M2A2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle

James C
Something a little more modern for a change.
Decals have been sealed and am about ready to start dirtying it up a little.

Villiers de Vos
Coming along nicely.

James C
Thanks Villiers 🙂

John
A modern AFV? If you don't watch out, you'll be doing a Leclerc!

Villiers de Vos
Very nice paint work this far.

James C
Thanks guys 🙂

@ John - Funny you mention that, as I was only looking at my Tamiya Leclerc kit last week, but undecided if I will paint it in a standard NATO scheme or French desert camo of sand and brown instead. 😉

Hoping to get the tracks weathered and mounted today along with the side armor panels as well.

John
Well, if you don't want to go full modern, maybe compromise with a Korean war Centurion. 😉

Although a sand-and-brown Leclerc sounds pretty cool.

James C
Thanks John and yeah, I'm leaning towards doing the desert camo on the Leclerc.
As for the Centurion, I've got the AFV Club kit of an Aussie unit from Vietnam 😉

I got quite a bit more done on the Bradley today, with the tracks and side armor installed along with the replacement head and tail lights by SKP models.
Nearing the end on this one now with just a little more weathering left to do, along with the assorted stowage items.

Then remove the random bits of cotton bud fibers that I've just noticed in the pics.
Grrrrrrrr 😳 😠

John
Better than cat hairs in your clear coat. Talk about a grrrrr. Ask me how I know...

James C
Haha.... been there and done that!!

James C
The Tamiya M2 Bradley kit was first released back in 1985, and has had a number of re-releases over the years since then with replacement and/or additional parts.
In 1991, replacement side armor panels were first included to better represent units that were deployed to Iraq.

Then it was re-released again in 2003 (which is represented with this build) only this time including an additional sprue containing external stowage items that is one of the two identical sprues that is contained within Tamiya's Modern US Military Equipment Set "MM-266" (minus the paper sheet of MRE cartons)

Given the age of the base kit, it still assembles very nicely and has some good detailing as well as rubber tracks that can be joined using ordinary plastic cement. The TOW missile launcher pod can be posed in either stowed (folded down) or raised (ready to fire) positions. The addition of the external stowage items is a very nice touch, and even if not used, will be handy to keep in the spares bin.
The kit also includes six different marking options to choose from... including three NATO schemes (one of which representing "KFOR" as deployed in Kosovo) and three "Operation Desert Storm" schemes.

However, it does have a couple minor, albeit annoying issues in the form of holes on the bottom of the lower hull tub that are a throwback to when Tamiya issued "motorized" kits in 1/35 scale. To be fair, they are on the bottom, and so won't be seen, but I always like to take the time to plug them off before painting.
The other issue is that Tamiya have curiously omitted the parts that make up the interior detailing of the drivers position and main crew compartment that were included in the original 1985 kit.

So while you can still opt to pose the large rear loading ramp (or smaller crew entry door) opened, it is a bit pointless unless you decide to scratch-build your own interior, or go the after market route which makes it a little too pricey.

Although I'm not expert on the M2 Bradley (far from it) the kit still looks fine as an external display model, but has since been surpassed in both quality and detailing with more recent offerings by the likes of Meng, Kinetic and Orochi etc, without having the need to look for an aftermarket components/upgrades.

Based on these observations, I'd still give it a solid 7 out of 10.
If you already have it in your stash, then just build it; but if you don't then I'd probably look elsewhere in the form of one of the much more recent Meng offerings etc.

Cheers!

For a good overview of the M2 Bradley:

Youtube Video

Neuling
Top result! And interesting infos. - I also would prefer the Meng Bradleys when having to decide on buying a new Bradley kit.

James C
Thanks mate 😉

Juskifo
Nice work J

Rui S
Nice work 👍

James C
Thanks guys 🙂

Simon Nagorsnik
Hey, cool Bradley!
I could use that as motivation to finish building mine;)
However, nice work here👍

James C
Thanks Simon 🙂

Murad ÖZER
that's lovely Bradley James also the stowage adds a lot to the overall "feel" of it.

Thomas K.
very nice! 👍

James C
Thanks Murad & Thomas 🙂

Darren Hillman
Nicely done..! 👍🏻

Robin (WhiteGlint)
Damn fine work there, mate 😎👍

James C
Thanks Darren & Robin, much appreciated 🙂