Thank you everyone,
This post is for the
interior core structure, minus all the details.
In addition to the Meng kit which has a very basic
interior, i am able to get more clear details on the M3A3 on Prime Portal and on the Sabot Publications wall around book. Of special interest are the bolted-on additional
interior armor, core turret cage with its opening sliding door, the racks for the TOW missiles on the right, and the shelves along the corridor to the front of the vehicle. Various very large boxes not native to the Bradley are positioned by the crew on the sides. After comparing references, it is clear that not all Bradley M3A3 are looking the same, they show differences in detailed features and crew configuration. The
interior arrangement is also very different between the M3A1, A2 and A3.
The idea is not to be overwhelmed, nor take 2 years to complete the
interior. The goal is to have something interesting to look at when the rear ramp is lowered. Need to take one component are a time and do them in a telescopic fashion.
- M3A3 Bradley US Cavalry Fighting Vehicle - RC 1/16 Build
- Capture26.JPG (91.87 KiB) Viewed 1798 times
- M3A3 Bradley US Cavalry Fighting Vehicle - RC 1/16 Build
- Capture25.JPG (68.47 KiB) Viewed 1798 times
First task is to remove all the braces where required and make all the calculations relative to the
interior bolted-on armor, and create the floor base.
- M3A3 Bradley US Cavalry Fighting Vehicle - RC 1/16 Build
- Capture3.JPG (203.16 KiB) Viewed 1810 times
- M3A3 Bradley US Cavalry Fighting Vehicle - RC 1/16 Build
- Capture4.JPG (162.43 KiB) Viewed 1810 times
Second task was to find the solution for the turret cage. After going into a scavenger hunt inside the house and finding nothing, a trip to the hardware store provided the solution, a white plastic tube section from the pipe department that seem to fit the dimensions required. I bought two in case i screw up, and these for just a few dollars.
- M3A3 Bradley US Cavalry Fighting Vehicle - RC 1/16 Build
- Capture5.JPG (159.92 KiB) Viewed 1810 times
Perfect width of 89 mm, exactly what i needed.
- M3A3 Bradley US Cavalry Fighting Vehicle - RC 1/16 Build
- Capture6.JPG (187.96 KiB) Viewed 1810 times
Starting modifications. Some plastic roundels were created and added to the top of the cage is order to reach the dimension of the turret rotation ring guard above it, so that the rim of the rotation gear guard fits perfectly on the cage when the upper hull slides in place. Those rings were given the Dremel treatment in order to be flat at the required angle .
- M3A3 Bradley US Cavalry Fighting Vehicle - RC 1/16 Build
- Capture7.JPG (170.05 KiB) Viewed 1810 times
The
interior walls and bolted-on armor are finished on the lower hull as far forward as they can go. Calculations are very good, with maybe 1mm here and there to adjust for fit. The OKMO model is quite accurate in size. With the add-on plates, the thickness of the walls is 5mm, which reinforces the model a lot and compensate for the removal of the molded braces.
- M3A3 Bradley US Cavalry Fighting Vehicle - RC 1/16 Build
- Capture8.JPG (145.83 KiB) Viewed 1810 times
The turret cage length was calculated and cut.
- M3A3 Bradley US Cavalry Fighting Vehicle - RC 1/16 Build
- Capture9.JPG (169.92 KiB) Viewed 1810 times
More modifications on the cage, dimensions extrapolated from the Meng kit. The shapes of the cage are not a simple cylinder, it has a lot of components and details.
- M3A3 Bradley US Cavalry Fighting Vehicle - RC 1/16 Build
- Capture10.JPG (200.1 KiB) Viewed 1810 times
Continuing on following post
. That's the kind of gearbox I would save in case it might be used for something else, such as a dual mobile with two different speeds to entertain a cat. 
The plastic tracks, too, don't appear too useful, except, perhaps, as applied armor on a late Sherman. But so far, I am puzzled by the reference to "Hagenau." Would this refer to 1705 and a withdrawal to winter quarters? To be sure, we North American northerners just got hit by early winter snows and winds.
