Hi all,
I just finished my Tamiya M2 Bradley. This is the old 80’s kit. The model was built OOB. This was a fun kit to build and I recommend it if you want a relaxing, easy build. I was amazed the number of decals though. The model and figure were painted and weathered with Tamiya Acrylic paints. Thanks for looking. Comments are always welcomed.
-Jesse
Looks pretty darn good from here. I think it come out very nice ,I like the wood base,did you make that or buy it ? I think i just bought that same kit,did you have any problems or things to watch out for ?
Thanks. The wood base is from Michaels. I just gave it a light sanding and stained it. There weren’t any real problems with the kit. It went together great. I did have a small issue with paint flaking off of the tracks. I primed them first with Tamiya Lacquer primer and sprayed them with acrylic paint. The paint still flaked off, the primer too. Other than that, it was a great, easy build.
-Jesse
Very, very nice, Jesse! The interior looks great, and it’s nice to see one of these up–we don’t see it that often, and not in OD much either if we do.
I’m gonna admit my “pet peeve” here, but I wish ya put some light sand or dirt down on that bare plaque to put the model on and portray it more 'in it’s element" Don’t take offense, I give everybody the same suggestion! [:-^][:D]
All in all though, the portrayal with the little emblem and label works just fine–where do you get that little “Bradley” emblem from anyway? It’s a cool little addition!
Thanks doog. I tend to stay away from dioramas because I don’t have any way to keep the dust off of them. I plan on getting a bookcase with glass doors but money’s a little tight right now.
The label and emblem, believe it or not, are cut off the box. I sanded the corners of the label to give that rounded look. I blackened the edge of the emblem with a Sharpie. Orginally, I was actually just using them for placement until I had better ones made. Then I thought “That doesn’t look too bad. And it’s cheap and easy”. And there you go. On the side of the box is color photograph of this actual Bradley, markings and all. I cut that photo out and placed in a homemade frame behind the model. I’ll see if I can get a picture of it.
Jesse
Here’s the whole display. Noticed the pic in background.
BRILLIANT! I never would’ve thought of that! Great idea with the pic, too!
Very nice work! I like your display method as well. You used only Tamiya paints on this?
Thanks stikpusher,
Yup, all Tamiya paints: Tamiya Primer and Tamiya Acrylic paints. I also used Tamiya’s Weathering Sets to do the weathering.
Jesse
ooh eye candy, fantastic job usmc. I am building the same kit and i am going nuts about the interior. Well done
Very nice! Interior looks great as well!
OK, if I have to nitpick, I saw ONE thing. And I know it is Tamiya, and not you. The stowed TOW rounds have a blue and yellow stripe. This is incorrect. Blue is for an inert warhead, Yellow for a live HEAT warhead. Either one is at the nose end of the missile container depending upon the type of missile, live or practice, enclosed. The rear end has a Brown stripe to indicate a live rocket motor. Again, not to detract from your great build here.
Who said being combat arms has no application outside the military?[swg]
Looks like you did a great job on it. Nice display too, but I agree on the dirt. It looks more in its element to me if it has some sort of dirt or sand on the base. Also, the openings on the TOW tube should be flat black, not white or silver as Tamiya tells you to paint them.
Actually the front opening on the TOW round can be white. It is just a piece of plastic film to keep out moisture, etc from the missile itself. During my days as a TOW gunner I had the opportunity to fire three live (2 HEAT, and 1 inert) missiles. All had the white plastic front.
Maybe newer ones are black. I have only seen them with black plastic.
Nice interior work. [tup] Love the OD outer. Everyone want to build a sand Bradley. We all forget they were OD first.
As far as the dirt on the base, I would agree with the others and it is my personal preference to make, at a minimum, “dirt”. But I will admit I do like your display, so with that I will clean up my dirt!! [swg]
Rounds Complete!!
Thanks for all of the kind replys. I really appreciate it. Now onto my DUKW.
-Jesse
Hay man you did a realy good job on that.[tup] You know the Academy kit an the Tamiya kit’s look just the same, all your pix of the start of work just before youpainted it look just my kit.
It’s a Conspiracy I tell you!! [(-D]
Here’s a link to my work Oh an I’m all so on the Modern GB.
Looks good to me and I like it a lot. Sorry I cannot give any other useful comments.[:D]
I had the Academy kit too. I believe Academy did copy Tamiya’s kit. Only mine didn’t include the interior but did include 4 soldiers which were clearly copies of Tamiya’s Modern Infantryman Set. I will say the Academy kit was not nearly as well molded as Tamiya’s. There was flash everywhere.
Thanks for the comments,
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
Academy cloned both of Tamiya’s early Bradleys. The M2 had the interior and the M3 had the troops. It sounds like you had the M3 kit.