Tuesday, December 5

Preview: 35th scale M2A2 ODS SA IFV in 35th scale from Magic Factory

Magic Factory have sent news of their second Bradley kit boxing in 1/35th scale. This kit features plastic, photo-etch, 3D printed resin & two decal choices for vehicles serving in Ukraine right now. We look at them in our preview...


Preview: M2A2 ODS SA IFV in 35th scale from Magic Factory 

M2A2 ODS SA IFV
From Magic Factory
Kit No #2007
1/35th scale
Plastic injection model kit
Photo-etch & 3D printed resin included
Two marking choices provided in the box
Magic Factory have produced their second Bradley kit. This one is also in 1/35th scale, but features the markings of two vehicles from the Ukrainian armed forces as the subjects in the limelight. The M2A2 ODS SA  Bradley IFV is the one we are looking at today...

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. The Bradleys were sent because the U.S. had determined that Ukrainian forces were proficient in maintenance and sustainment of such AFVs. Another 59 vehicles were included in another package later that month. 

Bradleys were first seen to be in Ukrainian service in mid-April 2023.
Ukraine first employed M2 Bradleys in combat during the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive beginning in early June 2023. 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 8 November 2023, at least 55 Ukrainian Bradleys had been confirmed to have been heavily damaged by photos or videos. (29 destroyed, 20 damaged, 6 damaged and abandoned by their crews in grey zone). These figures surely will keep on changing in the future...

The Kit: M2A2 ODS SA IFV in 35th scale from Magic Factory
Magic Factory has given us a new Bradley M2A2 ODS SA IFV in 35th scale. The kit no No.2007) is the most recent version of the IFV that was delivered to Ukraine. Inside the kit you will find:

- The latest features of the M2A2 ODS SA Bradley are captured in this kit. Included are photo etch & 3D printed parts.
Although the photo-etch is not extensive, there are plenty of small parts in PE to add to the sides of the hull. This will be great for some, not-so-much for others who are adverse...
You can see here the many attachment points on some small etch sheet, with the other mostly mesh grilles.
For this kit the turret basket and some armour for the turret are included in the form of 3D printed resin. Below are the CAD drawings showing just what is included.
The printed parts and a large image of them in-situ on the Bradleys...
We looked at some of the patterns of digital camouflage of the Ukrainian Bradleys - two patterns are provided in this kit's marking choices.
The decals provide are only for the markings. No news as of yet on if there are masks provided for the digital patterns or not.
That is all we know about these two models in the one box for now - Check out the Magic Factory Website & Facebook Page