M2A2 BRADLEY INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLE

I tend not to offer critiques on this website because of the negative backlash from many members (excluding the modeler you are offering advice to). There are a few guys I will give feedback to and like I said in an earlier post. I give feedback to modelers I see that are trying to replicate realism. When someone's gone to that much effort to detail his kit, you kind of want to point out some quick and easy fixes that will make it even better.

Too many "it's just a hobby/supposed to be fun/joy-sucking-nitpicker" responses when you give true constructive criticism that it's just not worth the effort.

^^ Ditto to what Rob says. ^^  

This site tends to be overly sensative to anyone who gives any reply other than, "Wow, looks great.  That is the best ___ (fill in the blank) I have ever seen  You are a modeling God!!!"  

I find many (most) actually would like some constructive feedback on thier build, not just a bunch of sunshine blown up their fourth point of contact.  Without constructive comments, the builder will never improve.  

I thought the point of modeling forums was to share collective knowledge and all get better?

Gino,how did you make the foldable cover on  the top of the main gun? do you think I should add it for my "Thunder Run" Bradley? as always yours and everyone else's tips are great! you guys have a wealth of knowlege and thankfully are great about sharing it. I know some people who hold onto their secrects better thatn the government....lol

thanks again,

John

I just double checked and that was Heavy's build sorry Gino.....

John

John - I used a resin piece out of Legend's M2A3 update set.  You can make the same thing pretty easily out of a piece of lead foil from a wine bottle neck though.  If you can add the solid plates and the fabric cover to the top of the mantlet, I would.  It improved the look of the model greately in my opinion.

I used lead foil on the part I got wrong.  Now that contest is over I work on mantlet and fix that.

Terry

TomZ2

And now for something completely different…

yup.... LOL!

Also, here is a factory production photo I was sent a long time ago from FMC. This is a M2A2 shortly after Desert Storm. Some models still had the swim barrier.

Bosina Bradleys had the swim barrier in most of the photos I have seen, it wasn't until OIF/OEF the barrier was removed for the later M2A2/M2A3 versions.

Here is a IFOR Bradley

MrT

I just finished this Bradley.  Never done one before so it was a bit of a challenge as far as the color was concerned.  The Brad''s in the field show very little or no rust and chipping.  . . .

Terry

Your clean build skills and paint skills are off the hook! Nice.

The rust question. I think these vehicles are aluminum. Gino, Rob, care to elaborate . . . 

SprueOne

The rust question. I think these vehicles are aluminum. Gino, Rob, care to elaborate . . . 

You are correct.  They are aluminum alloy and do not rust very much.  This is due to a few factors:

1. The aluminum allow hull,

2. The super tough resin-enamel CARC paint,

3. Regular maintenance by the crew.

You may see some small rust areas from bolts and attached steel/iron pieces though.

Mr. T did a great job on the paint and weathering.

As to the flotation gear, it started being removed in the late '90s to early 2000s as part of the later M2A2 ODS mods once TACOM (Tank and Automotive COMmand) listened to the crews that they were useless on the vehicles.

Thanks  will try the foil I thought it was all done,ready to ship....oh well back to the bench with it....

John

HeavyArty

SprueOne

The rust question. I think these vehicles are aluminum. Gino, Rob, care to elaborate . . . 

You are correct.  They are aluminum alloy and do not rust very much.  This is due to a few factors:

1. The aluminum allow hull,

2. The super tough resin-enamel CARC paint,

3. Regular maintenance by the crew.

You may see some small rust areas from bolts and attached steel/iron pieces though.

Mr. T did a great job on the paint and weathering.

As to the flotation gear, it started being removed in the late '90s to early 2000s as part of the later M2A2 ODS mods once TACOM (Tank and Automotive COMmand) listened to the crews that they were useless on the vehicles.

Agreed! but if I remember correctly, the Tamiya M2A2 was one of the early versions. Even though it was painted as a OIF vehicle, the kit version was correct with the swim barrier. Now, the Tamiya M2A2ODS is an early OIF Bradley which did not have the swim barrier.

I'm glad they dumped the swim barrier, I had to deal with it several times....

That is me in the rear center waving at the camera... LOL

Agreed! but if I remember correctly, the Tamiya M2A2 was one of the early versions. Even though it was painted as a OIF vehicle, the kit version was correct with the swim barrier. Now, the Tamiya M2A2ODS is an early OIF Bradley which did not have the swim barrier.

The Tamiya M2A2 kit (35152) is of an early '90s vehicle in or right after Operation Desert Storm, Feb '91.  It can easliy be brought more current though by some simple mods, such as removing the swim barrier roll on the front and the support poles on the hull. 

