Top secret, hush hush, I’ve already said too much 
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DML has couple of sets like Rangers or motorcycle guys…ICM/Alanger has also set in ALICE gear… Tamiya has rare m16A1 with curved 30 round magazines…
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Are you sure you’re not confusing BDUs with PASGT helmets here?
In order to try and get to the bottom of this, I took off my shelf Modern American Soldier by Arnold Meisner and Lee Russell (London: Arms & Armour Press, 1986; ISBN 0-85368-762-5). This has photos dated 1982 that already show BDUs: the title page has American and Egyptian soldiers during exercise Bright Star 82 in Egypt, and the Americans are wearing six-colour desert BDUs. Page 22 has a portrait of Major-General William H. Schneider dated August 1982, in woodland BDU. There’s also a soldier with a Stinger wearing a BDU jacket and M1 helmet on page 24, dated (according to the caption) June 1982. Page 54 has another picture of a soldier in desert BDU during Bright Star 82.
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I think you are right. It may have been the PASGT helmets that the 82d got just before deployment to Grenada.
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I found a similar photo on the cover of a magazine (Time?) showing three soldiers from the 82nd.
If you’ve read this story before, feel free to move on…
Zero week at Airborne School. Staff Sergenat People’s, who had trouble pronouncing his own name, asked the company during morning formation if any of us were artists. Seeing the writing on the wall, I immediately raised my hand.
“Grab two of your buddies and report to the mess hall.”
We spent the rest of the week painting the walls in the mess hall and eating soft ice cream, while the rest of the company did fun things like picking pine needles out of gravel in the hot Georgia sun.
I decided to put that photo on the wall, larger than life size. I gave the three paratroopers different colored berets - maroon, black, and green. And each held a different weapon, although I don’t remember if that was artistic licence or actually in the photo. Lastly, I gave them all sunglasses. The mural looked fantastic, but was not met with universal approval from the command. Some of them objected to the sunglasses. I’m not sure, but I think I remember someone telling me an “artist” in a later class repainted their faces with eyes.
At any rate, I do remember th uniforms because I had never seen them before. This was 43rd Airborne Company for those out there who may have gone through shortly after I did.
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Grenada was the the first time that the public had really seen American troops wearing PASGT. There were a number of news spots explaining the new equipment and to clarify that we had not adopted the Stahlhelm.
KL
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And there’s the proof they were issued in 1981.
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I hated those polyester uniforms 
. They would tear so easily around tanks.
Didn’t mind the older cotton starched version.
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I hated breaking starch every morning but wearing the old fatigues in the field was better than the wash and wear fatigues.
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Which is exactly the reason for my post.
Yes I know that the Cold War in Europe isn’t exciting as it’s not a “real” conflict. But that doesn’t change the fact that there were hundreds of thousands of US soldiers stationed mostly in Germany during the Cold War, and for the mostly 30 year period from the mid-50’s through the early 80’s, 1/35 scale figures are woefully under represented requiring work and modification to make them look close enough. That just seems to be a shame.
The VEHICLES are available, why not the soldiers who manned them?
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Hi Tom,
I agree but it’s just the way it is; despite a hugely interesting array of colour schemes – including the US MASSTER of course (about which we’ve conversed before - seems a long time ago now) - I suspect there’s just not sufficient interest amongst manufacturers in providing figures. WW2 will always resonate more, probably for the German reason, and then more recent conflicts like the Gulf Wars and now Ukraine, seem to dominate.
Half decent figures can be done, but it takes considerable research and no small effort; on the other hand, it’s made me unafraid to tackle (basic I admit) sculpting, and with Hornet Heads readily available, and some fairly decent accessories out there, it can all be quite satisfying. I must just say though, that some basic “hanging around the tank/gun/truck park” figures would be useful – of all nations.
I think in a way, we’re almost getting there: Sylly’s Models are very useful and his range is ever expanding. FoxHopp seem to be going in the right direction too. The Bundeswehr are well served with the white metal range by Dolp, which I would recommend – their clambering aboard a Leopard figures are pretty useful.
I’m sure there are others such as the impossible to get, for the opposition, Sarmat figures, which have some really interesting models.
As ever, perchance to dream!
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You’re right of course. Manufactures will make what they can sell, and since the US Army in Germany during the Cold War isn’t “sexy”, the result is a paucity of figures to go with the vehicles.
It’s the biggest reason I’ve lost interest in making any dioramas out of my vehicles. I just am not interested in having to go to extreme lengths to modify other figures just to make them look “close enough”.
And vehicles without soldiers"? Might as well make the diorama of vehicles parked in the Motor Pool.
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Don’t give up Tom!
After your magisterial rendition of your unit resplendent in MASSTER, it would be cruel not to display further efforts on us mere mortals.
As I mentioned, try Sylly’s Models - some are fairly generic and whilst they might need a bit of re-modelling - sanding, or a minimum of altering they could be, if not the answer, an answer. Look at this guy, just crying out to be on top of an AFV:
This guy stowing kit:
Another, not doing very much:
Tucking trousers in - I mean how relaxed is that?
You’ll need to do a fair bit of trawling on his site but I would suggest worth the effort. Oh, and if you want to portray the earlier utility cap (forgive me if my terminology is wrong), then for US forces of the - roughly 50s/60s I’ve discovered that the Hornet Heads series for a Foreign Legion kepi which might work:
HFH/6
Sylly’s Models site:
Here’s to fending off that dull, motor pool diorama!
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Yup, the ole pickle suit.
I still have the OG field jacket from basic training at Fort Sill in the closet. We were issued 2, and I never wore the spare.
I also got the BCU and ACU field jackets from my time in service.
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Now it doesn’t get any sexier than this guy 
For a 60’s/70’s tanker, he would just need the bone dome or next style CVC helmet.
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My OG time goes back so far that in a 30 year span I only have that and the BDU. No ACU or rough out boots for me. Just those TOTALLY impractical black Corcorans.
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I could have sworn someone posted the Rangers, by DML, and the Light Infantry set with the bike. Maybe it was a similar thread. At any rate, those can be useful as well. With the light infantry set you get two figures with the flak vest and the post 1967 LCE. (no H harness)
Very similar to the one “other Rob” and I rode in Afghanistan.
The Ranger set isn’t bad either - it comes with useful equipment, although the ALICE packs suck and have no frames. You can also sand the tops of the PCs flat for the early 60’s look.
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“ Just those TOTALLY impractical black Corcorans.”
Now, those Matterhorns were practical in the snowy places.
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And everyone rolls with face paint, NODs and rolled up sleeves
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