Post-Build Review: Magic Factory 1/35 Bradley M2A2 ODS-SA (Ukraine) -- BFiST Conversion
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
- Today we will review a new kit from a new manufacturer. Magic Factory is doing great work in modelling cool subjects with incredible detail, while maintaining a low-stress build.
Model Monkey's BFiST conversion: www.model-monkey.com/product-...
Thank you to Lightspeed Global for supplying this kit!
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DISCLAIMER: I am not paid to promote any specific products or brands; I just use the products I find work best for me through my experiences. There is no reason for me to promote a bad product, as then I would not enjoy using it, not like the result on my model, and not be proud of publicizing it in a video. There's also no point in me doing this to keep up relations with a company if the only benefit would be getting more of the same products that I didn't like. I have not used every product out there, but from what I have used, I keep using the products I like, and that's why I use them in my videos. You can use whatever other products you would like to and you can feel that they are better - that is your opinion, and is perfectly fine by me, thus I hope that feeling is reciprocated. - Jak na to + styl
Beyond what I mentioned in the video, regarding accuracy of the kit and a lack of clarity in the instructions, I would recommend doing some research into the configuration of vehicle you want to model with this kit. As the kit explains, you have the "standard" version and the "BRAT armour" version; the latter includes ERA on the hull, turret, and armoured glass panels for the commander. In reality, photos of these vehicles in Ukraine show hybrid configurations, with BRAT on the hull but not on the turret, or BRAT on both but no armoured glass present, and some vehicles have the taller glass panels introduced on the M2A3 (not included in the kit). You also have far more camouflage options than given in the kit, as many are still painted in CARC tan, or have green BRAT tiles, etc.
I am modelling one of the four BFiST delivered to Ukraine which have the hull and turret BRAT, but no armoured glass. The turret BRAT is left off for painting; it didn't dry-fit for the video, sorry.
Started building models in the early 70s and continued well into adulthood. But unfortunately I developed essential tremors in my hands so could no longer model. But I get my fix by watching excellent modellers like yourself on CZcams, so thank you very much. 🙂
I have an essential tremor. There are some things that help and I have been able to continue modeling.
@davidknights3878 I tried a few medications from the doctors, but none of them worked . Then he said a drink of alcohol before I'm going to do something delicate. Then, my liver blood test was not right, so I've been off the alcohol since June last year. Can't win. The worst thing is I've got everything ready to build an LRDG. vehicle, which I was really looking forward to. 😪
IMHO, these reviews are so much more useful than “in box” reviews, where you can share the positives and negatives of kits as you’ve experienced them. Keep up the great work, Evan.
Thank you George
It houses the G/VLLD, the ground vehicle laser locator designator. It's what the FO's use to designate smart munitions.
Got to field the bfist down at ft hood in 2002 when we ditched the fistv.
Nice job
Thank you for the information on the FS3 box!
Wow, your back!!! It's so good to see you here again mate, I've been inspired by your.builds for years and you truly are my favourite model builder on here.. keep them coming please!!! 👍
I really appreciate it Mikey! More to come for sure 😊
Very few people doing what you do - one of the best formats for kit reviews out there! Nice that you comment on the kit in detail, go over its strengths and weaknesses and discuss any corrections or additions. Now, let us see you paint that thing! 😉🙂👍
Great to hear your thoughts of this brand new kit, that is very much appreciated!
Looks like a stunning model and should be tons of fun to build up, your fast pace is a good indicator of that. Definately one i will keep in mind.
Now they should bring us a new Marder IFV, that would be neat :) The Revell and Tamiya kits are very dated now.
Thank you Michael! A new Marder would be something neat for sure.
So enjoy watching and learning from your videos!
Glad you like them!
Very interesting and right up my street. I was curious about this manufacturer
looks nice built, I just got the kit it looks loverly so nice to hear you had no real issues with it
Great review. Detailed and relevant.
Glad you liked it!
Looks very nice. Thx for showing
My pleasure 😊
Evan! I enjoyed this video and think both yours and Clayton's takes are very supplemental to each other. Great work!
Thanks so much!
Good review! I’m just getting through the running gear on mine but absolutely thing your take is spot on.
Cheers Jon. Mine is painted now. Decals and wash tomorrow I hope...
A highly anticipated model, thanks!
Thank you Chris!
