M3A2 Bradley CFV - in progress
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 09:55 AM UTC
I took a few photos of the model I'm currently working on. This is M3A2 Bradley CFV, converted from Lee Models M2A2 Bradley IFV. Lee model is a very poor copy of Tamiya kit, so I had a lot of work just to make it a bit closer to the quality of original Tamiya kit, and then I made some modifications to improve the accuracy a bit more. This is not ODS vehicle. It will be painted as early M3A2 from 1st ID during REFORGER 90.
My model is another project where I rebuild the model that was almost finished a few years ago and then abandoned. Some parts were stripped from old paint, but on some you may still see original green and brown paint.
Photos are in my gallery:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/photos/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=2325Higher resolution images are on my web site here (about 100KB each):
http://vodnik2.republika.pl/pages/m3a2/m3a2_001.jpghttp://vodnik2.republika.pl/pages/m3a2/m3a2_002.jpghttp://vodnik2.republika.pl/pages/m3a2/m3a2_003.jpghttp://vodnik2.republika.pl/pages/m3a2/m3a2_004.jpghttp://vodnik2.republika.pl/pages/m3a2/m3a2_005.jpghttp://vodnik2.republika.pl/pages/m3a2/m3a2_006.jpghttp://vodnik2.republika.pl/pages/m3a2/m3a2_007.jpghttp://vodnik2.republika.pl/pages/m3a2/m3a2_008.jpghttp://vodnik2.republika.pl/pages/m3a2/m3a2_009.jpgHere is just one:
As usual, tell me what you think!
Post here or send me a PM, depending on what you want to write (see posting guidelines for RRB).
Regards,
Pawel
Pawel "Vodnik" Krupowicz
Professional Certified Rivet Counter.
Vermont, United States
Joined: July 21, 2002
KitMaker: 3,569 posts
Armorama: 2,070 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 10:56 AM UTC
That's amazing.. to take a bad copy like that and turn out something that looks that good..
Another case of it almost being a shame to hide the work under paint.
Does that version have the drilled out row of bolts above the skirt sections?
Reason I ask is that and building (poorly) the Tow door linkage were the only changes I made to the old Tamiya dog about 10yrs ago. I can't even take credit for the idea, I got it from the Verlinden walkaround book.
Beautiful!
Am I correct in guessing that it does not have an interior? I didn't look at all the pics yet, but I'm going back for them now!
Mike
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs,
perhaps you've misunderstood the situation.
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 11:10 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Does that version have the drilled out row of bolts above the skirt sections?
I'm afraid I don't know which row of bolts you ask about...
Quoted Text
Reason I ask is that and building (poorly) the Tow door linkage were the only changes I made to the old Tamiya dog about 10yrs ago. I can't even take credit for the idea, I got it from the Verlinden walkaround book.
This is one detail I still have to add. To take those photos I attached some parts with BlueTac - the TOW door cover is one of them. Once it is glued in place I will add the linkage.
Quoted Text
Am I correct in guessing that it does not have an interior? I didn't look at all the pics yet, but I'm going back for them now!
Yes, I buttoned it up. No interior in this one.
Rgds,
Pawel
Pawel "Vodnik" Krupowicz
Professional Certified Rivet Counter.
Vermont, United States
Joined: July 21, 2002
KitMaker: 3,569 posts
Armorama: 2,070 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 02:16 PM UTC
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Does that version have the drilled out row of bolts above the skirt sections?
I'm afraid I don't know which row of bolts you ask about...
I might not have left enough of the orig coding to get the quotes right.
Just above the lowest section of side 'skirt' armor , just above the hinges, are a row of bolts with the centers tapped for threading screws into. I guess the idea is that you can fold up the skirt section, put a bolt through the skirt and into the threaded section on the hull side and this will hold the skirt up for working on the tracks or wheels.
I suppose they do this instead of removing the skirt sections.
Sabot's pictures probably show this better than I can explain, and there are pictures in the Verlinden Bradley ( or was it the Concord?? ) book.
