Hi Guys.
Im interested in cold war period afvs from 1970s,89s and 90s particularly Reforger exercises.I like the earlier M2 Bradley and would be good to do one in Germany in mid to late 80s.Is it possible to build the version i like from the Tamiya M2a2 ODS kit?,Or is it the Academy m2 kit for my needs?.
Seasons greetings to all.
Richard
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If you don’t want to be doing extensive backdating on a more modern kit, AFAIK you will need the Tamiya M2 or M3 (easy enough to modify into an M2 if you don’t want the interior), or the Academy clones of these.
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Sounds like you need an original Tamiya M2 kit.
Check here for lots of info on Bradleys and what kits are out there for them.
I also did an M2 in REFORGER a few years ago.
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I happen to be building another from Reforger '85 right now, (well, other things have taken precedence lately but I should get back to it)
You can get the Tamiya kit for a steal, or if you don’t care as much about the interior you can purchase the Academy kit - it doesn’t have the decals for the interior.
This is a very fine example of what can be done with that old kit, by JJohnson59 here on Armorama. It includes most of the details people just leave off:
JJohnson59 didn’t even have the newest updates for it, which are fantastic. You can get road wheels, shocks, final drives and other assorted 3D printed goodies from Jacques Duquette on this site. I’ve used them and they are first rate.
I believe he may even be working on making all of the missing parts for the kit as I recently sent him the measurements - the swim barrier brackets for the hull, fire extinguisher pulls, and a better exhaust. Stay tuned for when he comes out with those.
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Yeah; the Tamiya (or Academy) M2 Bradley would be the best choice for an 80s/early 90s base M2.
Lots of work will be needed to make these period accurate (ask @18bravo for his IFV wisdom).
But with some work, it’ll make a great build.
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It’s the one in your last photo I happen to be doing. 
By the way, thanks to Johnnych01 for the German figure in the overwhites.
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Thank you all kindly gents.Im not one for mega detailing.Hoping to do a homage to my modelling idol Francois Verlinden.Im not a lover of P.E as Jakko knows( I hate the stuff).Im more a plastic card etc bodger.But sometimes we must challenge ourselves i guess.
Appreciate your help.Seasons greetings to all.
Richard
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One of the Verlinden Way books has an article about the Bradley (Volume IV, off the top of my head — it’s got a photo of it on the cover) and does show how to do some detailling on the Tamiya kit. May be worth checking out 
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I’d be interested to see if it has the same corrections I’ve been working on. A lot of little things can really make a difference.
Edit: D’oh! It says it right there on the cover.
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Given that the book was published a while back, your level of corrections may be well better than what was done back then.
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I never purchased any of his books, although I’ve seen a few. I always felt like they demonstrated the “Verlinden Way” of weathering and face painting more than scratch building.
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But I’ve been following your “OG Bradley” build and you’ve done a smashing job making the otherwise plain Tamiya kit look even better.
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Thank you. I’d been involved rebuilding an Iron Head Sportster motor, but as of this past weekend it is back in its owner’s hands.
I really need to start modeling again before something else distracts me, like aluminum smelting…
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Or copper/brass smelting. 
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Same device can do copper. I’ve had it in the cart but my wife said to read the reviews. I still have the raw ingredients to build one from a small propane tank. It would have that “Look ma, I built it myself” charm.
Sorry Richard, (OP) that how things go on this forum. You just have to learn to roll with it.
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Yes, I’m working on those M2/M3 OG parts. Going to take a bit of work and I have a couple things before doing that work. More info to come (good stuff) over the next week or so…
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Ive ordered Francois Verlindens Volume 5 gents.We will see what he added to his model way back in the late 80s.Im sure a friend had this one and i seem to remember seeing Mr V adding anti slip texture with fine sand and blanking over the firing ports which would make it an M3 CFV?,Will let you know what the article has in store.Now to source a kit from E Bay.
Cheers guys.
Richard
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It is, thanks Volume V, not IV, it turns out — I didn’t feel like fetching my copy to check last night.
Nowhere near as many, of course — this is a book from 1987 I did just get the book, and here’s the extent of the corrections it shows:
Mainly the antislip texture and the steps/grab handles around the side skirts, plus some minor details in plastic card.
Mostly his methods of building dioramas, IMHO, and nearly all of the chapters that show how to actually detail or heavily convert models were by Robert De Craecker instead of François Verlinden. In general, the earlier the book, the better it is — the higher the volume number, the more it becomes a showcase for Verlinden’s own products. By this volume, pretty much everything in a diorama that isn’t a plastic kit or basic groundwork, is made by VP.
BTW, if anybody has a copy of the original Verlinden Way (volume I, though it doesn’t say that on the cover) that needs a good home, please let me know
I could have scanned the relevant chapter for you … (Still can, if you want to cancel the order? Though really, the scan I already posted above is all of the additions it shows.)
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Thanks Jakko.Its already on its way mate.I like looking back at these books from my late teens.I.used to read and study them over and over and get inspired.It was great what he could achieve in the early 1980s before his stuff became available.In his selected diorama works its all Tamiya and Italeri conversions figures and all.Im now friends with him on Facebook and he messaged me and said he liked to get things done without loads of etch.He said sometimes keep it simple but always enjoy.I know his update sets had etch but i guess its what the modelling market wanted.
Cheers pal.All the best.
Richard
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