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Armor/AFV: Modern Armor
Modern armor in general.
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M88A2 Hercules
Firecap4
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Georgia, United States
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 09:28 AM UTC
Well, went to the JaxCon IPMS show here in Florida today, and my main purchase from the vendors was the AFV Club M88A1. Of course when I get around to building this I would like to do it as an M88A2 as a companion piece to the M1A2 Abrams I'm currently working on; that said, any thoughts or opinions on Legends' conversion set?
HeavyArty
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 10:49 AM UTC
I have the Legend A2 set. I haven't used it yet, but the pieces look excellent in the box. I have dry fit a few and they fit perfectly. I have built other Legend conversions (M1A1 TUSK, M1A2 TUSK II, etc.) and this one also looks to be up to their usual high standards. I think that Legend makes great products and highly recommend them.
Spuds
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 11:15 AM UTC
Gino, do you know which version, A1 or A2, the Marines use?
Cuny12
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 12:42 PM UTC
I have built both the legends and the real models sets with the former being very inferior to the legend one it is very labour intensive with the kit itself being comprehensive in parts but the end result is excellent and a very convincining model of the real thing there arent any major problems with mating them together maybe add the workable tracks as well and you will have yourself a nice M88A2, planing on building another in the three tone scheme later since i purchased two.
Cheers cuny12.
Firecap4
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 01:46 PM UTC
Thanks for the replies, everyone....I agree, Gino, Legend's stuff is very good as my experience like your's is with the TUSK kits; just wanted to double check and make sure there weren't any issues with this particular kit.

Same subject but slightly different tack: I've never built an AFV kit before, and the tracks provided look really slick and, well, "greasy"...how well do they take paint? Any good aftermarket replacements?
HeavyArty
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 01:59 PM UTC
I believe the USMC is getting all M88A2s as well. Most of the Army fleet is being upgraded to A2 standard, I would assume the USMC fleet is/will be as well.

The AFV Club rubber band tracks are quite good. They take paint easily and I didn't have any problems with the set in mine. I have also used the AFV Club indi-link track set for them, the same one as for the M48A3. They are really nice and I like them a lot. So it is up to you to use the rubber band ones or the indi-link ones. Both are nice.
Spuds
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 02:06 PM UTC
Thanks, Gino.
Firecap4
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 02:09 PM UTC

Quoted Text

The AFV Club rubber band tracks are quite good. They take paint easily and I didn't have any problems with the set in mine. I have also used the AFV Club indi-link track set for them, the same one as for the M48A3. They are really nice and I like them a lot. So it is up to you to use the rubber band ones or the indi-link ones. Both are nice.


Thanks, Gino; I'll probably just stick with the rubber bands since a good bit of them will be hidden by the A2 side skirts....plus I'm a bit track punch drunk from assembling the Bronco indies for my M1A2, LOL.

On a humorous aside note, I was once given the opportunity to drive an M88A2 a short distance to see what it was like; man, is it a pig to drive, LOL.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 02:19 PM UTC

Quoted Text

On a humorous aside note, I was once given the opportunity to drive an M88A2 a short distance to see what it was like; man, is it a pig to drive, LOL.


I haven't been on an A2 yet, but the A1 was like driving a Cadillac. It was nice and smooth. It was the best ride on the battlefield.
Firecap4
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 02:30 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

On a humorous aside note, I was once given the opportunity to drive an M88A2 a short distance to see what it was like; man, is it a pig to drive, LOL.


I haven't been on an A2 yet, but the A1 was like driving a Cadillac. It was nice and smooth. It was the best ride on the battlefield.


The brakes seemed real touchy and rough on the one I got to drive, and of course it was in a close quarters area so couldn't really get it up to speed which I would imagine would make it handle a bit smoother.....and I'm sure some ham-fisted operating on my part born of nervousness and fear of running over something expensive didn't help either, LOL
Christopher68
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Posted: Friday, February 11, 2011 - 03:18 PM UTC
does anyone think that AFV Club may come out with an A2 on their own? it would be my luck to do the Legend up date then have them come out with one...so thought I would ask first
Frenchy
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Posted: Friday, February 11, 2011 - 06:31 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I believe the USMC is getting all M88A2s as well. Most of the Army fleet is being upgraded to A2 standard, I would assume the USMC fleet is/will be as well.


Here's one (from Flickr) :





Frenchy
specmod
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Posted: Friday, February 11, 2011 - 06:58 PM UTC
Gidday, I have built the M88A2 variant using the legends set, and found it to be alot of fun, just dont think its gonna be a fast build.
It is currently a feature article in Model Military international, built after an actual M88A2 that served in Afghanistan. Check it out. Ohh by the way, happy modelling.
HermannB
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Posted: Friday, February 11, 2011 - 07:53 PM UTC
Hi there,

over on Militaryphotos.net was a thread that show USMC M1 A1 with all bells and whistles in Afganistan accompanied by M88A2 HERCULES.

Hans-Hermann
Frenchy
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Posted: Friday, February 11, 2011 - 09:22 PM UTC
Looks like the Marines need more of them :

http://www.defencetalk.com/marines-face-shortage-of-m88a2s-in-afghanistan-27270/

Frenchy
Cuny12
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Posted: Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 01:11 AM UTC
I definately second the very slow build time on this one about 5 wks and that involved having to put it aside and having a break one thing that came in very handy was the tankograd m88 book that i originaly purchased for the real models conversion it proved invaluable throughout the build on another note I personaly would love to see a plastic kit of the A2 version Im positive that some day there will be one but I cant see it in the Imediate future and if any one did my guess would be Hobbyboss or even Trumpeter.
Cheers cuny12.
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