Hi guys,
that´s the first time i post one of my models here, now i checked it out how this kitmaker picture thing wirks ;-).

This is my Tamiya M2A2 OIF Bradley. It´s a vehicle of the 3rd infantry Division at Baghdad International Airport 2003. I built it OOB, i just used some Verlinden additional Parts like bagpacks,bottles...experts will know what´s verlinden. I also modified the cannon because i thougt this level thing looks boring. I cutted the side skirts of, to get a more interesting vehicle. Well, painted with Revell colours and a little weathering. Maybe I´ll add some rifles, but not sure about that.

Let me know what you think about it.

Cheers
EL_Martino

Good job mate. Love the stowage and the mix of colour overall.
Cheers

Looks superb. Great job on the finish and the weathering.

What is your technique for the periscopes? I just finished an M3 and would like to redo my periscopes using whatever technique you used as I'm not happy with mine. I just used a lead pencil.



More info here

Again, great job.

Chris

Wow, that OOTB build looks very impressive! I like how you used subtle color differences to add "life and depth" to the model. Good job!

Nice weathering job Martin. But the way you have positionned the side skirts seems weird (to me at least ). On the Bradley the skirts can be put "up" or "down" if I may say so. Those on your model are "in between" : the bottom of the rectangular skirt panels should be aligned with the bottom of the front triangular one...See what I mean on the picture below :



Frenchy

Excellent Martin !
Your job on the paint is awesome and the setting of the various parts of the crew gear gives it a very realistic look.

I can't find out what is the 1% missing

Olivier

thanks a lot dan !

Hi Chris !
Glad you like it ! I tried something new, something i´ve never done before when i painted periscopes. It´s hard to give a realistic periscope colour because the colour of them changes with the angle of the solar irradiation. So i thought about some good colours for them and i just painted them with the brush how i saw it in my mind. There are no reflecting periscopes, so please don´t fear. It´s very easy for you : Choose 2 or 3 colours ( i chose red and black ) and start to paint them. I painted the most in this redish colour, i added some thinned silver colour to the red of some persicopes, and the rest i painted black. This gives a very realistic image of the periscopes and the persicope areas became more interesting. Try it and play with some colours !

Cheers

Thanks Peter, it was a long project with some breaks till i knew what i really wanted...

cheers

Hi Frenchy !

Yeah, i know what you´ve mentioned. I saw some pics of Bradleys in iraq during OIF with this side skirts like they are on your pic. But i thought that if i´ll do it like that, it would be hard for me to add all this stowage on both sides, because they need a lot of space.
Maybe i made not a 100% accourate vehicle, but ihad a lot of fun with cutting off the skirts, i´m pretty happy about the result now.

Cheers

Hi olivier !
I´m really proud to get this commendation from you as a great modern AFV modeller !!!
I thought about adding some rifles like M16A2´s ore some M247 or M149 to the turret. But I´m not sure about that, i think the brad looks already very interesting !!!

Cheers

This is a very realistic paint job. Beautiful.

Bob

Thanky Bob !

cheers !

Danke Martin,

I took your advice and played around with some colors and got something that looks better. That was clever of you to purposely use different colors on each periscope like that because you are right, in real life they certainly do look different at different angles. Modern optics on armored vehicles and "disco lights" on helicopters are things I'm always looking for better ideas on.

If this the first model you've shared here, I sure hope you will continue to share your work in the future.

Wunderbar Martin! I especially like what you did with the periscopes. I've been going with blue lately but only for the lack of a better idea which you have now given to me. Congratulations!!!!

I guess the missing 1% you referred to is you may add more equipment to your build? It sure looks good as is!

Danke

Hi Gary !

Yeah, i thought about some rifles, maybe some M16A2´s or stuff like that, this could be the 1 %, but not too sure if i´ll add something...i like the Bradley very much like it´s now !

EL_

One question about your Bradley; when in the 'ready' position as seen in your model, isn't the TOW launcher supposed to elevate and lower to match the movement of the main gun? I was under the impression all three weapons on the turret (Bushmaster cannon, coaxial MG, and TOW launcher) were all simultaneously aimed at once, with the gunner selecting which one to actually fire once he had the target. I might be wrong, but that's just the impression I had. As for having the main gun pointed skyward, that's actually a common practice among tankers during refueling or other non-combat operations to prevent someone from being killed if the main or coaxial weapons are accidentally discharged with a live round chambered.

Martin,
Chris-T is absolutely correct. The TOW launcher does elevate along with the main gun and coax. Plus, Tamiya and Academy has modeled the gun mantlet wrong. The whole mantlet does not move, just the cemter main gun portin and the coax it self, the rest of the mantlet is perminate.

other than that, i agree with all the comments on the aint job. Nicely done!

Martin,
The Brad' looks great. I only have one minor nit pick. The placement of the sleeping pads next to the exhaust. They would end up a nice puddle of goo if left there very long. Other than that, I think you built a very nice looking Brad'. Thanks for sharing your work. "Q"