Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Land => Topic started by: raafif on October 13, 2012, 08:15:39 AM
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Many years ago in the real world, the IDF wanted a replacement for their ageing M-113 APCs and trialed a few promising foreign designs like the West German Marder & the M2 Bradley. The Marder proved too expensive & too small while the Bradley fell short in its weak suspension & poor armour -- they stuck with the M-113 & designed their own (interim) Heavy APC, the Achzarit. An upgrade armour-package was designed for the Bradley in response to this trial but it was, much later, only used on US Bradleys for a short time.
After news of a possible IDF Bradley APC surfaced, I started this project with a Tamiya Bradley kit. I ditched the turret, intending to mount either a doghouse plus armoured window-shields at the back or just a remote OWS, leaving the rear top-hatch free for firing shoulder ATGWs if tanks were encountered. First I did some basic assembly then plated over the turret-hole using a trimmed lower floor-plate from an AFV Club M-548. The rear top-hatch, like the real development Bradleys, had Blazer armour panels added from an Esci IDF M-60 kit. I added twin fuel-cells (4 x Academy M-113 units) to the rear, detailing them with a Merkava bin & comms box. I then added a large set of folding armour-plate doors (upper floor from the same AFV Club M-548 kit) for the engine bay similar to the IDF's M-113 Zeldas.
I wondered about possible up-armour packages for the sides and initially considered the actual box-armour package later used by the US Army but no after-market was available then (now done by Blast). Something along the lines of the type fitted to other IDF vehicles would suit but found nothing available in my spares box that I considered good & didn't at that time have access to more of AEF's resin bits, so put the project aside pending further thoughts.
Move on 10 years .....
I recently got Trumpeter's BMP-3 with upgrade armour but decided to do it without the ERA as I couldn't find any real-life reference to it on any BMP-3 but the standard vehicle looked good, so that freed the armour package for this project. I found that the packages were a bit short for a Bradley but otherwise fitted well. After a few weeks contemplating the fit, I dove in & just stuck them on, hoping I'd find other suitable bits to fill the gaps. The BMP-3 front up-grade section (cut in half) was the correct length for the shortfall over the lower drive-sprocket area each side & I had various box shaped parts of the right size in the spares bin to fill out other areas. Coupled with the remains of Blazer armour from the old Esci IDF M-60 kit, this largely covered the vehicle in ERA.
For an extended IDF-style exhaust-pipe, I cut a length of straight sprue from one of the trees & very carefully bent it in three places using bull-nosed pliers with the jaws cushioned with rubber. I then added a small reinforcing patch to the top bend, drilled out the end of the pipe and added a spare heat-shield from an IDF Zelda kit.
I cancelled the dog-house & rear FN / shields idea as they were more a "patrol & security" thing & stuck with the pure Battle-field Taxi concept so I only robbed the rear OWS mg for the roof from a Marder kit for limited self-defence ....
This is my fourth build in 2 months and the first resurrection of one of my old, old projects -- two are presently stalled for paint so this may be the first to actually get finished ...
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1149.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1150.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1151.jpg)
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That definatley has the typical IDF look :icon_beer: I love Israeli stuff, they're such great recyclers of weapons and equipment and aren't afraid to try things, perfect for whifs.
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Wow. I suppose it will look different with the wheels/treads on, but from certain angles, you can't even tell it's a Bradley. Very nice.
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Whoa! :icon_surprised: Wicked project!
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Those cute exhausts are the cherry on top for me.
Nice work, raafif!
Brian da Basher
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Antigravity hoverarmor ?
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Looking forward to seeing this done as I like upgrading armoured vehicles and tanks myself.
chris
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Love this idea! It is neat to know that currently the US ARMY is field testing a version of the merkava based IFV called the NAMER! I always thought the IDF put lots of effort into crew protection in their designs of APCs! How cool would a Abrams based APC be????
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Antigravity hoverarmor ?
