As I finish up my M1A2 SEP I am thinking about my next build, an M2 Bradley. However, I don't have a clue where to start with modeling the vehicle I had in mind so if anyone can point me in the right direction by answering my questions.

First, I want to model an OIF Bradley, which kit would be the best starting kit?
I understand that there are a lot of aftermarket sets out there, particularly made by legend that look great, so would any of these be applicable for an OIF Bradley.
I was hoping to find images of a Bradley operating within the streets of Iraq, but can't seem to find many, so if one can point me to an image source for that as well.

Lastly, this image looks pretty appealing and I would love to give this one a go. I think vehicles that do not have ERA blocks definitely look a bit better to me, so can anyone tell me what version this one is?



Thanks a lot everyone!

A far as I can tell, this picture shows a M2A3. If so, Academy's Bradley kit #13205 would be a good starting point for your project, even if it needs some work :
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/1641

and you would have to add Legend's M2A3 conversion set (LF1170) :



HTH

Frenchy

Frenchy has you pointed in the right direction.

Also take a look at Vodnik's M2A2 Correction Article. It points out some easy fixes that apply to the Tamiya and Academy Bradleys to make them better.

You will want to get the AFV Club Bradley Track set for it as well. Academy's kit has the old triangle block tracks which haven't been in use since the mid-'90s.

Good luck and post it up once started.

Even if most of the OIF M2A3 pics I've seen show ERA-fitted Bradleys, you can find some without it (like in your post). Here's a nice hi-res picture from Primeportal :
http://data.primeportal.net/m2_iraq/dmg/Dsc04558.jpg

If you decide to build one without ERA, I believe Eduard's set # TP038 would be worth the buy :



HTH

Frenchy

Here's the Part 1 of set #TP038 :



This is the kind of stuff that's rather hard to scratchbuild (for me at least )

Frenchy

Here's another view of the same M2A3 as above :



I've got many pics showing Bradleys patrolling Iraqi streets, but they show only A2s... as I didn't have the A3 in mind when I downloaded them (it was before Legend's set release )

Frenchy

Hi there
The best way is to combine the academy and Tamiya kit or even go for the Academy reason being It IS as close to the ODS vesion as you can get unfortunately neither have non slip the Academy kit has lightning holes and all round bang for buck price and Detail wise.
I built the m2a3 from both kit as well as the Legends kit plus the AFV club tracks just to warn you out the tracks are quite delicate and tend to fall apart easily in short the Tamiya ODS Bradley isnt worth the money compared to the academy m2.
Cheers cuny12.

Hi Cuny,
I don't fully agree with you if you take into account that they don't depict vehicles in the same timeframe. For an early ODS Tamyia's Brad is not that bad. But for a factory new ODS, Acadmey is more accurate except for the tracks.

For Sean,
I second Gino concerning Vodnik's excellent article. A bit scaring when you read it read for the first time (I think of the rear side fixing), but nothing an average and patient modeler can do.

Olivier

I agree with Olivier on this. Both the Tamiya and Academy kits are about equal, but depict different versions at different timeframes. To build an M2A3, Academy's is the best starting place.

Here is a quick rundown on both kits:

Tamiya's M2A2 ODS and Academy's M2A2 OIF kits are about the same in quality. They both represent M2A2 ODS Bradleys from about 2003-2005.

The Tamiya one represents a rebuilt to latest standards M2A2 ODS version as used by 3 ID in the initial invasion (March '03). It has most of the ODS mods that were seen at that time, but still shows parts that were removed or changed as well. It also has you adding obsolete parts such as the flotation system rods on the rear and left side of the hull.

The Academy M2A2 OIF kit represents a new-build M2A2 ODS from about the same time as Tamiya's. It has many newer features that Tamiya left off, like the new driver's hatch hinge, anti-foul bars in front of the driver's hatch, new lower front glacis plate, etc. It also has nicer side armor, sprockets with lightening holes, and better details in some areas. It has incorrect, old-style, triangle block track in the kit though. The triangle block track hasn't been used since the mid-'90s. Furthermore, Academy molded the track incorrectly as well, with the pads being molded 180 degrees from how they should be. AFV Club makes a great set of indi-link, square block, plastic track for them though.

Even with the need for replacement track, I prefer the Academy kit over Tamiya's.

Reviews of both from PMMS again:

Tamiya M2A2 ODS
Academy M2A2 OIF

Neither comes with PE. Eduard does a few good PE sets though, one being a full turret interior. Legends and Voyager also have PE sets for them.

The M2A2 and forward kits deleted the interior that came in Tamiya's and Academy's M2 kits. For an interior, you can find either older M2 kit on eBay pretty cheaply and use the interior out of it for an older M2A2 ODS w/out interior seating mods (changed to long seats along the hull like an M113 with full mods), or use it as a base for a new interior.


By the way, the AFV Club tracks still neet to be glued, once you do that, they won't fall apart.

[quote]


Hi Cuny,
I don't fully agree with you if you take into account that they don't depict vehicles in the same timeframe. For an early ODS Tamyia's Brad is not that bad. But for a factory new ODS, Acadmey is more accurate except for the tracks

My bad for not explaining the tracks in the Academy kit yes the tamiya kit is not that bad I used the Academy kit for the Legends A3 conversion it turned out quite well with the AFV club tracks.
Cheers cuny12.

Thank you all for the advice. I think I will be tracking down an old tamiya kit for the interior, and using Academy's OIF kit with a legend aftermarket set and AFV club tracks. I'll post things once I start to gather them.

Thanks again for all your help.