The countdown is on and Hawkins faces its final battle. With the fifth and final season of Stranger Things starting November 27, 2025 on Netflix, one of the most defining series of our time comes to an end. Right on time for the grand finale, Revell has launched a very special model that should delight both series fans and model builders alike: the GMC Van from radio station WSQK in 1:25 scale. (Revell Shoplink) This distinctively painted Chevrolet Van is more than just another vehicle in the Stranger Things universe—it becomes the mobile headquarters of our heroes and plays a central role in the fight against Vecna.
A Van Becomes a Secret Weapon Against the Upside Down
In the fifth season, set in Fall 1987, Hawkins is under military quarantine. The town is marked by rifts to the Upside Down, and Vecna remains missing while hatching his sinister plans. In this desperate situation, the WSQK Van becomes an indispensable tool for the Hawkins heroes.
The van serves as a mobile extension of the local radio station WSQK 94.5 FM, which turns out to be a covert operations headquarters. With its striking retro paint scheme in 1980s style, the vehicle perfectly presents itself as the radio station’s broadcast van, and has everything inside that a mobile radio station needed in equipment in the mid-eighties.
The significance of WSQK goes far beyond a simple radio station. After Season 4 showed that music can break Vecna’s grip, when Max was saved by “Running Up That Hill,” the radio station could become the most important weapon. Instead of having to hand each individual Hawkins resident a Walkman and cassette, WSQK can supply the entire town simultaneously with protective music. According to a Stranger Things fan theory on Reddit, the van extends this range even further and allows the heroes to broadcast in remote areas or transmit encrypted messages to various team members.
Steve and Robin as the Voices of Hawkins
Particularly charming is the cast behind WSQK’s microphones. Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley, the unlikely duo that has provided the best humorous moments since Season 3, host a show called “The Squawk.” This naming is not just a witty play on words, but gives the radio station its nickname, which fits perfectly into the slightly quirky world of Hawkins. In aviation, “squawk” refers to the transponder code used to identify aircraft, which historically comes from the term “Squawk your parrot,” meaning “Let your parrot squawk.”
The two hosts have evolved from ice cream vendors at Scoops Ahoy through video store employees at Family Video to radio hosts now, and their chemistry could be crucial in this final season.
Their position at the microphone is strategically clever, as they can stay in contact with all other team members without having to leave their posts. Between the tense horror scenes, Steve and Robin also provide the desperately needed moments of levity that make Stranger Things what it is: a perfect balance between horror, humor and heart. Fans are already speculating that the two might encounter mysterious signals from the Upside Down during their broadcasts, similar to how they cracked the Russian code in Season 3.
The WSQK Van in Crucial Scenes
Although the fifth season is still in the starting blocks and many details are still being kept under wraps, there are already exciting hints about the van’s role in the coming episodes. In the released teasers for the season, the WSQK Van appears in a dramatic barn scene where a Demogorgon breaks in. This scene suggests that the van will be directly involved in combat action and doesn’t just serve as a safe background element.
Behind the scenes material also shows that both Robin and other main characters like Will, Mike, Joyce and Lucas can be seen at or in the WSQK radio station. This underscores that the station and its mobile extension become a central meeting point for the entire group. The van could function as a flexible operations center, making it possible to operate outside the fixed station when the situation requires it.
Netflix spared no expense or effort in building the WSQK set. The complete building was constructed as a custom-made set in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, with loving details like stacks of cassettes, microphones with thick foam covers, tape recorders and a large mixing console. This attention to detail is also reflected in the mobile van, which not only looks authentic on the outside but is equipped inside with period-correct equipment.
The Original Vehicle: The Chevrolet Van of the G-Series
The WSQK Van is based on a GMC Vandura from the 1970s, a classic of American commercial vehicle history. The van was also produced by Chevrolet as the G-Series in virtually identical construction from 1964 to 1996 and was available in various configurations, from cargo vans to passenger transporters to individually adapted versions for special purposes. The van replaced the Chevrolet Corvan and became a direct competitor to the Ford Econoline and Dodge A100.
The third generation of the G-Series, produced from 1970 to 1996, marked an important turning point in design. While the first two generations were forward control vehicles where the engine was placed between the seats, the third generation moved the engine in front of the driver. This arrangement not only improved driving characteristics but also offered more interior space, which was ideal for special applications like mobile radio stations.