He has yet to install the tracks on the model. If you look close in the first image you will see one of the drive sprockets peeking out at you. :)
Love this idea! It is neat to know that currently the US ARMY is field testing a version of the merkava based IFV called the NAMER! I always thought the IDF put lots of effort into crew protection in their designs of APCs! How cool would a Abrams based APC be????
Hopefully the engine and drive train would be mounted at the front of the vehicle. Only makes sense that way otherwise all of that hopping over the side would get old real fast. :)
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It would defintaely require a Merkava style Layout! That was the problem they had with the Achzarit! They left the engine in the rear and you had to lift a clamshell rear hatch and climb cover the final drives.
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I'm liking the look of this! :)
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I've really been enjoying getting this project back on the road :icon_music: -- a bit more work done ....
Re-worked the ex-Marder remote-MG station with large ammo-bin & feed-guide around the back plus a few Blazer blocks and I've added the front headlight clusters.
Sprayed the vehicle with my own mix of IDF Sinai-Grey (Testors RAF interior-green + greys). I'll have to fix up a paint-run on the front panels a second time as the paint went on too thick at first & I didn't sand back a large-enough area for the re-spray.
Painted the wheels & fitted them .... Note to self :- put the wheels on before the extra armour-panels next time !! :-[ I've only slipped the tracks on to take these pics - will fit them permanently later.
Not sure about what's next, have to finish off the exhaust pipe and add some tools (& rucksacks ??) etc to the upper rear-side panels. Also need to add the front grenade-launcher boxes ..... old or new style ???
Maybe I'll add a couple of unit insignia decals, then weather it with various light greys .....
cheers Ray
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1152.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1153.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1154.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1155.jpg)
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Looks great.
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Oh nice.... :-* :-*
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It is! I especially like you re-use of a now all but unrecognizable Marder RWS :)
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Way cool! :)
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short update .....
added more Blazer armour blocks -- this model has now used up the entire set of blocks from the the IDF M-60 & 90% of the add-on armour from the BMP-3 kits plus a few other assorted & improvised blocks --- this beast's up-armouring must easily be the equal of the IDF's latest MBT-based vehicles !!
I've added some tools, odds'n'sods & the grenade-launchers on the front ....... currently working on making the anti-mine devices ("Droid" & various "Spike" detectors) .....
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1163.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1164.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1165.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1166.jpg)
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Looking good!
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i really like tyhe blocky look of all the extra armour!
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spent the last few hours building the Droid & spike antennas ....
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1169.jpg)
duplicate set of parts to build a 2nd droid for another project.
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This has a great look, it just fits together so well
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Added the spike-aerial, Droid to the roof & also some small detector-aerials to the smoke-grenade boxes. Then a final coat of Sinai-Grey & some very-light weathering. Apart from MBTs, newer IDF vehicles don't seem to carry any markings at all so I'm calling this done ...
This is the fastest, & one of the two most enjoyable builds, I've ever done ! 8)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1190.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1191.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1192.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1193.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1194.jpg)
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Looking good
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Interesting but I liked it better as a "hovercraft"...
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Interesting but I liked it better as a "hovercraft"...
Especially when it was full of eels.
Seriously though, I can tell you had a blast building this because it shows in the seemingly flawless presentation, raafif!
Your work on the exhaust is especially impressive!
Brian da Basher
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Excellent build. And the 'Droid' really does make it look like a spaceship! :)
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Gotta say "I love it!" Definitely looks like something the Israelis would throw together!
Great build, man! :)
Cheers!
Guy
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This is an awesome job. Inspires me to build the AFV from a M60 hull. Not meant to be a battle taxi but an urban fighting vehicle.
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That is a truly impressive build and has that IDF ´we've just hacked this out of a solid block of armour then covered it in ERA for good measure´ look about it! Well done indeed. :)
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thanks guys. keep an eye out for some other projects that are progressing fast now .... tho they may be delayed later as I **just have to** open/start 2 new kits when they arrive :icon_crap:
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Hi,
this is a very neat built and great looking model!
Regards
Roland