I waa a dismount and gunner on a M2A2 and a M2A2 ODS. So I'm pretty picky. It looks the part. One thing that makes me chuckle is the wheel mask. Its sprayed with a spray gun and the over spray tends to flak and rub off the rubber of the wheels. The big engine mesh? Everyone uses it as a platform. So you get all kinds of stains and scratches on it. It also akways haa a nuce oil/grease stain from the front back. Lots of spent 7.62 rounds tend to be all around the screen. The 25mm sprnt rounds tend to bounce and get stuck along the side skirts and and the hull. If anyone is building this kit with any of the side skirts up? They are double plated with about a fist wide gap between the plates. If you put one skirt or all up, the crew removes them then flips the plares upside down and bolts it back to the hull. Hope that all hopes.
Thank you for all this detail. I am keeping this in mind while I paint the model. Do the belt links for the 25mm eject out the side where the 7.62 casings eject? The 25mm casings eject out the front. But I've found some photos with the 25mm belt links all over the right edge of the engine deck, so that's why I am curious.
@@Panzermeister36 they can. Its been awhile. I had a stiff brush that after shooting, i would sweep the spent casings off the upper hull around the turret. The bigger 25mm shells tend to roll off when we were moving. Not all the time, but most of the time. One thing that no one makes are the 25mm ammo crates. They are like the black 40mm ones but larger. I bet at least one Bradley crew in Ukraine has a empty one in their rear basket for storage. Every Bradley I was on, i put one up there. Or in the basket. Another thing is the 7.62 ammo box carriers on the rear of the turret? No one uses those things. Not. Even Ukrainian Bradley crews. Lol. Oh and both the spent shells and belt links are all over the place. Its been years so probably the 25mm casing would be on the engine screen. But I know i swept everything off. As a crew member, i kept the vision ports clear and all the shell casing off the upper hull. The driver took care of the lower hull. The commander was the radios. Of course as a gunner,mine would be the ammunition, TOW, and weapon systems. Cool trivia. The 25mm main gun is 4 parts. The barrel, upper and lower receiver and the chains. When the Bradley was in the motor pool, i would take the coax and the chains to the arms room. The chains fit in a 50 cal ammo box. The box had the bumper number of my vehicle and it was usually painted red with white numbers. I bet Ukrainian gunners were taught that from when they were in training.
Clean build!
Nice video, Evan! Well done.
Thank you!
Looking good Evan
Just ordered m2a2 thanks 😊
Hope you enjoy it!
Nice work, Evan, beautifully done as always. Great subject, the early Bradley variant has certainly been put to good use in Ukraine.
looks to be a a great kit nice job
Thanks for sharing eh! Enjoy your weekend ✌🏻🇨🇦✌🏻
Thanks James, you too!
Go for the Ukraine version. I modified an old Tamiya M2 to use with a Border Leopard Ukraine on a diorama. I enjoyed the digital camo scheme. You won't be canceled!
I'm finishing up masking the digital camouflage pattern as we speak!
Slava UA! :)
Thank you - this kit looks great. Normally i am used to see STUGs here around ;) I am really looking forward to the digital camouflage. Are planning to do a video about it?
Yes I will. In fact as I write this I'm about to spray the primer on it 😁
:) Cool!
Nice one, Evan! But why would you worry about being cancelled?
I'm really just joking there, but there's always people who will take a model to be a political statement. The ongoing war is a hot topic on the internet. My video shouldn't get enough views to become the target of some bot spam 😛
@@Panzermeister36 Ahh, I see. If you want to, I can start one 😁
It'll boost my meagre ad revenue if anything 😁
Yes. Blue Force Tracker is left off of Ukrainian received Bradleys due to the possibility of falling into enemy hands in active combat.
You should do a diorama as the Bradley actually ends up in the Ukraine.
Hey!
AFAIK Corsair from MF is with totally wrong rivet pattern.
Haven't checked myself and I probably wouldn't care that much, but still, if that is the case, it can be hardly acceptable for many.
But other than that MF rulz!
If you haven't checked yourself, it's not wise to just say AFAIK.
Not to stray too far from the video - the MF Corsair is a nice build. Honestly don't care about the rivets. SMH. 🙄
This is the best bradley with no interior on the market , the detail is next level , the suspension is mid , compare this to RFM suspension (this means you have to pay extreme attention when gluing the suspension arms) , follow the instructions and as the creator of the video said do your research i made 3 small fixable mistakes cause I didn't follow the instructions and didn't do research . Detail 9.5/10 (by far the best bradley) , 8.5/10 fit (perfect fit is possible but it needs work) , plastic 9/10 (the plastic is good its hard plastic but easily cuttable)
Great points! It is an excellent kit. I am just finishing the weathering this week.