The G-Series was available in various weight classes, including the G10, G20 and G30 models, which differed according to their maximum gross weight and payload capacity. For mobile operations like broadcast vans, the medium or heavier variants were frequently chosen, as they could better handle the additional weight of electronic equipment. In the 1980s, when Stranger Things Season 5 takes place, these vans were an integral part of the American small-town streetscape.
1980s Radio Technology in the Van
What makes a mobile radio station in the 1980s? The answer lies in a fascinating mix of technology that was cutting-edge at the time but appears nostalgic today. A typical broadcast van of this era was packed with tape recorders, mixing consoles, microphones, stacks of cassettes and of course a powerful antenna on the roof. FM radio technology was already established in the late 1980s and offered better sound quality than AM radio.
Local radio stations played a culturally central role in the 1980s that is hardly comprehensible today. There was no Spotify, no YouTube, no streaming services. FM radio was teenagers’ lifeline to the music world. People stayed up late at night for special shows, recorded favorite songs on cassettes and called in to make requests. Radio stations also broadcast strange late-night segments with conspiracy theories, ghost stories and listener calls, which fits perfectly into the world of Stranger Things.
For Hawkins, a small town in Indiana, the local radio station was more than just entertainment. It was the heart of the community, shaped trends, spread news and gave residents a shared sense of belonging. DJs had real personality, and their voices felt like friends speaking directly into the living room or car. In a town plagued by supernatural threats, this familiar voice on the radio could make the difference between panic and solidarity.
The Revell Kit: Newly Developed for Stranger Things Fans
Revell has created a completely newly developed model kit for the WSQK Van. With 75 parts, the model is suitable for both beginners and experienced model builders, with a recommended age of ten years. The difficulty level is rated at Level 4, which relates to the somewhat more difficult-to-apply decals on the sides of the vehicle. In 1:25 scale, an impressive model is created that is large enough to showcase the characteristic details of the series vehicle.
Particularly noteworthy is the screen-accurate equipment of the kit. Revell promises a detailed implementation of the series template, from the distinctive retro paint scheme to the characteristic antenna on the roof. The included assembly instructions naturally also contain the appropriate decals to authentically design the van with the iconic WSQK logo and typical 1980s color accents.
A special highlight is the interior equipment, which contains everything a mobile radio station needed in its broadcast van in equipment in the mid-eighties. This shows the attention to detail with which Revell designed this kit. The interior of the van offers an authentic look into the world of mobile broadcasting technology of that era. For model builders, this means an exciting challenge, as the correct representation of these technical details requires precision and patience during assembly and painting.
Perfect Addition to Your Stranger Things Collection
The WSQK Van thus fits perfectly into the existing Stranger Things collection from Revell. Anyone who already owns the Chevrolet K5 Blazer from Police Chief Hopper or the VW T3 Surfer Boy Pizza Van can now meaningfully expand their collection. All three vehicles are available at the same price and together form an impressive fleet from the Stranger Things universe.
The attention to detail of Stranger Things is legendary. Actress Winona Ryder served throughout the entire production as an unofficial 1980s authenticity check and corrected even the smallest details, from the release timing of certain songs to everyday objects. This accuracy is also reflected in the Revell models, which are interesting not only for series fans but also for lovers of classic American commercial vehicles.
The WSQK Van embodies a very special moment in the series. It stands symbolically for the final battle, for the last desperate attempt to save Hawkins. While you assemble this model, you can imagine how Steve and Robin sit behind the microphones, how encrypted messages are sent and how music streams from the speakers to protect the town from Vecna’s influence. It’s more than just a model kit—it’s a piece of Hawkins history that you can build with your own hands.
A Must for Every Stranger Things Fan and Model Builder
The Revell WSQK Van brings the atmosphere of the final Stranger Things season directly to your workbench. With its combination of nostalgic vehicle design, authentic 1980s aesthetics and its significant role in the series, this kit is an enrichment for any collection. The 75 parts offer enough challenge to make the build interesting without being overwhelming. Especially the interior equipment with the mobile radio studio equipment makes this kit something special that goes beyond a simple vehicle model.
For model builders who follow the series, the van is more than just a plastic model. It represents the fighting spirit of the Hawkins heroes, the importance of community and communication, and the unbroken hope even in the face of overwhelming darkness. As you assemble the individual parts, apply the characteristic paint scheme and attach the decals, you become part of this final battle. The WSQK Van is not just a vehicle—it’s a symbol for the final act of an epic story that has shaped an entire generation.