Desert Command Series

Desert Command logo

In 1991, after an overwhelming victory by Coalition forces in Desert Storm, the Processed Plastic Company launched the Desert Command Series of soldiers and vehicles to commemorate the event and take advantage of the the public's positive support of the war effort. A new beige plastic (desert tan) was used along with a number of existing molds to produce the series. Those molds included the Vietnam Era soldiers, Patton tank, Scout Vehicle, C-130 cargo ship, M60 (Walker Bulldog) tank, Willys MB Jeep, CJ7 Jeep, M119 howitzer, GMC Troop Carrier, M60A2 Battle Tank, F-16 jet and the Assault Chopper. In addition, a variation of the #5150 Baja Digger dune buggy (released a few years later) was also cast in the same desert tan plastic and sported the Desert Command logo due to a dune buggy's association with desert terrain. Although the series was discontinued in the mid 90s, the company continued using the beige plastic until it closed its doors in 2005. And, unlike the countless variations of green plastic they used over the decades, the hue of the plastic remained the same throughout the 15 year production run of the desert tan products.

Registration number stickers

Factory sticker sheets

In 1964, with the introduction of the Patton tank, military jeep and the 2 ½ ton cargo truck, came the now familiar registration number (a.k.a. serial number) sticker that where applied to a long list of army vehicles from the Processed Plastic Company. It should be noted that from time to time vehicles left the factory without them being applied. A depleted inventory was most likely the reason for this. The rectangular 5/16 x 1" sticker featured rounded corners, various shades of green backgrounds, white lettering and a small white star. The number itself changed over the years. 19855 was used briefly for the initial run of the square cab truck. 31072545 was used throughout the military lineup beginning in 1964. until it was replaced by 55239326 during the 70s. The sticker was eventually phased out in the early 90s to help reduce rising production costs as it could not be added to the existing sticker sheet found in the bagged sets. The registration number sticker sheets are all but impossible to find. 

Notes: 
• The number 19855 was used briefly for the initial run of the square cab truck that featured rubber tires. The sticker was smaller (5/16 x 3/4") and featured two stars on either side of the number.

• A larger registration number sticker with 3441269 was used on the Dominator Tank. It included an American flag and two stars. 

So what sticker went with what vehicle? Here's the breakdown:

19855
• First run of the square cab truck w/ rubber wheels

31072545 
• Square cab truck w/plastic wheels 
• Cargo truck wo/ hitch and flat wheel hubs
• Patton Tank w/ antenna and metal axles
• Patton Tank w/ antenna and small black wheels
• Willys M38 Jeep w/ separate steering wheel 
• Willys MB Jeep w/ spare tire

55239326 
• Cargo truck w/ hitch and conical wheel hubs 
• Patton Tank w/ plastic wheels and axles
• Willys Jeep w/ molded steering wheel
• Scout vehicles 
• Sea King Army helicopter
• Cayuse Army helicopter 
• M41 Walker Bulldog tank (M60)
• Willys MB Jeep w/ radio 
• 1662 dump truck

Aqua Green Division

Aqua Green Division

Processed Plastics began casting their Vietnam era soldiers (minus the marching GI) along with the M48 Patton tank, Willys M38 Jeep, cannon and the Scout vehicle in a color that the company referred to as aqua green. This new division, along with the Desert Command Series, were combined in a variety of assortments and released in the Tank Division, Combat Patrol, and the U.S. Army Headquarters bagged sets.

Manaplas S.A. Cargo Truck

As reviewed in a post last week, the Venezuelan company Manaplas S.A. produced a military toy line that included very similar versions of the TimMee Patton tank, Willys MB Jeep and field cannon. They also happened to produce this M35 Cargo truck. It was shipped separately and therefore not available for the first review.
Unlike the other vehicles mentioned in that post, the cargo truck has the exact dimensions as its TimMee counterpart. However, the trucks are not from the same mold. There are very subtle differences between the two truck bodies and canopy tops. So subtle, in fact, that they're not even worth mentioning...or trying to describe, for that matter. The wider clip-on tires and rather bland wheels of the Manaplas are the only substantial differences. The plastic is pliable and has the same density as its U.S. counterpart and is said to have been cast in several colors. The applied star stickers are the same size as the ones used by Processed Plastic... as are the canvas top stickers (Marksman and Captain).

So the big question still remains. Was the Manaplas cargo truck, Patton tank, Willys MB Jeep and field cannon molds produced by Moldrite (former division of the Processed Plastic Company)?