Ok this is primarily for Gino since he’s the resident Bradley expert that I know of. I have Academy’s M2A2 Bradley, and I am starting to build it. I know the tracks are goofy, as the tread blocks are backward. What kind of detail can I add to this bugger? Updates and things of that nature as well? I would like to add an interior to it, but I’m not going to cannibalize another kit, or spend 60 bucks on an AM interior. I was thinking of scratching most of it. Any idea’s for drawings and reference for doing so? Any help would be appreciated. I kind of want to detail this thing out.
Hey fantacmet, if you go on www.half.com, you can get Steven Zaloga’s excellent book “THe Bradley Fighting Vehicle” (just enter it into the search) which has 4 full color interior photos of the interior, for .99 cents! That’s the best book I know of right now; I have one, but I’m selling it in a lot of 9 books of various subjects on ebay, otherwise I’d offer that to ya.
I know you said you don’t want to hack another kit to get an interior, but it is the simplest and cheapest way. Academy’s earlier Bradley kit (#1335) shouldn’t cost more than about $20.00 and at the end of the day, you still have the complete “exterior” kit to build. This will give you the original interior configuration with individual seats, which is still correct for earlier M2A2s. Later builds and rebuilds/upgrades have bench seating along the sides.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you might consider adding the ERA kit, which is available from a number of manufacturers (or if really adventurous, it doesn’t look terribly difficult to scratch the blocks).
To my way of thinking, if I were to get the other kit to use the interior from I would just throw this one which I paid too much for in the garbage, and just build the other one. Plus one must practice scratchbuilding skills in order to get them. An interior is perect, as if you botch it, well no problem, just stop where you are, and close it all up, so it can’t be seen. Then you can claim truthfully that you put an interior in it. You wanted one in there so YOU know it’s there, but all the guys are hiding out inside as there was a really nasty giant lizard around that the gun was having no effect on and he looked hungry.
I would need all the details as to what else woudl need to be changed to put on that ERA kit. Although that is something I considered. I can’t see spending that kind of money for an AM set for it. Although my punch and die set which I made myself doesn’t go that small(not spending 40-60 bucks for a punch and die se tthat cost them less then 2 bucks to make), I coudl still amke the rivets by salami slicing the correct diameter rod. Once all was said and done I could cast it in resin myself. I would need some specifications for size, thickness, and space between the applique armor and the regular armor as well. Could be interesting though.
However at least if I try the interior, and I botch it, I can close it up. If I botch that armor job, well I’ve pretty much screwed up the whole kit. I will be ckecing out those photo’s. Measurements of things would still be good though. Although I suppose I could always just measure the model itself, and some parts and then compare sizes and use my scale calculator I programmed to scale it all up, and thens cale down other items that I need to build, in order to get them the right size.
An interior can be built from scratch, but I too recommend the Academy M2 kit for the interior. Even if you want to do the later ODS bench seat interior, I would start with the Academy one as a base. You could also see if anyone has a spare interior they want to sell or trade. Check out the trade forums on Armorama or Missing Lynxs. You can find pictures of the interior on Prime Portal.
AFV Club makes a set of correct indi-link, modern square-block tracks for it too.
I don’t really mind spending the extra money, on some AM stuff, but I refuse to buy a whole other kit just to use a few parts from it. It’s not that I want to build a detailed M2A2 Bradley OIF, I just want a Bradley withs ome extra detail. At this point I can’t spare the extra 100+ bucks on the AM interior and other AM stuff. Altough I don’t mind spending $$ on AM parts(I picked up the Eduard cockpit detailing set for the Tamiya F-16CJ afterall). When I can I plan to pickup an AM interior for my Tiger(provided I don’t get it built before then LOL).
Doog the part about the lizard was claiming that if I botched the interior scratchbuilding I could just close it up and say there is a complete interior in there, and the Marines closed it up to hide fromt he Lizard.
Since it seems that the push is just to just buy another kit and use the interior from it, then I’m not going to bother, I’ll just build a closed up Bradley. At the least I would have liked to add some detail to the interior of the turrest, so I can have a hatch open and a Marine sitting there, but I suppose the suggestion is the same, buy another kit with the interior and scrap the kit, just to use the interior, which still defeats the purpose.
Anyway, Gino, thanks for the exterior accurization article, it will probably help quite a bit on fixing some exterior booboo’s. I will definately be bookmarking it.
Do as you will with the interior, like I said, it can be done. I scratched a complete turret interior and most of the troop compartment on my M7A2 B-FIST. I did use the floor, walls, turret surround, and smaller details from the Academy interior though.
