M2/M3 Bradley Reference

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Another Bradley option.

US Bradleys on their way to Ukraine; initially a total of 109 shipped.

They will be M2A2 ODS-SA IFVs, M3A2 ODS-SA CFVs, and M7A2-SA Brads w/T161 tracks. These are M2A2 ODS Brads with added digital architecture from the M2A3, but no CITV. It does have the driver’s camera and digital instrument panel, etc. Not sure yet if it has the rear blast seats like an A3, but they probably do. They do, see below.

Driver’s Viewer camera on ones going to Ukraine.

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Ukraine-bound Bradleys in Mannheim, Germany

EDIT - Found some more info on the M2A2 ODS-SA. They do have the new blast-resistant seating and the rear rubber floor, like in the Meng kits.

M2A2 ODS SA w/new seats and rubber floor.

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They are also getting M3A2 ODS-SA and a few (4) M7A2-SA BFIST.

M3A2 ODS-SA CFV with new seats and rubber floor.
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M7A2-SA BFIST, no Cdr’s Thermal Viewer.

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There are a couple ways to build one, depending on which version (IFV, CFV, or BFIST) you want to build.

  1. M2A2 ODS-SA ICV

  • Option 1 - Use Academy’s M2A2 “Iraq 2003” kit (13205) and you have to do some kit-bashing with parts from Kinetic’s M3A3 CFV kit (61014 or 61016). You would need Academy’s kit since it is a new-build M2A2 ODS. Change out the running gear and tracks from the Kinetic kit (61016, has the T161 tracks and square-block Bigfoot tracks). Do not add the hinges for the swim barrier on the front slope (parts F20 x2) and remove the hinge part on F22 (triangles in front of the handle at the center). Add the newer ammo stowage boxes on the back of the turret basket, thicker gunner’s hatch, new front mud guards, and newer Gunner’s Primary Sight box (cut off molded on one), and driver’s viewer parts from Kinetic. I would replace the whole TOW box w/the Kinetic one as well since it is just better detailed. There are many other parts that could be used off the Kinetic kit since it is generally better detailed. The box on top of the Gunner’s Primary Sight box is for an FBCB2 (digital tracking system) antenna and could be sourced form one of the Meng kits or some of the PE sets from Voyager. On the interior, they would have the blast seats down each side and rubber flooring as in the Meng M2A3 kit (you can use the whole Meng interior).

  • Option 2 - Use the Kinetic M3A3 kit and follow the below method for an M2A3 ODS-SA but graft the Academy (or Tamiya) M2A2 rear roof section onto it. I did this a while ago w/a Meng M3A3 to backdate it to an OIF M2A2 ODS. You would also need to lengthen or change out the rear turret storage basket as described below and add back the three periscopes on the rear sides (1 left, 2 right; seen below on the Meng hull), but that is about all. How I did it w/a Meng M3A3 hull. Disregard steps 2 and 3.

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  1. M3A2 ODS-SA CFV - Use the Kinetic M3A3 kit (61014 or 61016) and you would still require some work. You would need to leave off all the ERA and mounting hardware, fill all the holes from the ERA with bolt heads, leave off TC’s shields, and leave off the whole CITV assembly. The one piece that needs extra attention is the rear storage basket. It needs to be full length to be an earlier A2 version, either replaced or extended where the CITV was. The box on top of the Gunner’s Primary Sight box is for an FBCB2 (digital tracking system) antenna and could be sourced form one of the Meng kits or some of the PE sets from Voyager. On the interior, they would have the blast seats down one side and rubber flooring like the Meng M3A3 kit, you can use the entire Meng M3A3 interior kit (SPS017) on it.

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  2. M7A2-SA BFIST - Follow the above for an M3A2 ODS SA using the Kinetic M3A3 kit and swap out the TOW box for the Model Monkey BFIST Targeting head. Also add the extended rear light guards and additional antennas on them.
    1/35 M3A3 and M7A3 Bradley Fire Support Team “BFIST” Vehicle Sensor Box | Model Monkey (model-monkey.com)

  3. M2A2 / M3A2 ODS-SA w/ERA - Now that Bradleys in Ukraine are being seen with ERA on them (see link below), you can use the Meng kits mostly out of the box.
    M2A2 ODS-SA /M3A2 ODS-SA with ERA

  • M2A2 ODS-SA - On the Meng M2A3 kit leave off the whole CITV assembly. The one piece that needs extra attention is the rear storage basket. It needs to be full length to be an earlier A2 version, either replaced or extended where the CITV was. You would also need to replace the rear AC units with the standard stowage lockers from an earlier M2/M3 kit. The box on top of the Gunner’s Primary Sight box is for an FBCB2 (digital tracking system) antenna and is in the Meng kits. You will still need to source T161 tracks for it. All other parts, including the ERA panels are the same on the M2A2 ODS-SA Bradleys in Ukraine. The Meng M2A3 interior is correct out of the box.

  • M3A2 ODS-SA - On the M3A3 kit leave off the whole CITV assembly. The one piece that needs extra attention is the rear storage basket. It needs to be full length to be an earlier A2 version, either replaced or extended where the CITV was. The box on top of the Gunner’s Primary Sight box is for an FBCB2 (digital tracking system) antenna and is in the Meng kits. You will still need to source T161 tracks for it. All other parts, including the ERA panels are the same on the M2A3 ODS-SA Bradleys in Ukraine. The Meng M3A3 interior set is correct out of the box.

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