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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
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M7A3 BFIST Revised - Academy & Meng kitbash
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2014 - 11:53 PM UTC
A while ago, I posted about an M7A3 BFIST I was building for a customer. During the build, I received some new info that it was the latest version with a larger optics box in place of the BAB (Bradley Armored Box - TOW box).

Here is the latest version M7A3 BFIST.



Here is my version with a scratch-built optics box.






Earlier post w/in-process pics.

More pics here.
chnoone
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Armed Forces Europe, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 08:57 AM UTC
That's a big box there Gino !
Looking good ... very tempting alternative to a "common" Bradley.

Cheers
Christopher
HeavyArty
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Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 09:18 AM UTC
Thanks Christopher. I thought it looked like a pretty cool alternative to the standard TOW box.
Epi
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Texas, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 09:58 AM UTC
Awesome work as always Gino!
pascalbausset
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Moselle, France
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Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 10:12 AM UTC
I like it !!! tempting project!!
HeavyArty
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Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 11:45 AM UTC
Pete and Pascal - thanks for checking in on it. It does look unique and changes up the old Bradley nicely.
Karl187
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Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 04:11 PM UTC
Very nice additions to the Bradley Gino- I reckon you'll have another satisfied customer there!
Quartercav
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Hessen, Germany
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Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 10:03 PM UTC
Great work on this Bradley! Awesome scratch built box!
HeavyArty
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Posted: Thursday, December 04, 2014 - 04:20 AM UTC
Karl and Andreas - Glad you guys like it. It was a fun build and rewarding on the optics box.

For those who might be interested in building one, I have drawn up plans for the optics box. They are not perfect, but should get you close.



Also, there are great reference pics by Ralph Zwilling at this site.

Quartercav
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Hessen, Germany
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 01:20 AM UTC
Hey Gino, thank you for posting your drawing. I hope that there will be some after market sets, like the new track or side skirts without the mounts for Busk. Then I will start my Bradley from the European Activity Set.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 01:36 AM UTC
Andreas - I plan on building one just as you describe. I will be using Academy's M2A2 OIF kit side skirts and a set of tracks from an Academy K9 howitzer to make it. It is a pretty easy conversion. I think you should give it a go.
Quartercav
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Hessen, Germany
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 03:14 AM UTC
That's a good idea. But I have a second option to build an M3A3, one from the 2nd ID. I could use the kit tracks and add only the baggage ties (set from Eduard) to the side skirts instead of the mounts for the Busk.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 03:48 AM UTC
That could work. You will still need to replace the side skirts though. The ERA support bars are molded onto them. They would be a real b*%$! to remove without damaging the surrounding skirt and bolts.
Nito74
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Lisboa, Portugal
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 04:12 AM UTC

Quoted Text

That could work. You will still need to replace the side skirts though. The ERA support bars are molded onto them. They would be a real b*%$! to remove without damaging the surrounding skirt and bolts.


Gino, what was your impression on the Meng kit ?
I got a M3A3 from Meng, haven't opened the box yet...
Also a Tamyia ODS M2 in stash I think.

That's a very cool project, what camo will you use ?
HeavyArty
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 04:17 AM UTC
The Meng kit is awesome. It puts the old Tamiya and Academy's copies to shames. I love the Meng kits. I recommend selling your Tamiya kit unless you just have to build an M2A2 ODS...or use parts from the Tamiya kit to backdate the Meng M2A3 to an M2A2 ODS as I plan to do.

I will probably do my next Meng Bradley kit in 3-tone NATO camo.
Quartercav
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Hessen, Germany
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 11:09 AM UTC
Gino, I still thinking about. You're right, it's difficult to remove the bars and install the baggage ties with the bolts on the skirts. But I think I will try it.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 07:43 PM UTC
If/when you decide to do it, be sure to post it here. I am interested in how it comes out. Good luck with it.
Quartercav
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Hessen, Germany
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 08:34 PM UTC
Thank you, I think the next days I will start my project, beginning with one of the side skirts. If it works I will continue my idea or choose your option to cannibalize an unfinished M2A2 ODS from Academy and finish the Bradley in three tone camouflage, 2nd ID, 7th CAV "Garry Owen"(hope I am right with 7th CAV).
Tankrider
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Oklahoma, United States
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 09:02 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Thank you, I think the next days I will start my project, beginning with one of the side skirts. If it works I will continue my idea or choose your option to cannibalize an unfinished M2A2 ODS from Academy and finish the Bradley in three tone camouflage, 2nd ID, 7th CAV "Garry Owen"(hope I am right with 7th CAV).


Andreas,
You are correct, the Armored Recon Squadron for 1st ABCT, 2nd Infantry Division is 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry. The colors of 4-7 Cav spent some time in your state of Hesse in the late 80s/early 90s before they returned to Korea.

Gino,
Once I get back from Ft Bragg, I will work on getting some time on the A2 & A3 BFISTs at Sill. I plan on measuring the box on the A3 and can provide some updated dimensions, if needed.

John
HeavyArty
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 09:16 PM UTC
Andreas - sounds good.. I'll be watching to see how you are doing.

John - that sounds great. Thanks.
Quartercav
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Hessen, Germany
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Posted: Friday, December 05, 2014 - 11:15 PM UTC
Gino, I will try to post some pics after I started my project under this thread.

John, thank you for your reply. You are right, the 4th squadron were under command of the 3rd AD during their time in Germany. But I think the unit will also case it's colors in Korea.
exsarge
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Posted: Saturday, June 06, 2015 - 10:54 PM UTC
Are the size in inches or cm, what did you used for the laser rangefinder, I am working on the inside of one
HeavyArty
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Posted: Sunday, June 07, 2015 - 01:20 AM UTC
The measurements are all in mm. I didn't do the internals. I just used a domed lens for it on a flat plate inside the opening. I have since done a second one in NATO camo using the Orochi M3A3 as a starting point.




You can see more of it here.
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