MishM*A*S*H 46: Tristar M*A*S*H Vehicles

In the early 1980s, Tristar International sold a line of M*A*S*H products that included dog tags, action figures, and a military base play set that was based on the 4077th. The play set and action figures were meant to be played with together. The action figures were at a scale that matched the play set, so kids could recreate scenes from their favorite show. But there was one other line of toys by Tristar that went with the action and figures and play set. They made a series of M*A*S*H vehicles that could hold the action figures and drive on the roads of the play set. The Jeep, ambulance, and helicopter made by Tristar are probably some of the hardest objects to find today, especially still in their original box. I have spent years trying to assemble the collection of Tristar toys, and with my purchase of the helicopter in early 2025, I am happy to say that I have ached that goal. This week, we’ll dive into the Tristar M*A*S*H vehicles!

Jeep

It is hard to think of M*A*S*H and not picture a Jeep. It was frequently in the background of scenes and it often served as a device to drive the plot of episodes. The Tristar Jeep is about eight inches long and three inches wide. It is perfectly scaled to hold the M*A*S*H action figures, and you could easily get three of them in the Jeep. It has red crosses on each side, includes the M*A*S*H logo, and features a folding windshield. The Jeep came with a “3 3/4 inch G.I. action figure” that is typically referred to by the M*A*S*H community as “blonde Hawkeye.” Why? Because when you look at the action figure with the Jeep along side the Hawkeye action figure, the faces are the same. The only difference is the hair color. Instead of Hawkeye’s signature black hair, this action figure is blonde. So, even if a kid in the early 1980s didn’t have any of the M*A*S*H action figures, they’d at least have one figure to drive their Jeep.

Ambulance

Where would an eight-year-old’s recreation of a M*A*S*H episode be without an ambulance? Tristar offered an ambulance that would be instantly recognizable to any fan of the series. I really like the detail on the ambulance. It has white stars painted on it, the giant red cross on the sides and roof, and it even has a US Army serial number printed on the hood. Like the Jeep, the white background of the Red Cross has yellowed over time. While the ambulance is approximately the same size of the Jeep in length and width, it is taller. It too comes with a “blonde Hawkeye,” and it can fit four action figures. Two figures can fit in the cab of the ambulance, and two figures can be placed in the back on stretchers. The side and rear doors are hinged so the action figures can be removed. While these toys are plastic and not die cast metal, Tristar made these toys very detailed!

Helicopter

When it comes to details, however, none are more detailed than the helicopter. It is by far the largest of the toys, and it’s so large that its tail is folded to fit in the box. It too comes with a “blonde Hawkeye,” but its best trick is that it has hidden wheels underneath. When you roll the helicopter forward, there is a mechanism inside the helicopter that turns the chopper blades and makes a noise that is meant to mimic the sound of a helicopter. It is a great effect, and even more impressive when you consider that none of this is done with electronics! The sides of the helicopter have stretchers that fit the action figures perfectly, so kids could ensure their wounded action figures arrived the 4077th quickly. As I mentioned, it is large at over a foot long with the tail fully extended. The helicopter is the hardest to find today, and I suspect that is because the mechanical components didn’t hold up to hours and hours of playtime. And I imagine the folding tail is a weak point as well. Despite that, the helicopter is my favorite of the toys because it looks just like a Bell H-13 Sioux (Bell 47) with its red cross, medical caduceus, and iconic bubble top.

When you see these three toys together, they tell the story of M*A*S*H, and you could easily recreate the opening title sequence. The Bell helicopter is probably the most iconic from the series since it is in the opening credits for all eleven seasons, but the military ambulance and Jeep aren’t far behind. Tristar made what I would argue is the best set of M*A*S*H products available in the early 1980s. When you assembled the play set, vehicles, and action figures, it was like having a miniature version of your favorite TV show at your very whim. As a kid, I had one of the Revell model of the Swamp, and I loved playing with it (so much so that I am sure I broke and wore it out decades ago). I would have loved this set of toys even more! For the collection, I had to find versions of each toy and action figure that were in their original boxes and in good condition. The vehicles proved to be the most challenging to find. If you are a serious M*A*S*H collector, I highly recommend assembling the Tristar toys because you could make an incredible M*A*S*H diorama. All the items are available second hand, but be forewarned, they can be very expensive.