I have finally started a project I have been thinking about for a while. I thought about backdating a Meng M2A3 or M3A3 back to an OIF 1 era M2A2 ODS Bradley with interior. I decided on using the M3A3 since it has the headlight mounts w/out the ERA blocks under them and the standard rear stowage boxes on it.

The Brad will represent one from 3-15 IN, 2 BDE, 3 ID in OIF 1 (invasion, March '03). These vehicles were drawn from Pre-Positioned (PrePo) stocks in Kuwait and had locally made side storage racks. They were also older M2A2s that had been updated to ODS standards. As such, they had a lot of older features, along with the new ones.




I started by taking the rear roof section from an Academy M2A2 and grafting it onto the Meng hull. I found this easier than trying to sand all the added armor hull plates off the top of the Meng hull. It also shows that the Tamiya and Academy parts are the same basic size and can be interchanged with the Meng parts with little effort.



I reworked the lower front hull by replacing the kit's newer, one piece armor plate with an older-style Tamiya, multi-piece armor plate. I also reworked the final drive covers by removing the second lift ring attachment and adding bolt heads back to them.



I added the old swim barrier attachment bolts (red dots) and hinges (PE) back to the front glacis plate. I reshaped the mud flap openings to the proper, larger shape too.



I added the older-style flat mud guards from the Academy kit. I also added the armor plate on the left of the driver's hatch from an Eduard PE set.



Lastly (for now) I also started reworking the interior by replacing the large floor panel and adding two smaller plates for the M2A2 ODS version.



That's it for now. More to come later.

Gino, this is a very ambitious build. I will follow it very closely. You really do crank them out. You have great attention to detail which is needed for major surgery.

Best regards,

Eric

Thanks Eric. This one should be a fun build.

Indeed. Should be interesting to see the final result.

Wow. I wish it was not so much work, as I would like to do this too with the Meng kit. Maybe, though.

I think Gino has a small typo in his description of the unit. It would be 3-15 Infantry if one is doing a 2nd brigade vehicle. 1-15 was in 3rd brigade. 1-15 did not have the added side racks.

Bob

Thanks Bob, you are correct. It should be 3-15 IN. I'm sure you could build one just as well as I can. Don't worry though, I'm sure Meng will announce an M2A2 ODS with full interior just as soon as I finish the conversion. That is always the way it happens.

Yes, thanks for doing this. For sure one will be announced.

Have you studied how hard it would be to kitbash the Meng kit to make it look more like the ones without the BUSK? My understanding is that the way the Meng kit is molded/produced one can not make a current A3 - without the BUSK - since there is no way to show the sideskirts sans BUSK. And the rear stowage bins - since the Meng kit has AC units?

I'd like to show a Bradley along side an Abrams SEP V2.

It is not hard to do a modern Brad w/out the BUSK from the Meng M2A3 or M3A3 kits. The easiest way is to swap out the side skirts for Tamiya or Academy ones w/out the mounting rails (since Meng molded them on). The same for the rear A/C boxes on the M2A3, swap them out for Tamiya or Academy storage boxes. The M3A3 comes with the stowage boxes, not the A/C Units.

Contact Rob Skipper for the extra rear stowage boxes. He had a bunch and may still have some left.

If you go with the Academy side skirts (better side skirts w/separate foot loops) you can then build the Academy kit w/the Meng side skirts and ERA parts and have an M2A2 ODS w/ERA. I will be using the Academy side skirts on this one.

You will also have to cut the mounting plate for the headlight clusters off the ERA blocks if you use the M2A3 kit (like I had to do on the Orochi kit, see here, note after step 14). On the M3A3, the mounting plates are separate pieces.

The harder way would be to cut/scrape all the ERA mounting bars off the kit side skirts and add back all the bolts and other details. Lots of work.

You can also update the track to the new Diehl version seen on the latest Brads by using either Academy's K9 howitzer track or a set of Fruil German M109G tracks. Either will work. You will have to widen the kit sprockets to fit them; not hard.

I have all the parts to do an M2A3 w/out ERA and the new tracks. Another project in the pile to do...eventually.

Nice! I may have to do this later on. I always wanted to build the Meng Brad, but I didn't want to build another sand colored take right now. At least I can build an A2 model in NATO camouflage.

I always enjoy watching Meng kits being built.
Dan

Thanks Dan and Vince. It's coming along slowly.

The build continues. I have completed the interior and it is ready for paint.

I added non-slip to the interior floor using Rustoleum Terra Cotta spray paint that I decanted and brushed on.



