Hi,

My mother brought me a gift, as mothers do.. A Tamiya M3 Bradley which she picked up in a second hand shop.. As my only other modern AFV is a Leopard 2, you might understand that I'm a bit lost. Not least because there are no instructions with the kit..
On a brighter note, it came with a nice selection of large Tamiya Paint pots.
Still, I have managed to put the thing together using the box for reference, but now I have a question..
Was (is ?) this machine used in Irak ? I fancy doing a Desert Camo scheme, with netting and all, but not sure if it's accurate. What other options would there be for the M3? Germany? Kosovo? etc..
MERC scheme? NATO scheme?

Edit_ almost forgot, It's the one with the TOW launcher on the turret, and a 25mm or 35mm gun (??)
No instructions, no info... Kit no. 35131

Thanks for your trouble
Henk

This is the old Tamiya M3 (A Nothing) version Bradley. It was used in the Cavalry Troops of Cavalry Squadrons (3ACR, 11ACR,etc.) and in Heavy Scout Platoons of Armored Battalions from early 1980s up till about 1990. It was not used in Iraq in current operations (Operation Iraqi Freedom, March 2003- present), since it was replaced in 1990/91 with the up-armored M3A2 Bradley. It would have been used in Operation Desert Shield, pre-combat stages. There may have been a few left for the combat stage, Operation Desert Storm, FEB 1991, but most had been replaced by M3A2s by then.

It was used in all regions that the US Army was in from early 1980s through 1990; Germany, Korea, US Mainland, Panama, etc.

For painting, MERDC cammo, overall Forest Green, 3-color NATO, and Sand for ODS would be correct.

Two-pack TOW launcher and the 25mm gun are standard on all Bradley versions.

Thanks Gino, that's just the info I was looking for.
Now I only have to decide between a Desert Scheme, or Germany...Ohh decisions, decisions..

Cheers Gino
Henk

OOhhhh, I just thought, I have been thinking of a setting for my M88.. I can see a Bradley in a ditch...Germany circa '85.. and an M88 towing it out... yes...yes..Ye

www.eaglehorse.org, particularly in the photo database, will have pictures of 2/11 Cav Bradleys in the 1980s.

http://www.eaglehorse.org/pictures/master/1/may0603_TS58.jpg

This link takes you to A picture of E troop's 'E14'. Note the bottom of the manuever marking at the photo top, and the folded side skirts. Get a set of stencils, and you should be able to build this exact 'mount.'

http://www.eaglehorse.org/pictures/master/1/may0603_TS56.jpg

Has another view of the troop's particular maneuver marking.

Hello Henk,
if you need any building instructions, PM me, I've still the original ones.

olivier

The M3 A-nothing did not last very long before it was replaced by the M3A1. They are almost identical looking, but easy to distinguish if you know what to look for.

The M3A1 made it to DS, not the M3.

In the 80s, the M3 could be found in heavy divisional cavalry squadrons (armor, mechanized infantry or cavalry division), ACRs, or the scout platoon of an armor or mechanized infantry battalion (in the HQ company).

For a brief blip in time, the anti-tank company (E or "Echo" Company) of a mechanized infantry battalion was equipped with M3, M3A1 or M3A2 (depending on when they transitioned) which replaced the older M113-based M901 ITV. This lasted for a short period in the 90s before the Army decided to deactivate all the Echo companies.

For paint schemes, you could do that olive green color that the Brads originally deployed in. You could do the overall sand color or even the NATO 3-color scheme. Many M3s continued on in the National Guard heavy divisions until they were replaced by M3A1 or M3A2.

Actually regular M3 also made it to DS. There is a few photos of heavilly chipped desert tan painted M3s "A0" in Verlinden's Warmachines No.8 book "A Gulf War Eyewitness Report" and they all have Desert Storm inverted chevrons painted on them, so I believe they actually were used Desert Storm. Bumper markings on one of them are 2^(FWD) 3-66^ HQ-31.