The Tamiya M2A2 ODS kit (35264) is of a later M2A2 ODS in the initial invasion of Iraq.  It has a few pieces that bring it more up to date with some of the post ODS mods added to Brads to make them more survivable.

To see a more comprehensive list of ODS mods that can be added to either Tamiya kit, check out Vodnik's M2A2 Accurizing and Detail article. 

http://vodnik.republika.pl/pages/m2a2/m2a2-p1.htm

The Supplement section shows the M2A2 ODS mods.

 http://vodnik.republika.pl/pages/m2a2/m2a2-ods.htm

excellent! great stuff!

I say Bradleys for everybody!! I love it!

cb1

excellent! great stuff!

I say Bradleys for everybody!! I love it!

HA!   You're buying then!

SprueOne

MrT

I just finished this Bradley.  Never done one before so it was a bit of a challenge as far as the color was concerned.  The Brad''s in the field show very little or no rust and chipping.  . . .

Terry

 

Your clean build skills and paint skills are off the hook! Nice.

The rust question. I think these vehicles are aluminum. Gino, Rob, care to elaborate . . . 

Thanks Sprue!!

MrT

cb1

excellent! great stuff!

I say Bradleys for everybody!! I love it!

HA!   You're buying then!

only in 1984 money, $1.5 million a piece.

Million and a half sounds good to me.

I made some of the changes that were suggested earlier.  Some pictures of the finished product.

Terry  

OK, where do I go to test drive it?

excellent!

Very nice.  The rework came out great.

cb1

OK, where do I go to test drive it?

excellent!

Don't tear it up!

Terry

HeavyArty

Very nice.  The rework came out great.

Thanks Gino!

Hi Mr. T,

I am a Gulf War combat veteran. I was an M3 Bradley gunner, Cavalry Scout.

I lived in a Bradley for 7 months and fought in some very famous battles.

The M3 Bradleys are the most heavily armed vehicles in the world.

Our Bradleys were unique. They were the only ones in the Army with desert camouflage. You may have seen original models in that pattern. I believe that they were made by Tamiya.

I was looking for a Bradley to use in a Cavalry certificate called "Order of The Combat Spur."

I've shown the picture of your model to our Colonel and Sergeant Major. The colonel is going to show it to a 2 star general that was our Lieutenant in the war.

I was originally designing one for just our troop but it may go viral.

May I use one of your images in the certificate?

Thank you in advance for your consideration,

-Chris

I would be honored!  You may use any image you may require.

Regards

Terry Barrow

Desert Storm Vet - was this one of your M3A1s from ODS, 4-4 CAV, 24 ID?

I did a model of one a while ago.

The first picture above my post by Heavy ARTY was one of our Bradleys.

I was on A25, 2nd Platoon, A Troop, 2/4 Cavalry, 24th Infantry Division, XVIII Airborne Corps.

I was a Bradley gunner, Cavalry Scout. Armored Reconnaissance Specialist.

We trained armor units/divisions at Ft. Stewart GA. Wore Russian uniforms.

That's why our Bradleys were painted the distinct 3 color desert camo.  

The first picture is 212. So for that vehicle's troop, I don't know if it's 2/4th or one of several of the Cavalry Squadrons. The bottom model is 4/4 Cavalry (4th Squadron, 4th US Cavalry Regiment), 3rd Platoon, either vehicle 22 or 2nd Platoon, Squad 2. It's been over 24 years so I'm a little rusty.

I have about 80 or so pictures on my FaceBook album. Got to FaceBook and look up Christopher Todd Dallas and the album (Gulf War) Desert Storm. You'll see some of our Bradleys.

The battles we fought were

Battle of the Basrah Plane

Battle of Kuwait

Battle at Talill Air Base

Battle of Position #102

Battle at Jalibah Airbase

Battle of An Nasiriyah

Battle and destruction of the Kamasiyah Munitions Complex (chemical and biological ordinance)

Battle of Rumaylah (the burning oil fields in Kuwait.

It's considered the longest Cavalry charge in history. We fought for over 140 hours without stopping.

Maybe that's why I've had PTSD for24 years.

If you also search FaceBook, you'll find our troop page "2nd Plt A Troop 2/4 Cav Desert St...

There are more pics, links to our history and of course interesting and funny dialogue.

Thank you for allowing us to use your photograph. That was generous. We're not getting any younger and I'm trying to get the certificate done before the Col and Sergeant Major pass on.

-Chris

The Bradley looks great you did a excellent job. It must have taken some time to build.

The weathering is amazing!!!