Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/48 Ground Power Series HG1902 M151A2 Ford MUTT 82nd Airborne Division, US Army

True 1/48 scale.

Professionally painted.

Great attention to detail.

All markings are Tampoed (pad applied).

Rubber wheels roll.

Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic.

Highly collectable.

In 1951 Ford Motor Company was awarded a contract to develop a replacement for the M38 Jeep Light Utility Vehicle. The vehicle had to be a ¼ ton 4x4 Military Utility Tactical Truck (M151 MUTT) and after extensive testing began production in 1959 until 1982. The M151, M151A1, and M151A2 are a general purpose personnel or cargo carrier. Eventually manufacturing contracts were awarded to Kaiser and AM General Corp and well over 100,000 MUTTs of many variants produced.

Later development provided a modified version of the M151A2 that could be transported by a CH- 53 helicopter. This variant was an FAV (Fast Assault Vehicle) used by the 82nd Airborne Division, USMC and Special Forces. It had improved suspension as well as optional roll bars, various gun mounts, storage boxes, radios and lighting. It could carry anything from a Browning M2HB .50 cal machine gun to a TOW missile launcher. The 82nd AD formed in 1917 and has seen action in just about every U.S. involvement except the Korean Conflict.

Specifications for the M151 MUTT (Military Utility Tactical Truck)

Manufacturer - Ford, Kaiser, AM General Corp., GM USA Years of Manufacture - 1959 until 1982 Number Manufactured - 100,000 +

Occupants - 1 x Driver, Up to 3 others Dimensions Length - 11 ft (3.37 m) Width - 5.91 ft (1.8 m) Height - 6.17 ft (1.88 m)

Weight - 2,447 lbs/1.2 US short tons (1,110 kg)

Performance Engine - 1 x Ordnance Continental 4-cylinder gasoline, generating 71 hp @ 4,000 rpm Maximum Speed - 65 mph (105 km/h) Maximum Range - 273 miles (440 km)

Armament Depending on Mission 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 Heavy Machine Gun 1 x 7.62 mm M240G General Purpose Machine Gun 1 x TOW-2 Anti-Tank Guided Missile Launcher w/ 2 x TOW Missiles 1 x Recoilless Rifle