Either way, very nice build so far!
Mike
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs,
perhaps you've misunderstood the situation.
Texas, United States
Joined: March 05, 2003
KitMaker: 2,092 posts
Armorama: 1,607 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 05:56 PM UTC
Looks great. That's a lot of detail you added.
What is the main reference you used for adding the details.
Paul
Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
KitMaker: 6,043 posts
Armorama: 4,347 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 11:44 PM UTC
What I can see nothing in way of negative review,except no paint
Nice work so far going to have to call you the Pe king soon Vodnik!!
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 12:46 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Just above the lowest section of side 'skirt' armor , just above the hinges, are a row of bolts with the centers tapped for threading screws into. I guess the idea is that you can fold up the skirt section, put a bolt through the skirt and into the threaded section on the hull side and this will hold the skirt up for working on the tracks or wheels.
I suppose they do this instead of removing the skirt sections.
I understand now! The hinged skirts were only installed in M2/M3 and M2A1/M3A1. And only these versions had those drilled out bolts. Skirts in M2A2/M3A2 are not hinged - you have to remove three bolts to be able to remove the skirt section and all bolt heads are solid.
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Either way, very nice build so far!
Thanks!
Rgds,
Pawel
Pawel "Vodnik" Krupowicz
Professional Certified Rivet Counter.
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 12:50 AM UTC
Thanks!
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What is the main reference you used for adding the details.
Verlinden Warmachines No.5 book, Sabot's Motorpool gallery, Europa Militaria Bradley Company book, Concord Bradley book and many Internet sites.
Rgds,
Pawel
Pawel "Vodnik" Krupowicz
Professional Certified Rivet Counter.
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 12:53 AM UTC
Quoted Text
What I can see nothing in way of negative review,except no paint
Aaaaahhh, yes.. I will start to work on this problem soon
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Nice work so far going to have to call you the Pe king soon Vodnik!!
PE?... Why?
The only photoethed parts in the whole model are two very small pieces of mesh. All other metal parts were cut from brass sheet and aluminum or lead foil
Rgds,
Pawel
Pawel "Vodnik" Krupowicz
Professional Certified Rivet Counter.
Haifa, Israel
Joined: June 17, 2002
KitMaker: 217 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 03:04 AM UTC
Hi Vodnik,
This is a bit
, but i just looked in you gallery and saw your hummer.
Loved the interior,so well perfomed and painted. can you give somr tips of how you did such a fine job.
I also love softskins and allways find the most hardest parts is detailing and painting the interior.
Cheers
Eran
Maki
Senior EditorCroatia Hrvatska
Joined: February 13, 2002
KitMaker: 5,579 posts
Armorama: 2,988 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 03:08 AM UTC
Great build Pawel... is that anti-slip surface you added to the hull?
Mario M.
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 03:32 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Great build Pawel... is that anti-slip surface you added to the hull? .
Yes, it is
Once I cover it with paint and make sure that it still looks good, I will write an article on the method I used.
Rgds,
Pawel
Pawel "Vodnik" Krupowicz
Professional Certified Rivet Counter.
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 03:38 AM UTC
Quoted Text
This is a bit , but i just looked in you gallery and saw your hummer.
Loved the interior,so well perfomed and painted. can you give somr tips of how you did such a fine job.
This Humvee is quite old work of mine, so I don't remember all details. I used parts from old Verlinden Humvee detail set (resin and photo etched) and NATO radio set. I think that except for cables I didn't add any scratch built parts. As far as I remember everything is hand painted inside. I actually didn't use washes or dry brushing. It is all just a matter of precision painting with very fine brush. AFAIR I only used Humbrol enamel paints.
Rgds,
Pawel
Pawel "Vodnik" Krupowicz
Professional Certified Rivet Counter.
