Howdy! I'm trying to break into the modern AFV scene and bought a Tamiya Bradley (tam35132) at one of Hobby Lobbys' 1/2 price sales (which are AWESOME!)

The kit has 1985 stamped on the lower hull, and 4 machine guns sticking out from it's side. I was wondering what conflict/conflicts this version of the Bradley could accurately represent.

If Vodnik is out there, or anyone else who knows please help!

Thanks!

- Steve

there's a port mounted m16 rifle that was used on the M2. (the round plates in the hull)

Hmmmm...gotta be an M2.... Here's another pic...Jim

The original M2 Bradley was used up to and including the early stages of Operation Desert Shield. Before Desert Storm started, new M2A2 Bradleys were rushed into service and have been the standard since. The kit is a good representation of the M2 Bradley though and build up nicely.

And more photo references here:...Jim



Rob's Motor Pool M2a2s

The weapon is/was the M231 port firing weapon.

http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/0900/916.htm

Matt's first photo is an M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle, notice the bolted plates over the firing ports. The straight M3 and M2 (also referred to as A-nothings) were used through the early 1990s and both saw service in the Gulf War from stateside US Army units. European based US Army units had already received newer M2A1/M3A1 and M2A2/M3A2 Bradleys.

After Desert Storm, the "A-nothings" were mainly relegated to National Guard use, although I know many have been remanufactured to A2 and A3 standards. They were used extensively thoughout REFORGER exercises in the 1980s as well as in NTC rotations in the late 1980s.

The old Tamiya kit comes with REFORGER exercise markings. These are the orange decals with black numbers. They were circular stickers that we stuck to the front and sides of our vehicles. The green boarders were OD green duct tape that we call "100 mph tape". These were used to keep that big sticker from falling off and were applied irregularly.

I like the old M2 and M3 kits. Easily my favorite APC model.

Awesome! Thanks so much guys.

But, now I have a few more questions! (As good answers usually end up creating)

All the pics seem to have the side-mounted MGs taken out. Would they have been taken out of all the M2s in Desert Shield/Storm?

Also, could they have been used in Kosovo or Somalia? Or were those the European-based units with update equipt?

He has the Hobby Craft Brad, which is based off the Trumpeter model if Im not mistaken. I was going to buy it as well but Im waiting to pick up the Tamiya ODS Bradley.

As for the port guns, most units removed them since they were ineffective. Some still had them, most didn't.




Nope, by the time of Somalia ('93) and Balkans ('96) active units had M2A2 version. It would be correct for Panama in '89.



The Hobby Craft and Academy kits are a copy of the Tamiya M2. Trumpeter doesn't make one.

The Hobby Craft Bradley is the motorized CC Lee kit.