I built the rear bench seats as well. The main bottom part is from an M113 side skirt, with "L" angle styrene sides, and square styrene stock for the legs. The cushions are from A & B putty and the back cushions will be from the kit seat backs, on new plates.



I detailed the ceiling a bit by adding mounting plates for the intercom J-boxes and speakers, the cables and handle to release the ramp locks, and a mount for an AT-4 on the right side.



I also added non-slip to the Academy roof section and hatch, as well as to the inside of the Academy M2A2 rear ramp and to a work platform which will be added below the TOW launcher.




Off to the paint booth next, then detail painting. Lots more to do.

The rest of the turret and interior parts ready to go as well.



Of note, I removed the radios off the shelf in the rear of the turret. The kit radios are older, series 46 radios. They were replaced by SINCGARS in the early to mid '90s. I have a set of SINCGARS ASIP radios from Pro Art to install in their place.

Also a shot of the completed front glacis that shows the added swim barrier attachment pieces.

Nice work Gino. Just started doing Cold/War modern stuff after years of WWII. Know virtually nothing about modern armor so this is an education for me. Have the Meng M3A3 and am anxious to get it started after seeing your work here.

Armorsmith - Thanks. You will enjoy the Meng M3A3. It is a really nice kit. Did you get the interior for it too? If not, you should.

Great job so far, Gino. Thanks for breaking things down. I'm glad I didn't toss the Tamiya and Academy kits as I intended.

Thanks Joseph. Yup, they are at least good for parts. I will be using quite a few Tamiya and Academy parts to backdate this one. I just ordered the F sprue out of Tamiya's M2A2 ODS kit for some parts from Tamiya today.

I have completed detailing the interior.

In the turret, I had to lower the radio shelf at the rear by about 1mm to get the SINCGARS mount to fit w/out hitting the periscopes. I also added the arm pad in front of the TC's joystick and kidney pads on both sides behind the seats. Additionally, I added the TC's lower seat, left off by Meng, they have the TC's stand, but there is also a fold-up seat that goes over it for when he is seated.



I added the two missing 25mm ammo chutes from the ammo box in the lower left side of the turret up to the shelf under the gunner's sight. They were left off by Meng. I used a couple sections of an Eduard .50 cal feed chute for them, folded around a piece of 0.040 sheet styrene to make it larger for the 25mm shells.


I added an intercom control box, a couple J-boxes, and a speaker box to the walls of the upper turret as well. In the turret I only added a few wires since they can't really be seen once it is assembled, but I know they are there.


On the hull roof, I added J-boxes, speakers, and lights, all wired up with thin solder. I also added the AT-4 and fire extinguishers.




In the back, I added the TOW rounds on the left sponson and under the right seat. I scratched up the correct mount for the TOW round on the top of the stack on the left side. It is actually on a rack that folds up so you can access the rounds below it.




Up front I added the instrument panel and decal from the Tamiya M2 kit. I also used the driver's IR periscope with orange lens cover. I added a lever/handle for the driver's seat adjustment as well.





The rest of the decals are from the kit. They went down really well and look great. I really like how the interior went together and like how it looks.

Next up is to weather the interior and fill it up with gear to make it look lived-in.

I just found 25mm ammo cans from Djiti's Productions from France to go inside.



I also found the decals for them from Archer. The whole right side of the sheet (w/the orange diamonds) is for the 25mm cans.


Some of these will go on the interior.

Hi Gino,

Nice work as always. Thanks for showing your process, it's all very helpful. Your detailing of the interior is very nice - downright inspiring! Looking forward to the next update.

Nick

Thanks Nick. No further progress yet. I just got back from vacation last Sun and have been busy at work and taking down Christmas decorations last week. Hopefully I can get to it this week.

Looks like we are getting the Snowpocalyse here in the DC area. About 20" so far. Between snow blowings of the driveway, I have been at the bench.

I have completed detailing and filling the interior with gear. I added MREs, water bottles, ammo cans, maps, magazines, etc...

Here it is so far.





Even a "motivational" poster taped to the ceiling.


I have also added a map, MRE bag, ammo can, pack and a magazine to the turret as well.


Looks like it almost time to blow off the driveway again. Hope you like the work so far.

Where do grunts carry all their gear on the Brad?
On tanks we had the bustle rack, but these guys have nothing like that.
Dan

There is a bustle rack on the rear of the turret, not huge, but it will do. The rest of their gear gets tied to the sides of the Brad, like this.



2 BDE, 3ID Brads in the invasion of Iraq had locally made in Kuwait side storage bins added to them to hold crew gear. This is the version I am building.

But during training when they didn't have those racks?
It must have been tight.
Dan