Provincia de Lugo, Spain / Espaņa
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 03:43 AM UTC
Just want to thank you Pawel for posting these pics. I currently have several Bradleys sitting in their respective boxes (including the aforementioned LEE copy) Now a t last I am beginning to see, if not daylight, then at least a glow on the horizon as to where to start... Curiously enough the sheer volume of posts on the Bradley has managed to confuse me mightily as just where to start, now perhaps this will give me some incentive to get moving on at least one of them. The anti-slip surface needed some inspiration as well, you aren't using very fine-grade wet and dry paper are you?...Jim
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 04:06 AM UTC
Quoted Text
(including the aforementioned LEE copy)
Don't touch it! Toss it away IMMEDIATELY! Trust me on this. Do yourself a favor and only build Tamiya Bradleys. Lee kit lacks a lot of detail that is present in Tamiya kit and I had a lot of extra work just to replicate what is given in Tamiya model.
Fit of parts is horrible. Tracks just suck (will be using Tamiya ones in my model, as I have one spare set)...
Quoted Text
The anti-slip surface needed some inspiration as well, you aren't using very fine-grade wet and dry paper are you?...Jim
Nope
Wait til the end of next week (or this week, if you consider Sunday to be the first day of the week as Americans do
) and I should be ready to reveal the secret. It is extremely easy to do and I'm actually even glad now that new Tamiya Abrams does not have the non-slip coating as I can apply my own, which seems to look much more "in scale" than DML and Italeri attempts to replicate it.
Rgds,
Pawel
Pawel "Vodnik" Krupowicz
Professional Certified Rivet Counter.
Texas, United States
Joined: May 30, 2002
KitMaker: 1,038 posts
Armorama: 377 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 01:49 PM UTC
Hey thats my old mans Bradley lol!!! He was in the '90 REFORGER and if you know what all the armour was doing on the ground he led the early morning raid on the Germans before the games officially started. Cant wait to see it when its done.
Infantry, Queen of Battle
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 08:22 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hey thats my old mans Bradley lol!!! He was in the '90 REFORGER and if you know what all the armour was doing on the ground he led the early morning raid on the Germans before the games officially started. Cant wait to see it when its done.
Do you happen to have some photos of Bradleys during this excercise? I only have four pictures from Concord Bradley book - they are very good, but the more, the better
Rgds,
Pawel
Pawel "Vodnik" Krupowicz
Professional Certified Rivet Counter.
Maki
Senior Editor Croatia Hrvatska
Joined: February 13, 2002
KitMaker: 5,579 posts
Armorama: 2,988 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 10:03 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Great build Pawel... is that anti-slip surface you added to the hull? .
Yes, it is
Once I cover it with paint and make sure that it still looks good, I will write an article on the method I used.
Hmmm... how about a sneak preview? :-) I'm very interested in this as I've just used CAST-a-COAT to simulate anti-slip on my Warrior... it looks real good, but I'd like to know more about your method.
Mario M.
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 10:15 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hmmm... how about a sneak preview? :-) I'm very interested in this as I've just used CAST-a-COAT to simulate anti-slip on my Warrior... it looks real good, but I'd like to know more about your method. Mario M.
Wait two more days
I will airbrush this Friday morning and only after seeing the results I will reveal the secret
Rgds,
Pawel
Pawel "Vodnik" Krupowicz
Professional Certified Rivet Counter.
Joined: December 15, 2002
KitMaker: 4,503 posts
Armorama: 3,159 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 07:39 AM UTC
Dave
"Don't be afraid to think outside the box"
"Animal wants Trucks!!"
Texas, United States
Joined: May 30, 2002
KitMaker: 1,038 posts
Armorama: 377 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 03:35 PM UTC
I do have some pictures of it but I dont have a scanner Vodnik, sorry.
Infantry, Queen of Battle
New Jersey, United States
Joined: March 15, 2002
KitMaker: 1,745 posts
Armorama: 1,483 posts
Posted: Friday, January 16, 2004 - 02:53 AM UTC
How did the anti-skid turn out? Enquiring minds wanna know
