I'm pretty sure I've got some spare .40 styrene laying around.

I found some Tamiya Dark Yellow on eBay; but it's coming out of China.  It'll probably take forever to get here.  Might as well wait Tamiya to get their act together!

Looking good!

 I really like it, might have to get me a 1/35 one..

Thanks!  It's been a fun build.  I just wish I could get hold of the paint I need to FINISH it!! 

I cracked open the BMP-3 last night!  I just looked at all the sprue...and needed a cigarette afterwards!

Looking very nice....as for the paint thing,

I have bought in "bulk over the years....always keep at least one spare of the frequently used colors....this allows you to weather any temporary availability problems. I stocked up when they were going to the smaller jars by buying up the big ones where I could find them.

Yeah, it's a PITA and you have extra pait on the shelf but sometimes, especially on ebay you can cut better deals when buying say 10 jars of different colors all at once, or buying a "lot" of mixed colors on ebay, pick out what you need and sell off the rest. Doing that I have dozens of jars of paint that basiclly cost me $0.

Buy a lot of 100 jars for X. Keep 15 or 20 for the shelf. Sell off the rest in lots of 10 at a higher per jar price!!

I know, it does not help your situation but some thoughts for the future.

Rounds Complete!!

Yes sir!  Thank you for squaring me away sir! 

  I'm actually not all that hot on the Tamiya Dark Yellow.  It does look "too brown".  I've got a new bottle of MM "Army/Marine Gulf Armor Sand"; but I'm not going back and repainting the whole thing now.  I'll just wait until I can get hold of some more Dark Yellow.

I've got two or three each of Tamiya NATO Green and Brown.  I usually keep those on hand.  My problem is that I don't build all that fast so I don't want to have a bunch of jars of dried up paint.

I've got a new bottle of MM "Army/Marine Gulf Armor Sand"; but I'm not going back and repainting the whole thing now.

Don't use that paint either.  It is based on a non-CARC color that was bought locally in Saudi Arabia to quickly repaint vehicles as they arrived in theater for ODS.  It was only used then and it was not used after ODS.  The best color for modern CARC Middlestone (modern sand) is still Testors Model Master Sand (FS 33531).

Roger that!  Thanks for the advice!  

I remember the days leading up to my company's departure from Germany to Saudi Arabia spent in full MOPP 4 painting vehicles with a brush and buckets of CARC paint!   Of course, it was 20 degrees outside so being in full MOPP gear wasn't so bad!  

HeavyArty

I've got a new bottle of MM "Army/Marine Gulf Armor Sand"; but I'm not going back and repainting the whole thing now.

Don't use that paint either.  It is based on a non-CARC color that was bought locally in Saudi Arabia to quickly repaint vehicles as they arrived in theater for ODS.  It was only used then and it was not used after ODS.  The best color for modern CARC Middlestone (modern sand) is still Testors Model Master Sand (FS 33531).

PS.....since you are like me and prefer acrylics.....same color is made by Testors in their MM Acrlyic line. Good stuff.

Rounds Complete!!

To add:

Model Master: Sand FS 33531 (Enamel-1706/Acrylic-4720 )
Humbrol: Light Stone 121
Gunze:  Aqueous Hobby Color: Yellow FS 33531,H-313 (discontinued) / Mr Color: Yellow FS 33531, 313
Vallejo Model Air: Sand 71075

I just haven't been impressed with their acrylic line.  I only tried a couple colors though.  Then again with Tamiya hosing themselves with all these delays I'm gonna have to do something!  Can't sit around with boxes full of nearly completed models. 

Phil_H

To add:

Model Master: Sand FS 33531 (Enamel-1706/Acrylic-4720 )
Humbrol: Light Stone 121
Gunze:  Aqueous Hobby Color: Yellow FS 33531,H-313 (discontinued) / Mr Color: Yellow FS 33531, 313
Vallejo Model Air: Sand 71075

Thanks Phil!