History

In 1980 the US Army formally took delivery of the new M2 Bradley IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and M3 Bradley CFV (Cavalry Fighting Vehicle). The M3 CFV had a wielded aluminum hull. It was powered by a 500hp Cummins VTA-903 diesel engine with an HMDT-500 automatic transmission at that time. Its two-man turret had positions for the commander and gunner. The turret consisted of a 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, a 7.62mm M240C coaxial machine gun and a two-tube TOW anti-tank missile launcher. Firing ports and periscopes on each side of the hull, and the two firing ports on the rear ramp were eliminated on the M3 CFV.

Thank you to Classic Warships Publishing for providing another exciting volume in the excellent Aircraft Pictorial series. I am also very appreciative of the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me the chance to examine this volume and report my opinions.

The Revell/Monogram 1/24th scale kit is a rerelease of a previously available kit known as “The Blue Beetle“. I am not sure of the exact offerings provided in that earlier release of this model but the version that I’m reviewing here was quite impressive . The box art only shows the build up on the side and the drawn box art on the front of the box outfitted in “The Blue Beetle” version. The only way I’ve seen this release come in. So, I was thrilled to open the kit up and see parts for both the pictured version as well as the roadster adaptation listed for these separate parts throughout the very well detailed instruction sheet which includes descriptions of all pieces by their part number and the name of the part. The majority of the parts come molded in a light blue with one white sprig of pieces molded in white which includes snap in white walls and a convertible top.