Any thoughts on what color the Bulgarian M1117s in ISAF service were? I thought they were US "NATO 3 color" but the photos I've found show a dark OD. Was thinking Tamiya XF 71 or 54 but they don't look right.

Hi Timothy,

There are 2 options:
1. Nato Green- Tamiya has it(XF-67)
2. Bulgarian Dark Green- mix of 2 or 3 parts Green(OD or Russian Green) to 1 part Black.Eyeballing is essential here!

For Bulgarian vehicles I use mainly the second option.
It is also what the BG Army does, when preparing paint for repainting.

HTH

Timothy,

Some pictures from last year's St.George's Day Parade in Sofia show, that beside the Dark Green painted ones:


there are also Sand painted M1117's in Bulgarian Army:


We currently have military personnel, deployed in Afghanistan as part of the Resolute Suport Mission.

HTH

A pic of an actual ISAF vehicle.


and one Frenchy posted way back can be found here:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/219838&page=1

Echelon do decals for these catalogue number D356115

It is too hard to determine colours from photographs. All 3 here appear different shades although Angel's pic shows a darker colour matching his preferred colour and the other two seem more OD than green and a bit more like neat Tamiya 67.

Don't get hung up on the correct paint mix, whatever you come up with will change with weathering of any sort anyway.

Are these modified in anyway compared to the US version?
Dan

Only thing I've been able to see is 6 smoke grenade launchers added on the rear of the hull ,a small antenna
(almost looks like a CB antenna) near the driver's side window, and a double loop antenna in the center of the rear deck. I read that some had the M2 replaced with a NSV 12.7 mm. Not sure if that would be noticeable.

Was looking at a photo taken at Kabul airport showing a couple Bulgarian M1117s. I noticed a semi circular "antenna " between the forward grab handles (on on each side). Laser detectors? what are the double loop antennas on the rear deck?

Timothy,

Unfortunately I cannot answer the questions from your last post, but

I can confirm some Bulgarian M-1117 Guardians mount the NSVT instead of M2.The reasons behind are:
-M2 ammo pricing was found to be quite expensive,
-Bulgaria not only produces the NSVT ammo, but we also have a big stock of it.

A bit more info on the Bulgarian M-1117.
It comes from an article, published at the introduction of M-1117 in Bulgarian Armed Forces in April 2008:

"The first seven AFV's were delivered with the standard armament of the US Army, which includes a Browning 12.7mm machinegun and a 40mm grenade launcher.A separate weapon mount allows the mounting of the 7.62-mm machine gun, that's in use with the Bulgarian Army.

Some US weapons will be replaced by the contractor to meet the technical requirements of the Bulgarian Army- as per contract, the AFV will be retrofitted with the 12.7-mm NSVT machinegun, which is the standard HMG in the Bulgarian Army, and the US grenade launcher will be replaced by an PKT 7.62-mm tank machinegun.

The AFV will receive an additional HF radioset.Otherwise it has standard US Army communications equipment".

HTH

MagicModels makes a brass barrel of the NSVT if you are interested

Hi, Angel and Peter!

Interesting and enlightening info!!! THANKS!!!

You're welcome, Dennis!

Bit more info on Bulgarian M1117:
2008: 7 AFV M-1117 Guardians purchased(10,2 m USD deal).
6 from them were sent to Afghanistan, 1 left for training purposes in Bulgaria.
The vehicles sent to Afghanistan served there between 2008 and 2015

2015: 10 AFV M-1117 Commando Select purchased(15 m USD deal).They also serve in Afghanistan.

The Sand painted M-1117's I posted on April 10th(pictures from St.George's Day Parade 2018 in Sofia) are M-1117 Commando Select. The Green one in the same post is M-1117 Guardian.

Both types are easily recognizable by the different spacing between both front tow shackles,

HTH

Благодаря, Angel. Good catch on the tow shackles. When I looked at first I just thought the actual skackles were put on the inboard attachment points but their mounts are more central and that plate that protects the steering / front differential is also different. Something else I also spotted, I think the original ones were delivered in US tan. If you look close just forward of the front tire you can see some tan. Those are the tire inflation markings (black on tan)