Thanks for the photos of the sprues and new parts, Gino! That helps a lot.

They even made the head lights separate...
... and molded them in green PLASTIC! W T F!...

Cheers,
/E

looks like it will finishe of the m151 line nicely hopefully they will inject clear plastic into the headlamp lenses.

They can be seen on the sprue with the canvas top (1983 style...) so I wouldn't count on it.

Cheers,
/E

It would have been better if Tamiya made two separate bipods for the M60 MG instead of having one with open bipod and one molded M60 with bipod. Also, they could have added new shovel and axe as well as the handset for the radio, since they have decided to reissue the kit with new sprue for Grenada. I would have like a new driver, but I also think that would have been pushing it.

Very nice to see the early M151 being offered, along with the two-window canvas top and A-1 suspension. I noticed that the "riser" for the M4 pedestal mount is included, rather than a straight tube going all the way to the vehicle floor between the seats.

I very nice start, and I have no doubt that AM sets will be on the way soon. I did not notice, did the tires appear to be the right size/profile, instead of the underside ones we have usually been supplied with? I believe DEF or D Models recently released a set that appeared "robust" as the real items were.

So the way the weapon's pole mount weapon's U-bracket is...I take it won't be simple swapping out the M2HB with a M60 because the U-bracket is too wide, correct?

That is correct. The original M151A2 release had the correct M60 mount and ammo can on the pole though. I am assuming the original is still in the kit on the older sprues. It can be cut off and added to the new pole.

Hopefully...

The original tires were about right. I've got a whole trailer of those tires out in my barn, 700x16 ND - they are not that big nor wide. These days any SUV tires are larger than that.

What I'd like to see, even aftermarket, is the ROPS (Roll Over Protection System - the roll bar cage with seatbelts, side webbing and webbing and buckles for doors! These could easily be photo etch.

I tried making the web on the ROPS with thin masking tape, but it just never really worked. I tried cutting lead foil but it was too delicate - or I was too impatient. I'd love to see the webbing done in brass along with all the buckles.

If anyone here thinks they can pull off making the ROPS webbing out of photo etch, I'd be glad to send you the genuine article for you to measure from. I have several sets of these for my own Mutt.

I think someone could also make replacement seat frames out of injection plastic, they aren't complicated, but seems that none of the kit makers get it right. Hell, I'd send someone an actual seat frame if they thought they could make it (split the shipping cost with me though).

I can draw photo etch, but producing them is another story.

:)

Gino,

I asked my dad about the tan jeeps in Grenada, and it was the unit that had just returned from Egypt.

Good info, thanks.

We used to take the frame off and put a piece of burlap sandbag over the headlight lens and re-attach the frame to prevent reflections. Looks like that's what Tamiya attempts to reflect (no pun intended) with their molding...

For what it's worth, i took some detail shots of my 1:1 scale MUTT that sits out in the barn collecting lots of dust waiting for me to replace he master brake cylinder...

https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A85oqs3qm14bQ

Here's a couple more 1:1 scale...

these are so nice, I love jeeps.

jeepkid019

Dusty? The silt is so thick I thought is was shipped on the Titanic! Wash that bad boy!

Due out this month, Oct. 26.

Best wishes,
Grant

Tell me about it! Anyone who has a barn with active animals will tell ya that any horizontal surface will collect 1/2 of dust a month!

The good thing is I can tell if any damn cats or critters have crawled on it! When I had a canvas top (old style with two rear windows) I had some chickens that loved to roost in the top. The eggs were cool, but all the chicken Sh*t builds up and you have to hack it off! For some reason the damn cats like to pee on the vinyl tops and tarps. Really gross. I've got a matching trailer that I've had to just throw away the tarp that covers it!