Hi, my first AFV & my first post here. Just looking for some advice on completing my Academy Bradley M2 - I'm not really interested in accuracy at this stage - just trying to get a reasonable build and paint job done. So far the interior is just about finished. I think I got the TOW stripes the wrong way round, and I'm not sure if I have overdone the wear on the floor (hairspray technique).

I primed the base in grey and pre-shaded some black areas, followed by a coupla coats of Vallejo desert sand/beige mix. There's quite a bit of the shading showing but I think it looks ok so far - comments please! I was wondering what color the tools and other little bits'n'pieces mounted on the top should be? All advice gratefully received!

Not sure how to link the photos from my gallery!

What gallery are you using?

HERE
http://photos.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=50670

Hey I am not as good with links, but here are the 4 pictures. It is better if people don't have to follow links as they are not likely to take the time to look. These are temporarily on my Flikr. I will take them down and post proper links to your KitMaker later. I just wanted to get them up for others to see. If you have a problem, please notify me right away.

Excellent work! This is hard to believe this is your first. Very nice. Are you going to leave the hatches open to keep the inside visible?

Looks pretty good so far. The floor is a bit overdone. the paint used on the interior is very duable and doesn't scuff that much. Not bad though. The stripes on the TOW reloads are off. They should be yellow and brown, not red. What is the interior color you used? It looks like seafoam green, but very light, almost white.

A couple tips. Don't install the side port guns on the rear hull. They never worked right and were quickly abandoned. The tools should have bare wood handles and metal ends, or flat black or flat OD green, with bare metal showing on the business ends. The crew often repaint them to keep them servicable and rust free. You could also add a bit of color by having a shovel or axe handle in red or yellow as well. The tools are the same ones you can buy in a hardware store and somtimes come with the colored, fiberglass/plastic handles.

Lastly, the M2A0 (as this version is known) wasn't in use for very long. The M2A1 quickly replaced it with a larger turret stowage bin and blanked over side gun ports. The M2A0 was not used in ODS (Opeartion Desert Storm, '90-'91). A sand M2A0 is not really accurate. One in Overall OD Green, MERDC or NATO 3-tone camo would be better.

Thanks for the input so far. Yes I'm gonna leave the hatches open. The green is actually greener in real life! It's Vallejo pastel green - I read somewhere it's a good match for seafoam. I currently have the inside of the hatches green but I think that needs to be sand? First vehicle - but loads of planes!

Sort of, maybe.... The inside hatch color is usually the same color as the outside of the hull; But... You could also do forest green hatch interiors on a sand vehicle to hint that it was originally camo and repainted to sand.

Good idea!

I like the interior. Nice job for a beginner just like me.

Nice build Pete, the interior is good and the overall build and paint job looks very clean. Is it completely finished yet?

Not yet. Need to get the wheels sorted, and do some weathering, and minor details. Got a wee bit done this morning, but it's my son's 18, and I have to go bbq for him and some friends later! It it stays dry in sunny Portrush!

Here's hoping for dry weather for you, it sure ain't here ! Make sure you get some pics of the finished thing up whenever you get around to it!

There's the tools done. Just need a wee touch up. I also made the lights & indicators from some clear and orange tinte
d sprue with a dab of future to shine them up.

Arrghh! Who mentioned hatches? Only after I started to think about the inside of them did I notice the load of ejector pin marks! I think I have them sorted now, but have to gat a coat of primer on to see if I need more filling or sanding. I also think I might keep them sand, but I've seen pics with a black (?) what looks like a rubbery pad in the middle of the inside - HeavyArty - any pointers?

Cheers,
Pete

The lights and tools look pretty nice. A couple pointers on the tools. On the axe, the rectangle block at the blade end is part of the mount and should be sand. The same for the square block on the end of the pick and the rectangular pieces inside the loops of the tow cable ends. Also, the securing straps are rubber and should be black.

The insides of the hatches do have an oval-shaper, rubber pad on them. It should be black. The rest of the hatch interior can be painted as above.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks HA. I've fixed the tools this evening as per your advice. Where else can you get first hand knowledge like this!!
Lookin forward to first attempts at weathering. Everything bar wheels and tracks are ready. I was planning a light all over dusting of future, followed by an oil wash and drybrushing. Really enjoying this so far!

Quick question before I head out to work - tools and guns etc attached before oil wash, or after?

I do it before and weather everything together so it all blends in.

Looks good Pete!

Well, here's the tracks so far. Primed, coat of black with a little gunmetal & german gray mixed in. Light coat of rust all over, then picked out the pads with a lighter gray. Drybrushed some sand colour, and a light dust of black up the middle of the pads. Going to do an oil wash tomorrow, and some very light dry brush metal on the spikes on the inside. I have no idea if it's how it should be, but looks interesting so far!


Tools are on and one chevron masked and painted. Doh!! Even though I knew beforehand that the other side should point the other way ie Delta... what did I do?? There comes a time in every build that I do something stupid!!


Just so you guys don't think I'm really slow (or lazy!!) here's a couple of other things I have on the go as well. I'll post them properly in the appropriate place in due course.

The tracks look good to me. The chevrons in ODS were often going in the same direction (front in your example)on both sides, so yours is fine.

Arrgh!! Too late Gino! I already had it scrubbed off with alcohol and resprayed when I posted that. I have it remasked now, but bit worried due to bolts along the edge of the tape. Anyway.. let's see how it goes! Should have left well alone.

Well that's where I leave it this evening. Wheels (the bit I feared the most) done and on. Other chevron re-done as well. maybe satin coat tomorrow and some oil wash all over. Looking forward to weathering. Need to put one of the smoke launchers back on as well!