introduction

Newly released from Eduard for the Academy OIF Bradley, this set should enhance your vehicle, with a plethora of add-ons to impart a more scale-like appearance. This look is not intended as a review, knowing so little as I do about modern armour, more of a look at what you get in the package, and a description of it!

the contents

Included in this set are three fair-sized frets of photo etch, and instructions in Eduard's new mini style running to six sides. As with all Eduard sets, the instructions are fairly clear, showing exactly what parts need to be replaced, cut, or otherwise altered in order to install the Eduard photo etched parts successfully.

The first thing Eduard offer us in this set is lot's of furniture for the rear door! Not only do we get new brackets for it, but we also get new brackets for holding the tow rope we always see held on the door. There are, of course, new replacement brackets for the light clusters, and also a new bracket for the antennae, along with a myriad of smaller parts the purpose of which I have no idea of! No doubt if you model Bradley's, you'll know all these parts off by heart, so take a close look at the instructions and you'll see what I mean.

As a general rule of thumb regarding Eduard sets, if you follow the link above, you can download the instruction sheets for any set they produce, which mean you can study exactly what you get before you go out and purchase it. Great idea!

There are grills supplied in the set for the engine deck, and one of these has to have the finest mesh pattern I've ever seen done in photo etch. The CIP panels for the sides of the vehicle are produced in flat panels, which are then folded to achieve the correct serrated look,a clever idea, these are then inserted into square frames also constructed from photo etch. All the armoured panels over the running gear get new handles, which on the real vehicle are constructed of rope I think, and these I'm less convinced of. There's always a problem with photo etch when you try and replicate an obviously 3 dimensional object such as rope or chain............it just looks too 'flat'.

All the on vehicle tools get new clamps as you would expect, and here you're going to have to carefully remove the moulded on ones supplied by Academy. The large semi-circular stowage bin on the rear of the turret gets a new perforated bottom, and also for the turret there is a ton of small fixtures and fittings including replacement panels, hinges for things, a muzzle brake, straps, details for inside the hatches, etc., most of which can be installed without the need to perform surgery and remove moulded on plastic parts...............and nearly all of which are totally unfamiliar to me!

conclusion

If Bradley's are your thing then this set is for you! As you can see if you study the photographs it looks very extensive, and if fully installed it must make a stunning model................as for it's accuracy, I just hope Eduard have done their homework, so with that caveat I would recommend it!