Pawel

Sabot's reply and the pic's in his 'motorpool' had just convinced me to paint it in a NATO scheme, and now Vodnik opens the can, and tell's me I CAN paint a Desert camo version....At this rate I will actualy have to go and BUY one..

But all joking aside, I think I will paint it in Sand, because I want to have a go at chipping paint with salt.
The M88A1 will be painted in MERDC camo or Forrest Green, circa 1980's Germany.

Rob, Pawel, Olivier and ProfessorF8 , Thanks for your input, it has been very helpful.

Cheers
Henk

Just a quick pic of the progress so far. Olivier, I'll PM you with a few part no's I can't place. Thanks

When I first arrived in Germany in '89, I was sent to Aschaffenburg to the 4/7 INF(M) they were just finishing getting their M2's and M3's ready for turn in. They were all painted in the plain green scheme, now the interesting part is that all the rusty/chipped/banged up parts were painted over in basic O.D. out of a spraypaint can, made for a rather bizzare pattern. I've always wanted to try to reproduce that. Maybe I'll give it a shot.

Henk,

It looks like there is a piece of mantlet missing from your model... I mean the corner above the coaxial machine gun. Some accident, or was this kit already like that?...

Pawel

Pawel,

Yes, that piece was missing, you can just make out the crack right across the mantlet where it was broken in half . Some smaller pieces are actually glued into the bottom of the box... still, a gift horse and all that.. :-)
Three of the lifteyes on the hull are also missing, but I'll sort that in time honoured fashion, I'll cover them with camo nets and gear.. .
The first coat of green went on today, 2nd tonight or tommorow, and then after a day or so I'll start with the salt and Sand..

It makes a nice change to build a 'shake and bake', and fair deuce to Tamiya, there may be a few holes for the 'remote control, and a few gaps at the back, but other than that the kit falls together. I could not comment on it's accuracy, but it sure looks like an AFV to me.

Cheers
Henk

Those photos were taken during the build up in 1990 (Desert Shield), most units had transitioned to M3A1 and M3A2 before Desert Storm kicked off. Much like the units that brought M1IP went to M1A1 or the 82nd ABN went from M551A1 to M551A1TTS.

Rob,

The reason why I mentioned inverted chevrons is because as far as I know they were painted at the very last moment before armor rolled into Iraq. And these vehicles shown there carry these markings (and I'm sure these are not unit markings chevrons), that's why I thought they actually took part in Desert Storm, not just Shield.

Also I'm almost 100% sure that old M2s were used in Desert Storm - see photos below, both dated 03 MAR 1991.




But of course you were actually there, while I was only watching the show on TV and photos...

Pawel

The base coat is on, and has received the first application of maskol.



As my Bradley will be a non descript (generic) vehicle in Dessert Camo, I'm not to worried if the actual vehicle was in Iraq or not.. . I do thank you both for your effort and trouble in this matter.

Sand color next...

Cheers
Henk

Not sure if you are showing pre-shading or not. If not, the rust is way too heavy for an in-service vehicle. Crews wouldn't let their Bradley get that rusty. That much rust causes things not to work. If it is pre-shading, looks good. Keep us posted with final pics.

Also, the right side turret smoke launcher is missing its tubes. These would be easy to fix with some thin (1/8 "?, maybe smaller) plastic tubing.

I would drill out the tip of the 25mm barrel as well to improve the look of the gun.

Hi Gino,

Thanks for your response, but no, that's not rust but maskol, for the chipping of the paint. I noticed the smokelaunchers, I have found them in the box, they will be added..

I have added the top coat, ready to peel the maskol away..



cheers
Henk

I have started by peeling the maskol away, revealing the base coat underneath.





Now comes the most satisfying and tedious bit, adding the many, many little chipps, with brush and scotchbrite pad...

cheers
Henk

Hello,
you can check my gallery, i have a simple bradley. Desert theme

But i should have used the technique above, cos my bradley is quite clean