AK Interactive has announced a couple versions of the M1008 CUCV Pickup in 1/35 plastic. These should be very nice and are most welcomed. They come with PE, lots of marking options, window masks, and a sheet of paper ODS-era MREs.
Hopefully they continue the CUCV line with the M1009 CUCV Blazer, the M1010 CUCV Crackerbox Ambulance, the M10128 CUCV Shelter Truck, the M1031 CUCV Maintenance Truck, and maybe earlier M800 series Dodge CUCVs. There are some unused parts on the sprues that hint at other versions to come, maybe a civilian version since they look like a civilian grill and bumpers. One can only hope.
Well, that’s a great tie-in for Cold War modellers such as myself; also relevant for the Balkans - IFOR/SFOR etc.
I can’t quite remember, but was it around in MERDC? I recall the NATO-flage definitely, but my brain doesn’t always work the way it’s meant to these days(!)
The M1000 series Chevy CUCVs were generally too late for MERDC as they were 1984 and newer ('84-'87). All the pics I can find though show them in NATO camo, sand, or field green.
Some early ones might have been, and one of the kit decal options is for one at Ft Eustis, VA 1980s in MERDC.
Thanks Gino! My trucks in the MDNG were a Dodge pickup, then a CUCV pickup and finally a CUCV Blazer. Hoping we get the Dodge and the Blazer out of this deal too! That Blazer was a blast to drive. Truthfully, so was the Dodge, but it was hit or miss on whether it would start or not on any particular weekend.
The 1/35 M1008 CUCV can also be used for a police pickup although I don’t know of any police decals in 1/35 scale. No lightbar is required since police use pickups for utility such as hauling barriers, traffic cones, cargo, wooden boards for covering up broken doors and windows, debris, undercover, etc.
I’m still hoping that someone will make a 1/35 plastic US government Chevy Suburban Heavy Duty (HD) for PMCs, Law Enforcement, Presidential motorcade, diplomats, VIP transport, etc.
I told you all there were some nice surprises coming from AK. Patience pays. I’m really happy seeing these are finally released after so much hard work on them. Enjoy, and wait for more excitement in the coming months…
Prototypes and early production were certainly MERDC painted. Some sources state CUCVs coming in the first three weeks of production were so painted, and have seen units in both Summer & Winter Verdant and Red & Grey Desert, with even some surviving in these colours to see action at ODS.
