The first model I built when getting into the whole armor thing was Tamiya's M2 Bradley. A while back, Mission Models had a real steal on these, so I picked one up to see how my skills have improved over the past 3 yrs.

The kit is the Tamiya M2 Bradley with interior. I added Eduard PE and Modelpoint barrel. I also drilled out the drainage holes in the stowage basket (though I don't think there's a pic of it). I still have to take care of the periscopes, ISU lenses, add ammo cans to the side rack, as well as the cans on the turret basket.

My problem - I followed my usual routine for the decals (future, solvaset/sol, future, weathering) and over the front fenders, paint seemed to pool around the edges of the decal. Is there a way to reduce/eliminate this?

Again, all questions, comments, concerns, quips, musings, and anecdotes are welcomed.

Now.....






Then.....





And this is where my problem is seen...


All of the pics can be seen here - http://gallery65624.fotopic.net/c183784.html

Jeff,

What exactly do you mean by that?

Anyhow, I am not really into armor so the only two comments I have about your Bradley are :

a) I can see edges of your decals (silvering effect). I think that if you had cut away all the clear decal film from around the big orange numbers then there would be no silvering visible.

b) I see fingerprints on one of the photos. This happens to me too sometimes so I seem to be particularly sensitive to that.

Other than that I think that your model looks really good.

Marty - The top three are the first model I built, so it is pretty rough. The silvering was one big thing on it. The lg blobs of glue and lousy paintjob the other. Which pic are you seeing the fingerprint in? I must be totally missing it.

Hey Grasshopper...

Looking good....just the right amount of weathering....(which in my opinion is that alot of people are over doing it on the weathering these days).

Once periscopes are on, some ammo cans and crew items strapped down to the outside...it will really set it off.

The only thing I can offer as far as the paint pooling on the edges, is to thin your paint a touch more....and more lighter coats, slowly building the paint up in 3 or 4 light coats, rather than a 1 or 2 heavy coats. I don't actually see the build up myself....but I am sure its easier to see in person than it is in pictures.

If its really bad, you can always make some mud to cover it up. One day I think it would be cool if someone wrote a book for us modelers about the best ways to hide our mistakes....LOL!!

All in all....a great build IMO!!!

Thanks for the comments! I did a little 'creative' weathering and covered it up fairly well. What's odd is that I sprayed virtually nothing down, and it had a consistency of water, yet still had the prob.

As far as that book idea goes, I'm willing to contribute a couple chapters worth, lol

I think your Bradley has real potential. The decals are the sore point. Try some Solvaset to flatten them out, followed (when they are fully dried) with some future straight form the bottle. That should take care of the silvering. When the future dries then go over the area with clear flat.

The Bradley that you are describing is the first model I built, the one without the orange markings on the side skirt is the most recent. I submitted this post as a 'here's how things have changed' post.