Hi guys,

After a "small" sabatic peridod of 15 years without doing any kits, I'm almost finishing the "first" of a new series...
Here you have some pics of the construction.

The kit uses Friul tracks, Eduard detail set. Xtracrylics paints and Zeiss magnifying glass :-) :-) :-)
Tell me what you think... (be gentle :-) :-) )

Looks like it is coming along nicely. You went a little overboard on the anti-slip coating though. There shouldn't be any on the vertical front and side panels of the turret, and you have it on the triangular CIPs on the turret face as well. These areas should be smooth. Also, the long poles under the maintenance platform by the TOW and the poles bundled together at the rear of the hull on both sides should be removed. They are support poles for the old fording kit that is no longer installed on the ODS upgraded M2A2s. Good job overall. Keep us posted.

Thanks

I was afraid of that. The CIP panel on the last pics does not have the anti slip and it's very easy to remore it from the panels you mentioned.
I'm going to take it out.

Yup, Antonio, I was gonna say the same thing about the anti slip coating. Actually, there shouldent be any anti slip coating on the turret at all.
One other thing, it's nothing wrong, but would make you model EVEN BETTER, is to add the missing parts for the gun manlet. Since your gonna fix the antislpi, it would take much to add this. Here is what I am talking about.



Other than that, your Bradley is outstanding!

Now, what is the count of Bradley's being built right now, I think it's 7.

Cool,

The anti slip is gone (that's the beauty of my anti slip method.
I saw the parts missing on the gun mantlet on vodnik.net site after it was painted but now I have a second chance (eh eh)

Here I go. And guys, thanks for pointing this out.

Hi,
it seems the Bradley is beating the Abrams in count of models currently built.

Nothing to add to Gino and Pete's words. Keep on posting.

olivier

No problem Antonio. If you don't mind, what is your method for your anti slip coating?

I tried to find something that would be esay to apply (no sprays, airbrush or anything like that) preferably odorless and easy to do

I found a bottle of wood white glue.... water soluble, odorless it peels away or can be washed if it's wrong and still fresh...

To apply I use a fine sponge. Let it dry till it's stycky and with the sponge barely immersed in a glue and just apply it where needed (and where it's not needed it seems :-) )

Since it does not have huge adhesion power to the plastic, when dry it's just a matter of rubbing with a toothpick.
As you read this the anti slip is out of the turret !!!

Update...
Here's the detail on top of the mantlet.

You can see the excess of anti slip gone.... to painting now

It is looking good Antonio. I thought of building a Bradley my self for the "Modern Armour" campaign, but just for the fun of it (and to cool down Petes "Bradley rush" :-) ) I will build a Warrior.

Erik

Well what can I say-this is a cool Looking Bradley, you've saved yourself from madness like the rest of us and not bothered to repair all the little faults, but that is cool, it still looks like a Bradley and is damn fine for a first model after a break. I cant wait to see it completely done! Nice work on the mantlet detail-I cant believe how quickly you built that little bit-takes me ages to do anything with plasti card. I like the fruil tracks, I did try and get some for mine but was out bid on ebay, and will have to settle for the rubber ones. I also have the Eduard set and cant wait to put it too use. Overall a nice clean build.

Are you going to be adding any crew figures-I would suggest some Alpine Minatures OIF tankers, they are pretty superb and would look very nice in the turret.

Oohhh modern Armor. Somehow it reminds of my old habits... I only made 1/72 planes post Korea War. I stopped at around 100 models. :-)

With armor it has to be modern too. After all I always loved the looks of the recent tanks and tracked vehicles.

The Warrior (Academy+ Accurate Armor+Bison Decals+ Friul tracks) , Challenger 2 (Tamiya + Armor Track Models+ Eduard) and M1A1HA (Dragon + Echelon Decals + Eduard bustle rack extension) are waiting.

The Friul tracks were a test. To see how mad I could be. 77 links on each side with the corresponding little wires. OMG I thought I was getting blind after a couple of hours.

After I saw the post of the correct mantlet and knowing I needed to get rid of the excess anti slip, why not doing the CORRECT thing. LOL

I'm now a certified rivet counter :-) :-)
I'll post the pics as I go. Judging by the speed of things it'll be by tomorrow night :-) :-)

A couple of hours away fom completion.

The anti slip in excess was removed, the mantlet details added, and weathring has started (the road wheel in the front and bag are still too clean...






Thx Pete and Gino for giving me the right pointers to a better model

HOOOAGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great job Antonio. Glad I could help out.

Now Antonio, I'm not nit picking, just like you said, giving you pointers for a better model. The tools, such as the shovel, pix axe, sledge hammer are removed when the track is painted. There are different colors from natural wood and mettalic to olive drab and plat black metal parts. The item above the ammo cans on the left rear is the tripod for the crew served weapon inside, so it is metallic. The item to the right of the sledge hammer and in front of the rear hatch are the track tightners, they are metalic also.

Sorry Antonio, BUETIFUL model as is. It's just that I work on this thing on a day to day basis. So I notice things.

I still love it. Another Bradley added to our Armorama Bardley Batallion.

Thx Pete. Those are the things I can still do. In fact they were planned. I just had to paint all these items on the hull because of the tiny tniny photo etched parts that hold them.

Now I'm going to do those little things before I apply the weathering to the top hull.

Again, thanks for your help guys. I have to rely on your experience because I've never seen a Bradley in my life :-) :-)
If it's not your input and reference photos I would be doing a terribly looking model

Cheers

Looking great. The mantlet covers camne out great. Couple things to add to Pete's comments. The front turn signal lenses look too red to me. They should be amber, just like on a car. Also, the ammo cans on the left rear hull need to be tied down. Keep up the great work. Another great Brad to add to the Armorama Mech Company (Battalion?).

Hi Antonio,
congrats for joining the Big A Mech unit :-)

No more to add to Epi's comments. Your Bradley is really turning good.

olivier

Someone suggested that I could build a diorama and add some figures..
I was afraid of the challenge specially because I see incredible figure painters around here. It's an art, and something I've never tried.
It took me two days to press the checkout button on the online store.... but I did it.
And I ordered a pair of Alpine Miniatures and obe Blast figure.
The base for the dio will follow soon. If I did this I will go all the way.
Tell me what you think... The matt varnish is not applied yet (I'll airbrush it tomorrow) but I had to ask you what you think

I'm telling you!! Bagdad is that way...



I like a good challenge and figures are certainly a GOOD one. Making them realistic with good skin tones, wraps and wrinkles is incredibly difficult.
My approach was.... since I'm a perfectionist when I think it's good it may be good...
Everything was done with acrylics and the shades on skin tones acieved with very subtle washes of brown (after all Sun is abundant there and they must have a "little" tan.
Some of the weathering on clothes was made by dry brushing and some with pigments.

Man Antonio , you really are one of the greats, Besides everything else , the stowage and uniforms have a really authentic apearance. Gary

Figures look good too. Good job. Now lets see what you have planned for the base. It's coming out great.