I apologize to the moderators as I posted this earlier to the wrong forum. Still new to this and have not quite got it figured out. I have a couple of questions about the Academy M2A2 OIF. After researching here and on the net I have gotten my self confused on the bumper codes. IIRC for "73" it should have 3I 1-15 on the left side but what is correct for the right? One site says C company and another says A. Now after finding my pictures of both "73" and "crackshot", can either one of these be built OOB? "73" looks to be pre ODS or only partial update and Crackshot looks like a BFST with the taller rear light gaurds and extra rear antennae. Any and all help appreciated!

A basic M2A2 ODS Bradley from C Co, 1-15 IN, 3 ID, OIF 1 (invasion) can be built using the 73 decals. 73 was the Bn ID number for C Co, 1-15 IN. 70 was the ID number for the Bn (1-15) and each company had a subsequent lesser number (A 71, B 72, C 73). The right side should be C for the company, and a two digit number for the platoon and vehicle number. For example: C 23; C Company, 2d PLT, 3rd vehicle.

"Crackshot" was an M7A2 B-FIST, so it cannot be built accurately from the box. It was part of C Co, 1-64 AR (53 Bn ID #). It had bumper numbers for HQ, 1-41 Field Artillery as B-FISTS are assigned to the FA Bns and task organized to the IN and AR Bns.

If you are interested in doing Crackshot or another B-FIST, you can check out the 3ID M7A2 B-FIST I built a while ago. Here it is in-progress and completed.

Thank you Gino! That helps a ton. Trying to understand Bn numbers and company numbers was making my head numb. LOL Now at least I know I'm not as old and blind as I thought as Crackshot did not look like a normal M2A2 to me. One last question. If I'm seeing correctly does "73" still have the work platform behind the drivers hatch?

I love your work.

Yes, most of the 3ID Bradleys still had the TOW work platform on them as they were older Bradleys that had been modified and brought up to the latest ODS standards. Additionally, 1-15 IN was part of 3 BDE. 3 BDE brought all their vehicles from home station at Ft Benning, GA, so they were older vehicles.

Thanks again Gino. Thinking now I might have to go with another M2A2 as I have already updated/added the parts per Vodnik's instructions. I have spent so much time "fixing" all the little left off or wrong parts on this one, even scratching a rough interior (only seen through the crew door) that I'm not sure if I'm willing to go back and back date it.

What have you added? Pretty much all of Vodnik's corrections still apply to the version with the work platform. You could still add it and be correct. It sounds pretty nice. Do you have any pics of your work so far?

Looking it over again I think adding the work platform and the swim barrier brackets might be all it needs. All the pictures of this one and all my builds/WIPs are on Facepuke. I have yet to try learning how to upload to photo bucket.

Have a link to them on Facebook? I don't use it that often and am not adept at it.

Well lets see if I have this photo bucket thing figured out.

Holey bat**** it worked! Now lets see if I can show you where I'm at.

Two more that got lost.

Looking good. Nice job so far. The interior came out nicely.

VERY rough! LOL Ramp will be up with just the crew door open and a soldier kneeling in the door so not much to be seen. To cold and my airbrush took a crap so I have been hand painting the insides. Mig's Ammo paint not brushing as well as I had hoped.

If I can bend your ear one last time Gino. Took me forever to locate any texturde paint locally but now that I have I'm ready to try the non slip surface. (Got a lot of masking to do!) Looking at your build you have non slip around the TOW loading hatch but not on it? Looking at the Prime Portal walkaround the one they show has non slip on the hatch. Is there a difference or did I just not see it on your finished build? I'm going with your example for the non slip on the turret as I can not find any good, clear pics showing it on the turret roof. One last one. If I want to link my photobucket here do I copy the HTML or some thing different? Thank you again Sir for your help and patience.

From what I can tell, the earlier M2A2 w/o the added armor on the rear TOW reload hatch had the anti-slip on it. Later M2A2 ODS vehicles with the added armor on the TOW reload hatch did not have anti-slip added. Hope that helps.

To link your Photobucket pages, copy the whole HTTP:... address and paste it here.

Thank you again Gino. Here is the link to my first time building this kit as a commission way back in 2004. Don't laugh to hard!