For comparison the leopard 2+++s of RFM is 10/10 detail with the upgrade pack , 9.5/10 fit and 8.5/10 plastic (too soft not easily cuttable you have to use hand power)
I really like your way of leaving the tracks and wheels for painting , I wish I had thought of that my way is not as good :D thanks for content , sub and like 👍
Will we get these kits in Australian? That not your problem supply here is poor great review looking forward to get one when I can. Thanks
I thought you Aussies had an easier time getting these kits being closer to Japan/China where they are manufactured. The kit should be on the market now from standard distributors.
What's going on with those wheels? they only run on the back side of the tracks, where's the front halves?
I mentioned at the beginning that I've left off the outer half for easier painting of the rubber.
@@Panzermeister36 apologies not sure how I missed that and even at the end of the vid they hadn't appeared. 😅eagerly awaiting the next clip.
No worries. It's a good question. The inner wheels are glued onto the suspension and I'll brush paint what little rubber will be seen. For the outer wheels I'll use the spray mask that was included in the kit. That will be shown when I paint it in another video 👍
Hey Evan......PLEASE BEEN BACK THE HO TRAIN WEATHERING PROJECT SERIES!!!!
Thx
-Alex K. "The EL Guy"
I will have another video on that topic again soon.
Mm, add-on armor ❤ I always love kits with all sorts of add on's, as they make model look more menesing, huge, bulky. Thanks for rewiev 🫡
Yeah the Bradley does look good with all that BRAT armour! I'm looking forward to painting this soon.
Xaxaxa, Bradley is deathtrap
The entirety of Russia is a death trap, really
its not destroyed.. so its wrong lmao
Haven't seen a destroyed BFiST yet.
"its" what?
I believe magic factory "sits" where takom and BM do. Their Corsair has the exact same level of detailing BM provide on their 1/35 aircraft, and sprew markings are done in the same manner
The quality of molding here is far better than Takom and Border Model. In my experience Border has often a lot of flash, and Takom has huge sprue gates connecting to the parts. This kit is much better engineered and refined. Similarities in the sprue markings may simply mean that the factory that is contracted to produce the molds that Magic Factory has engineered is the same factory used by others. These companies, apart from Tamiya, don't usually own an actual injection molding facility.
@@Panzermeister36 It honestly depends on how "fresh" the kit is. My Nashorn from BM has no flash whatsoever, however Pz.IV H that comes with a set of tank riders has quite a lot. I also own both Hummels they released recently and some parts those sets inherited from Panzer IVs look definitely worse than newly tooled Hummel parts, soapy in some places, even. I also own basically every 1/35 aircraft BM released thus far and can attest that the quality of each kit, in every aspect, is simply pristine. The plastic all three Firms are using is very similar too, and I know for a fact (from one of the local hobby shop owners) that BM and Takom operate at the same facility. Kit engineering is honestly a whole separate topic, as it can differ VASTLY within a single manufacturer: MiniArt has many well-engineered (although still more complex than most would like) kits, such as British AEC armoured cars, yet valentines have God awful, illogical anatomy and can be a pain in the butt to build.
Just remembered: I managed to buy one of Takom's latest Zimmerit tigers from what seems to be their first batch, and I have to point out that the overall quality has really been upped. It goes together well too, only tracks remain to be improved, really. I found minor flash on the tool clamps, but that's really it, additionally all seams are quite subtle.
It's all speculation anyways though, not on an important matter either, and I have to admit I have not seen neither of their Bradleys personally, but I have hard time believing that the molding is 'superior by far' to aforementioned tiger I or BM aircraft. I fully agree with the point you made on sprew gates, and as per flash, yeah, heavily depends on the batch number and mould condition.
If you've made it thus far: are you ever planning on building any full interior StuGs in the future? I'd love to see you tackle another one...
Stay safe and keep them brass toothpicks sharp!
I'll get back to you on that.
@@Panzermeister36 Roger that
@@intensiveintensives4887sorry for getting back to you late. I'm glad the new Takom tiger is so impressive...a tiger is on my list to do soon. As for StuGs with interiors, I will do one some day but not soon. Full interiors often drain my energy to work on a project as they're a real hassle to paint; I like to build it all and then paint it all, but with an interior you have to go back and forth a lot. I would also pick a MiniArt kit for that since the RFM kit (which is better overall) has pin marks all over the inside. MiniArt does not, so I would go for their boxings which have a ton of parts and softer plastic.