Planning on doing a Marine M151 on Okinawa , about the late 70s. (Gonna team it up with a JGSDF 15th Brigade Type 73 )What version of MERDC would they have used? Or would they still have been using straight green? Also, anybody have the 3d Marine decals from the Tamiya M151 kit?

I built the old Tamiya M151A2 Ford Mutt kit years back. I'm not sure what Marine decals are with it but if they will work for you, and if I still have them, you can have them. I'll just have to check when I get home from work.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plazajapan.com%2F4950344996131%2F&psig=AOvVaw2o5iec7dgso6hVpYLObRBM&ust=1593444602348000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCMDv_u3ppOoCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAH

Randy

Can't seem to find any of the decals in my Tamiya boxings (usually do them as IDF) but if Randy can't find his, you're welcome to an Academy set, still sealed in cellophane. Life is too short to be building Jarhead vehicles.

I don't think Okinawa had a specific MERDC pattern. The most common MERDC was Winter Verdant of Forest Green, Field Drab, Sand, and Black. More info on MERDC here.





I have the decals you are looking for as well. Send me a PM with your address and I will get them out to you.

It's years since I built either of the Tamiya M151s - but in both cases (standard and TOW versions), I'm sure the markings provided for the USMC versions were in the 'Tropial Verdant' colour variation (Forest Green and Dark Green as the main colours, with Light Green and Black as the minor colours - 34079, 34102, 34151, 37038). The drawings were backed up with at least one photo of an actual vehicle on the instructions.

Happy to be corrected on that - as I say it's years since I built them.

John

No need to be corrected, John. I did manage to save the instructions for the Tamiya kits. Tamiya names the colors in the painting guide a bit differently but you are correct. In the photo you mention they show a USMC vehicle with a black crow's foot visible, but no sand.

Just because Tamiya shows it doesn't mean that is the only way they were. Tamiya isn't exactly the authority on markings. I'm sure Summer Verdant was also used, but I still contend that the Winter Verdant was the most common MERDC combo. Either way, whichever you choose would be correct.

This might help.

http://g838.org/added_pages/manuals.html

I just happen to have photos of our jeeps & things from okie! i was in 2/9 Motor T 78/79 I was there with fresh painted units. I was the Dispacher/every thing else. I need some time to dig out Photos. Semper Fi. Jarheads be Damned!!

Pacific Fleet USMC equipment had the Tropical Verdant MERDC. Atlantic Fleet had Winter Verdant. Gray Desert at 29 Palms. We did have a few (one or two) Red Desert vehicles at Yuma.

Thanks, all. Thanks, Gino. Got those decals yesterday.

Little late but, there were still vehicles (AAVs and 5-tons) in MERDC as late as 1993. On Camp Pendleton those that hadnt received NATO 3-tone were in "Winter US & Europe Verdant" and those on Oki and mainland were in "Tropics Verdant." They really stood out compared to the NATO 3-tone vehicles.

Never too late. Info is always good to share.

It seems by many of the responses that Tamiya somehow managed to get it exactly right. Tropical Verdant was indeed what was used in the location you asked about.

Did you ever get those decals? I actually found yet another Tamiya kit untouched. For some reason they boxed it in a larger box than usual and my eyes kept passing over it while looking for kits. The decals are yours if you still need them.

Thanks Robert. Gino got me set up.

O.K. All. Looks like the new Academy M151A2 kits are the way to go. Two questions …. The TOW version, can it be built as a straight 151? Sometimes when there is a variant the sprues are different. Looks the same from what I see on Scalemates, but … And , did the Marines ever use the hard top version? Only photos I've seen are Army and USAF. Oh! One other thing. Looks like the Academy kits lack the rear seat. WHat was the more common set up? With or without?