Hi All,
I'm currently building Tamiyas M2A2 with eduards PE set and loving it (this is my first modern AFV). I'm up to the point of attaching the unit marking plate for model version B (this is where I hope people know what I'm talking about)

I'm wondering how these plates were attached to the real vehicles as I'm not convinced just glueing the plate in place is going to look convincing? I have a couple of theories here...

- Firstly the existing holes created by removing the ammo holders on the back of the turret basket were used. This would be easy to model by putting a couple of bolt heads on the face of the panel.

- Secondly, due to the nature of the curve in the basket I thought that maybe a bolt hole mentioned above may have been used (towards the center of the basket) and on the outer edge may have had some kind of bracket made behind the panel attaching (and bridging the gap) it to the basket.

I hope the above makes sense and any help would be greatly apreciated.

cheers

You have the right idea Matt.

Remove the ammo can holders where the panel is supposed to go. You can use bolt heads or try to simulate plastic "zip ties". Some where secured with those too.

The tact (tactical) boards are bolted straight onto the bustle rack with ordinary nuts and bolts. Normally crews try to match up existing holes in the bustle rack and punch or drill corresponding holes into the tact board. If there are no suitable holes, then maintenance crews will drill holes in the right spot.

wow guys, thanks for such speedy replies. I'm relieved that I'm on the right track also as I've been thiking about how they'd do it a bit tonight. The side view in the instructions show these boards to be flat. I'm just wondering if crews would allow the panels to follow the curve of the basket a bit or indeed attach them in such a way that there were flat?

Cheers again guys....gotta love armorama!

The boards are made of a thin metal, about the thickness of a regular traffic sign. If bolted to a curve, they would bend with the curve.

Most of the boards on 3ID vehicles in OIF 1 were actually squares of 1/2" or 1" plywood and held on with either zip ties or 550 cord (parachute cord). The plywood ones did not bend around the curve.

here is a shot of the battle board of one of the vehicles in the tamiya instructions. This should give you agood idea now.

Cheers guys for your very informative replies.