I have a M151A2 MUTT sitting on my shelf crying for figures. It is the Tamaya 1/35 kit that I bought in 1985. I was planning on a small diorama with the MUTT and a couple of 1980s circa US Army soldiers. Any recomendations on figures I could use? Also, when did the A2 come into service? Maybe it could be earlier than 1980.

Jim

M151A2s came into service in the early '70s. Depends on how early in the '80s you want to depict. The early '80s were a time of change in uniforms and gear. For late '80's figures, any of the Dragon figures from ODS era would work. If you are looking for very early '80s figures, swap out the M16A2s for M16A1s and swap the Kevlar helmets for M1 Steel Pots with camo covers. You could also use Vietnam era figures with updated ALICE gear (ammo pouches, canteens, etc.) from ODS figures. The OG 107 uniforn (of Vietnam era) was worn till about '82-'83. Also, the ERDL Camo uniform that is on some of the DML figures from Vietnam era would work too. It was also used up till the early '80s till the new BDU was fully introduced. The transition to M16A2s began in the mid '80s and to Kevlars in 1983, 82nd ABN first used them in Grenada.

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

In 1980, the majority of soldiers still wore the old style fatigues, aka "pickle suits". Some figures from this era would be the mortar crew from Tamiya's M106A1 mortar carrier (mortar and crew were sold separately) as well as the command post crew from the Tamiya M577 command post carrier (again the crew was sold separately too). The original Tamiya M1 Abrams contains a tank commander in the pickle suit (legend has it the figure is Mike Dukakis).

Even as late as 1981-82, some active duty soldiers were still wearing the pickle suits. The fatigues were all but gone in 1983-84, but the jungle fatigues made a brief re-appearance from around 1983-86 until the hot weather BDU was fielded.

I've got an old uniform regulation from around that time and could look up the wear out dates for the fatigues and jungle fatigues.