does anyone know if the current bradley in OIF is the A2 or A3 version? and correct me if i’m wrong, the only major things, (major), thing was the firing ports right? the A2 was the infantry version, and the A3 is the scout version…[%-)]
Both the M2A2 and M2A3 are Infantry Fighting Vehicles. The A3 has additional digital components inside for commo and situational awareness and also has a Commander’s Independant Thermal Viewer (CITV) mounted on the right rear of the turret. Both types have been/are used there, it depends on when you are talking about and with what unit.
The M3A2 is the Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (Scout). Is looks similar to an M2A2, but has the vision blocks on the rear on top of the roof hatch as opposed to on the hull sides and top. Internally it has a different layout as well. M3A2s have been/are used in Iraq as well
M2A2 IFV
M2A3 IFV (note: CITV on right rear of turret)
M3A2 CFV
Note the vision blocks on top of the roof hatch
ok got ya. thanks. i have the M2A2 kit then. so the firing ports are in operation in iraq with the M2A2 then. i confused the M2/M3 with the A2/A3 between infantry and cavalry. do you know of any makers that make a resin or brass TOW? i wanna try to make it with it firing the TOW, halfway out of the tube, with smoke coming out from the back. also, if PE from the warrior can be added on it. from what i know they don’t have a PE kit for the bradley. so are some compents the same on the warrior and bradley?
The firing ports were deleted on all versions of the Bradley when the A2 versions came about. No current version has them. There are no AM TOW rounds out there that I know of. There are a few PE sets for Bradley’s. Eduard does a couple sets, as well as Voyager and Lion Roar. Warrior PE will not work on it.
Also, which version of M2A2 do you have? The older Tamiya M2A2 (kit # 35152) is not really current for an OIF vehicle. The newer M2A2 ODS kit (35364) is good for an early OIF, 3ID Bradley. The Academy M2A2 OIF kit is a better, more complete M2A2 ODS, but it has incorrect, older chevron-block track. The track can be replaced by Tamiya vinyl ones, Fruils, or AFV Club’s new Bradley track set.
Here is a great article that shows the upgrades that were added after ODS ('90-'91) as lessons learned to make them more survivable. It also addresses some of the inaccuracies in the Tamiya kits. Some of the fixes will work on the Academy kit as well.
i’ve got the academy version #13205. i have a book about the bradley and i wanted to ask about the gun ports because i know some of them have been deleted, but the kit has them. i don’t think a PE set of a TOW would look good, so i would have to get some dimensions and scratchbuild one. i’m a little dissapointed that it has NO interior what so ever. so having the ramp open is out the question. so i wanted to do something with the TOW launcher open and a round half way out, being fired, with smoke coming out the back of it. i’m trying to find fruil tracks for it, without any luck. and i still haven’t found any PE for it. i’ll try the voyager and lion roar, but i thought i read somewhere that they didn’t make PE for the bradley…i’ll try looking anyway.
External PE for the M2A2 by Voyager: http://www.voyagermodel.com/products/WEB/35022%20index.htm
From memory, Eduard did some internal PE detail sets for the old Tamiya kit.
I am not sure if it will fit into the “new” Academy kit, but one of the old Academy M2 series kits (#1335) contained the same interior as the original Tamiya M2 Bradley (not surprising since they cloned the Tamiya kit). however this represents the “original” configuration with individual seats at each gun port position. Later M2A2’s have bench seating, but (and I am happy to be corrected here) I believe the original layout may be used for early M2A2’s.
I have the same Academy Bradley kit and there are no firing ports on the hull. The only firing ports are on the rear hatch, but they are not used. Some newer Bradleys have these deleted as well.
For an interior, if you can get one of the original Tamiya M2 kits (#35132), or the Academy copy of it (#1335), they both come with an interior. It will drop right into any of the M2A2 kits. It is O.K. for an older, rebuilt M2A2 ODS with individual troop seating. It is also a good start for a newer M2A2 ODS with bench seats in the back, like an M113. I have done a couple M2A2s with the older interiors in them or as a base for converting them.
Yup, the original troop seating is still seen on older, rebuilt M2A2 ODS vehicles. Most of the ones used by 3ID in the initial invasion were still in the older configuration.
Here are a couple I have built:
M7 B-FIST (Bradley Fires Integration Support Team vehicle)
More here.
M2A2 ODS 3 ID, OIF 1
More here.
thanks for the info phil, but since there is no detail what so ever inside the academy kit, and all the interior PE kits are from the earlier versions, and i would have to risk hoping everything would fit right, i’m just gonna try it with the TOW being fired, which i would HOPE the crew was smart enough to button up before firing, hence no more interior. [;)] thanks guys. any luck with the right fruil tracks?
Reread above and take a look at my builds. The older interiors give you plenty of detail and drop right in. They are great as a start to a super-detailed interior. The Eduard interior PE will also fit just fine on the original interiors, which is what they were designed for, and in the new Academy kit. Eduard does a full turret interior PE set as well.
looks great gino. absolutly beautiful. the attention to detail is amazing. deffinatly a reference for me to look at. [:D]
ok you gave me the address for the voyager model, where can i find the eduard kits? i also need to buy PE for a T-55, so i wanna knock out both at the same time, save on shipping and handling. at eduard.com they wanted to charge $30.00 S&H, i think it was out of the US.
Great Models sells Eduard PE sets. Here is their M2A2 Big Ed combo set. It includes wheel masks, interior, exterior, and the turret interior PE sets in one bundle. It is listed as being for the Tamiya kit, but will work just fine on the Academy kit as well.
thanks, appreciate it. you/ve been a great help. don’t mind if i use your pics as references do you? hehe [:D]
I would be honored if you use my pics as build referances.[:I][:I][:D]
thanks you sensei. hehe. thanks arty. for all the help and patience you are to us “new” modelers.
Just remember the M2 variant (including M2A2 and M2A3) still have the two rear ramp firing ports. The M3/A1/A2/A3 do not have firing ports on the ramp.
heres a couple pic of brads i used in OIF that show the back ports; we had the weapons for the ports reallt just a super fast M16 but hey never got used; M2A2 ODS-E the E is just for Engineer
