Magic Factory M2A2 Bradley ODS

Kit No #2007

1/35th scale
Plastic injection model kit

Photo-etch & 3D printed resin included

Two marking choices provided in the box

Price:

&

Magic Factory have produced their second Bradley kit. The kit is 1/35th, and features two Ukrainian vehicles. Clayton has made a build review of the kit in today’s story…

Bradleys in service with Ukraine:

On the 5th of January 2023, the US confirmed that 50 Bradleys were included as part of a $3 billion package of assistance to Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. They were sent to Ukraine because they had assessed that Ukrainian forces are capable of maintaining and supporting such AFVs. A second package of 59 vehicles was sent later in the month. On 8 June, Russian drone footage showed multiple Bradley Fighting Vehicles abandoned in Zaporizhzhia Oblast along with a Leopard 2A6.

M2A2 ODS-SA Bradley in Ukrainian service. On 8 June, Russian drone footage showed multiple Bradley Fighting Vehicles abandoned in Zaporizhzhia Oblast along with a Leopard 2A6.

M2A2 ODS-SA Bradley in Ukrainian service.

Although several were lost to mines and ATGMs while attempting to breach Russian defensive lines, Ukrainian soldiers lauded the survivability of the Bradley, saying it protected them from hits that would have been lethal if sustained by a Soviet APC, and that many of the vehicles that became disabled from combat damage could be recovered and repaired.

You can see that digital camo underneath the mud here – a great chance to weather a modern IFV actually in active service.

Ukraine’s deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar stated on Telegram that one M2 Bradley assigned to the 47th Mechanized Brigade had been able to destroy two Russian T-72 tanks in a single engagement. As of November 8, 2023, photos and videos confirmed that at least 55 Ukrainian Bradleys were heavily damaged. These figures will surely change in the future… These figures surely will keep on changing in the future…

Inbox & video build review: M2A2 Bradley ODS from Magic Factory

There is so much to love about the service history, versatility and durability of the Bradley, this kit was always going to be an exciting release…. This is a very long video but it’s worth watching because you will learn some great information. It’s a must-see for those who want to build the kit or are interested in Bradley. It’s a great kit. You wont be disappointed. Magic Factory, a relatively new company on the market, is impressing with their wide range of topics. Magic Factory has produced two Bradley versions. Today I had the opportunity to look at the M2A4 Bradly ODS and the Ukrainian version M2A2. The Bradley family so far from Magic Factory…

First Impressions of the Kit are Impressive. Hull and top shell come in two parts, and many of the details such as hinges and bolts are moulded directly into the pieces. The Bushmaster barrel is delicately molded and scaled. There is an opportunity for those who are so inclined to improve the texture of the moulding. There is an opportunity for that texture to be improved however for those of you how are so inclined.

Overall, though, just looking at the sprues there appears to be a high level of refinement in the mouldings and a thoughtful level of detail around the parts.

One of the details neglected in other manufacturers Bradleys are the wire step / Grab handles scattered around the side skirts however the detail in these Magic Factory parts has been considered and given they are supplied as individual parts will have dimension to the assemblies rather than being just moulded into the skirts. The tracks are made in a link-and-length style, with main runs at the top and bottom and smaller ones to go around the idlers and sprockets. The undersides of the tracks have many ejector-pin marks, which will require a lot of filling and grinding to remove. The kit includes 3D-printed resin for the turret’s basket, as well as some armor for it. The CAD drawing below shows where the parts are added.

There is a pair of

photo-etch fret

s included in this kit. The first fret contains a wheel spray mask and grills for engine. (I wish I had known about this sooner) What makes this so intriguing? Take a look at the floating pieces in the fret.

The decal sheet gives us two options for our Ukrainian Bradley.

The

decal sheet gives us two options for our Ukrainian Bradley.The two marking choices from the current war in Ukraine are included.

Finally, the instructions come in a booklet style and on the surface seem reasonably logical. The colour scheme is a separate insert in the box.

The build video…

But like with my other kit reviews, looking at pieces in a box means nothing, so I set about building the kit to give you an idea of how the kits goes together and to give you the heads up of what to look out for…and there are a few things.

Hope you enjoy.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tMcg0u75pA