Mind you, it would be nice if they followed up their Goat initiative with say, a Goer, or perish the thought, an M59 (albeit from an earlier period)

Brian

The figures should be usable for Lebanon '82, but the helmest on the two new figures look to be Kevlars, which were first used by th 82 ABN in Grenada in '83. They would need to be backdated to M1 steelpot helmets. Also, the .50 cal was not common on the M151. I would swap it out w/an M60 MG.

AJ, you are correct on the helmets. The 82nd ABN was the first unit to use the Kevlar and they were issued to all Soldiers in the unit. The driver should also be wearing a Kevlar.



As to the sand colored vehicle, I am not sure why it is sand, but the above pic shows what appears to be the exact vehicle Tamiya based it on (but it has a more appropriate M60 MG as opposed to the .50 cal) in Grenada and painted sand.

For camo schemes, the US military did go from MERDC to 3-color NATO camo, and later repainted vehicles to sand for ODS. Furthermore, 82 ABN went back to 3-color NATO after ODS and all vehicles were repainted when they returned from ODS in '91.

if you look closely they all are wearing kevlar

The figures should be usable for Lebanon '82, but the helmest on the two new figures look to be Kevlars, which were first used by th 82 ABN in Grenada in '83. They would need to be backdated to M1 steelpot helmets. Also, the .50 cal was not common on the M151. I would swap it out w/an M60 MG.

AJ, you are correct on the helmets. The 82nd ABN was the first unit to use the Kevlar and they were issued to all Soldiers in the unit. The driver should also be wearing a Kevlar.



As to the sand colored vehicle, I am not sure why it is sand, but the above pic shows what appears to be the exact vehicle Tamiya based it on (but it has a more appropriate M60 MG as opposed to the .50 cal) in Grenada and painted sand.

For camo schemes, the US military did go from MERDC to 3-color NATO camo, and later repainted vehicles to sand for ODS. Furthermore, 82 ABN went back to 3-color NATO after ODS and all vehicles were repainted when they returned from ODS in '91.

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Mind you, it would be nice if they followed up their Goat initiative with say, a Goer, or perish the thought, an M59 (albeit from an earlier period)

Brian

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I asked if there was interest in an M59 about six weeks ago. Not much of response. Plastic kit makers are not going to take a chance on something that won't sell.

The rear wheel opening on the A1 have a strange bolted-on plate with a lifting eye attached. Don't remember ever seeing that on an A1 before..?

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if you look closely they all are wearing kevlar

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In the pic of the actual vehicle, yes. In Tamiya's new M151A2 Grenada 1983 kit, the driver has on an M1 steelpot while the passenger and gunner both have on Kevlars.

The kit includes three PASGT and three M1 steel helmets, so both options are possible. Sprues were shown at the Tokyo Hobby Show.

By the way, the A1 kit includes correct rear suspension parts!

The rear wheel opening on the A1 have a strange bolted-on plate with a lifting eye attached.

That is the lifting eye bracket seen on USMC jeeps. They also have the correct extended front bumper with lifting eye on it. Hopefully this is separate part that can be left off. If not, sanding will be in order for a typical Army M151A1.

Below is a video report from the Tokyo Hobby Show that sepnds the first 5 minutes on the Gamma Goat and M151s. They all look nice and it confirms the M151A1 suspension and that the USMC lifting ring bracket on the rear is a separate piece and both w/bracket for a USMC vehicle and w/out for a US Army vehicle.

Link