Still debating on the White MP scheme or OD (?) EOD scheme for my Type 73 "Jeep". Anybody have any clues on the current JGSDF color. Looks like a greyed down version of US Helo Drab. Also, what shade of brown do they use for camo? Am thinking about doing an armed version (recon) and I have seen a couple photos of them in the green/brown camo.

Tamiya do all the JGSDF colors- they are excellent matches. (XF-72/73/74).

Second that.

Hi Timothy,

Apart from Tamiya, Mr Hobby/Mr Color has a JGSDF color set. There was a youtube introduction on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SS6wB8q-QA

And it is available here

http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/yuwdn87j9rqldlq6jijy.html

FYI.

Paul

Thanks. I checked both the Tamiya and Mr Color. The brown looks 'bout right. (I need to look at the pic of the camoed Type 73 to check on the green/olive) The photos of the Type 73 Shins I've seen the color looks like a greyish OD with a brown hue. Not like the two paints.

Timothy,

Tamiya makes three JGSDF camo colors that I've used:

XF-72 Brown (JGSDF)


XF-73 Dark Green (JGSDF)


XF-74 Olive Drab (JGSDF)


These color swatches don't really match the actual colors that I've painted, but they give you what to look for. To me, XF-73 is actually a hue closer to the a dark sage green that is used in US Army ACUs, more like this swatch looks, but lighter in shade:



HTH

Hi, Jeff. The XF-74 OD looks close to the color on the Type 73s. It looks a bit dark on the puter screen, but .... I dont think it is from sun bleaching. Couple of the photos look like the vehicles were new / un-issued. Mitsubishi's paint a bit off from spec?

I was actually going to say those look brighter on the screen than they really are.

I've spent quite a bit of time (14+ years) in Japan working with the JSDF and I think the Tamiya colors are pretty close to accurate. The Japanese keep their vehicles fairly pristine, although not unusual to see a layer of oxidation on the paint (you can see it in this walkaround of a JASDF LAV) which will lighten the appearance considerably.

This looks like XF-74. ???

A camo type 73. XF-72 / XF-73?

Yes and yes.

O.K., Now that I have colors down, anybody know of a translation of JGSDF bumper markings and unit locations? For my current Type 73 I am leaning towards either 302 MP Co. (?) or 102 EOD Co. Any clues where they are assigned? I saw Tankograd has a book on JGSDF vehicles but the couple reviews I saw says its skimpy on solid detail info. Also, any clue on wether all the EOD vehicles are equipped with lights and siren/ loud speaker.

So after a lot of data mining I think I have your answer.

The 302d Security Guard Squadron is at Camp Ichigaya. It's like the Japanese Pentagon in downtown Tokyo. The squadron is assigned to the Eastern District Guard Corps directly under Ground Self Defense Force Control. Although the 302d is responsible for security at Ichigaya, they also have a very large ceremonial role, since they also provide the honor guard for all visiting dignitaries. They are a fairly elite unit. (In other words, immaculate vehicles--no weathering)

The 102d EOD is part of the Eastern Army's Logistics Support Troop at Camp Asaka in Nerima, Northern Tokyo. Again, not going to see much if any weathering on these vehicles. MAYBE some mud if they had to respond to a rural situation, but a much of their work consists of removing WWII bombs from construction sites in Tokyo, which means paved roads pretty much anywhere they go.

Although I have no factual information to confirm or refute whether all vehicles had the lights and loudspeaker, I would suspect, based on the nature of what each unit does, that those would be pretty standard equipment for vehicles assigned to them.

Hope this helps!

By the way, going back to your original question, I would probably only recommend the white paint scheme if you the 302d, although I would not venture so far as to say they are the only unit to use it; simply that given the ceremonial aspect to their mission they seem most likely to sport the white scheme. All the photos I have seen of white Type 73s all had a black top and were sporting the red flashing light on top.

I was about to say I've never seen an armed Type 73, but I did eventually come across a photo of one with a rear-mounted Sumitomo M2 heavy MG taking part in a public demo. The vehicle itself was standard OD--no camo.

Hi, Mark. From what I was able to gleen (and that was rather skimpy) "all" the MP rigs are white with red lights on the bumper and the gum ball on top. I'd imagine in a combat situation they'd quickly splash OD or green on them. As for armed, looks like any can be armed in a few minutes. From what I can see there is a simple kit that clamps to the roll bar that has a mount for either the M-2 or M-249. (I know the JGSDF has Mk-19s, would seem one of them would mount up fine, but I've seen no reference or photo of one on a Type 73.) I have seen a pic of a Type 73 in brown/ green camo (with the canvas camoed too) . Most photos are OD. But I'd think that one actually tasked as a recon vehicle (As opposed to armed security or some such) would be camoed. (I saw a video of an airborne unit exercise with , I think, a Type 73 .... all you could see was a pile of hay with a roll bar and an MG ... moving across the field. Very McBeth-ish!

I believe the camo one I have seen is from a coastal defense unit. I found another photo of a Type 73 with a Search Radar system mounted on it, and appears to have the same bumper marking and camo. Another photo shows a Type 88 Surface to Ship missile launcher. All three photos look to have the same background. (There is a line of three trees that looks distinctive.

I guess that makes sense; the white vehicles being in keeping with the white of the civil police. Funny thing is that in all my visits to Japanese bases I don't recall ever seeing a white vehicle like that. Might be I just wasn't paying attention.

Anyway, the info on unit locations is pretty solid.

You NEVER see them till they are in your rearview mirror!!!