There is no AM interior set to buy for the Bradley, other than the Eduard turret interior set. If you just want to show the turret hatches open, it will only set you back about $12 and is the complete turret interior. I highly recommend it. I have one for my next Brad build.
I don’t see buying the second kit for the interior as a waste either. Like Phil said, you still have another complete kit that you can build as well. To each their own though.
Yeah, but if I bought the other kit with the interior I’d just build it with the interior. LOL. This was the only Bradley on the shelf, save for some from questionable manufacturers, like that one I got robbed on of a BAD copy of Tamiya’s AAVP7, turned out to be garbage, nothing fit. The parts are just sitting in a bag some assembled. Although the tracks on it are very nice, the rest of it is garbage. Perhaps I can use some of the parts on something eventually so I’m hanging onto them.
The turret interior is only about 12 bucks? Count me in! I don’t suppose you have the part number or a link on where to buy it for that price? Just not rollmodels. I don’t really have anything against them, but their shipping/charging process is a bit funky and doesn’t work for me, given my limited funds, and the things that seem to pop up out of nowhere that end up needing the last bit of cash in my account. Perhaps it is time someone mae an AM interior for these beasts. Thought about scratchiing one and casting opcies Gino? Hint hint. I plan to do alot but not all of those things to accurize it from that article you posted up, which by the way is excellent and I thank you for the great resource. I think I am also going to cast the periscopes in clear resin, maybe tint the resin a bit as well. If I’d waited a few days before working onthat Hetzer I could hve done those periscopes in clear resin as well. Oh well hindsight as they say.
The Eduard Bradley Turret Interior set can be found at Great Models. It is pretty complete.
As to making and casting an interior for it, I think I will have to pass. It is too easy and cheap to get the interior from the Academy M2 Bradley. They can be found for about $10, or less, on eBay. I have also been able to trade for all I need on Armorama or Missing-Lynx as well. It would cost way more to cast and market it. It just isn’t worth it to me.
On another note, you can also get the whole Big Ed Bradley PE set from Great Models, which includes the full turret interior set, interior PE set, exterior PE set, and wheel masks, for about $26 as well.
Groovy, ordered and soon on the way. I hope. Thanks. I just have one more question, a bit of advice. Any idea’s how I should block off the rest of the interior? Just some sheet plastic painted black? Also is there a turret basket under the turret like on some tanks and such?
Once again Gino thanks for the help. I’m looking forward to this build. I need some modern armor on my shelf. I also picked up the Trumpeter Stryker tonight. Good looking kit.
There is a turret basket under it. The Eduard set is a complete turret. You probably don’t need to block off the rest of the turret area in the hull, the turret basket has side walls and is pretty much an enclosed cylinder.
Here is the one I scratch-built. The pipes that are sticking up attach to the opening on the turret ring. There is no space between the ring and the basket.
So is that baskey included in the interior kit? If not, what is the best place to look for reference to scratchbuild it? Also I notice yours is greem so I’m assuming that a light color like an offwhite would not be appropriate for the interior, like I was originally thinking?
The original Tamiya M2 and the Academy copy interiors include parts for the troop area and the driver’s area, as seen in the below pic and in my Bradley builds at my Photobucket site.
The turret basket is not in the kit. The Eduard turret interior set basically includes all that I have built above, and what goes in the turret itself. For pics, check out the pics at Prime Portal that are linked above. Also, here is an M2A3 Bradley walk-around too (it has the same basic interior and shows turret interior pics).
The interior color is a light green called Sea Foam Green. The closest out of the bottle matches are Tamiya Sky S and Testors Model Master Pale Green with a little white added.
I’ve found two academy M2 Bradleys on ebay, they both have the same kit number 1335, but different box art. I had asked one of the sellers if the thing came with an interior he said it didn’t. After looking more one of the ones with different box art but the same kit number does have an interior. Idea’s on this? The price on this bugger is right. I’ll go ahead and post the auction taking faith that my fellow builders wouldn’t yank this one from me. Although if it has no interior I am not interested. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330173894553&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:PIC&ih=014
The first one you have listed is the old original box art.
Looking at this listing, it shows the same box art, but with the box open and the contents visible. The interior parts sprue (brown) is visible just under the sprue holding the turret shell (tan).
As Phil says, they should both have the interior included. If one is missing it, Its probably because it was removed and used. I have always bought the newer, sand boxing.
I really didn’t realize they were this cheap. I mean 13 or 14 bucks total including shipping? That’s less then one would pay for an interior from Verlinden if they made one. I just can’t wait for an interior to come out for the Stryker.
which is available from a number of manufacturers (or if really adventurous, it doesn’t look terribly difficult to scratch the blocks).
