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After the giant 1/35th kits (link), ICM is to release in 2025 1/72nd Sikorsky CH-54 Tahre kits. Source: catalogue 2024. V.P.

In 2024 (originally in Q4 2023, but...) , ICM is to release a 1/32nd Henschel Hs-123A-1 kit - ref. 32014 Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM32014 Box art V.P.

Finally a KUTA build with wings from me - a FW 189, ICM kit. Another oh so close build, It needs some masking/painting to do the yellow areas on the body/under-wings, decals, the props and various other minor bits attaching. Let's hope that texture on the wings is mainly dust and those glazing masks come off without too much damage!

Krankenpanzerwagen (35113) Sd.Kfz.251/8 Ausf.A WWII German Ambulance 1:35 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd The Hanomag Sd.Kfz.251 was the mainstay of the German armoured Personnel Carrier fleet, but was flexible enough to also take up many other tasks within the Nazi War Machine, from Anti-Aircraft duties to Howitzer carriage and back again to armoured reconnaissance, which led to a lot of variants. With two steering wheels at the front, the rear was carried on tracks, giving it good clearance and rough ground capabilities that a truck simply could not manage once the going got tough. It was armoured sufficiently to deflect non-armour piercing rounds from small arms fire, but with an open top it was susceptible to both grenades and aerial bombardment, where the armour would concentrate the blast and reduce the interior and its occupants to a tangled mess. The Ausf.A was used at the beginning of WWII alongside the Ausf.B, and was generally fitted with an MG.34 on the front cab wall, operated from inside. The armoured ambulance variant was of course unarmed to avoid braking convention, and in place of the military equipment normally found in the load area, it had two litters for casualties, and was crewed by medical staff. There were more than 20 official variants and more unofficial field modifications, but despite their seemingly ubiquitous nature in German service, not many were preserved after the war, and they are highly sought after now, with many examples being based upon post-war builds from Czech factories that have been made to look as convincing as possible by their restorers. While the purist may notice the differences in films, they're still a huge improvement on repainted American half-tracks from an authenticity point of view. The Kit This is a reboxing with different parts of the 2018 tooling, and extends the range to a less combative aspect of the vehicle’s operational duties. The kit arrives in a medium sized box, with a captive flap on the lower tray, and inside are six sprues of grey styrene, a clear sprue, and two sprues of flexible black parts. A small decal sheet is found slipped inside the glossy colour printed instruction booklet, completing the package. This is a full interior kit, and has the engine, crew compartment and a substantial number of internal parts, including personal weapons, stowage and two beds mounted on one side, with a stretcher folded against one wall to bring new patients to and from the vehicle, so the build should result in a highly detailed model. The tracks included are of the flexible variety, although a little flash is evident here and there on our sample. This is easily removed with a sharp pair of scissors or a brand-new #11 blade on a firm surface. Construction begins with the underfloor pan, which has two cross-members fore and aft, adding the sides of the tray, which is then added to the interior floor, and has stowage bins added to the sponsons over the tracks. The angular hull sides are held in the correct angle by butting up against the sides of the bins, and the rear bulkhead with door cut-out completes alignment. The engine compartment is fabricated from various panels including an armoured sump-guard, and work commences on the engine and compartment fittings. Suspension, steering gear and the block are assembled and fitted in turn, with colour call-outs to help you get the painting right, and a twin-fan radiator at the very front. The firewall is fitted out with the driver's controls with decal applied, then is inserted into a ledge within the hull, after which some engine ancillaries fit to the other side of the bulkhead. The driver's seat, bench seats and a range of tools, an MP40 and spare ammunition are installed with the upper hull plates off, while a narrow former marks the difference between the cab and crew compartment, which will be hidden under the upper hull part when it is installed. The bench seating in the rear compartment is assembled and fitted in place on the left side, adding a four-part ribbed drum at the front between the crew seats, and a single bench seat at the rear, all supported by simple legs with diagonal braces. On the right side, a litter is built from two rails with cross-members and the bed surface, inserting it in four recesses in the floor along with a blanket strapped to the walls, and a co-driver’s seat. The folded away right seats are fastened to the wall, leaving the rear seat open for the use of medical crew or passengers, adding a headrest on supports and several brackets around the edge of the lower walls. The same headrest is also applied to the left jump seat, and a handrail is fixed to the crew divide, drilling holes to accept the pegs long the flat top of the part, preferably before installation. Oddly, the model is then flipped on its back to add a steering linkage and actuator before attention turns to the upper hull. Several vision hatches and their multi-part hinge mechanism are supplied as separate parts, as are the engine compartment hatches, plus some small flush-fitting forward stowage bins. A bullet-splash strip is applied to the roof above the crew eats, but the gun mount and stowage racks are removed, as is the gun mount at the rear of the vehicle, presumably to discourage the crews from the temptation of fitting defensive armament that could result in attacks by a confused enemy. Two thin strips are applied to the lip of the upper hull, fitting a stowage box under the dash on the co-driver’s side, attaching the rack for the upper bed across the opening, and mounting a folded stretcher on the underside of the left lip, a single part that has some impressive moulding to give the impression of multiple parts, some made from fabric. The second bed is made in the same manner as the first, and is mounted as the upper and lower hull halves are joined, trapping the two hinge frames between its halves. The angled doors are then fitted to those hinges, allowing them to operate if you have been careful with the glue, affixing a fire extinguisher to the right door near the centreline. It's unusual to get this far into an AFV model without building up the wheels and/or tracks, but it's at this stage that it's done here. A V-shaped anti-roll bar is fitted to the front axle and the rear hull, fixing swing-arms and stub axles slot into holes in the sides of the chassis, with the interleaved wheels slid onto the axles both in pairs and singly, with the drive sprocket at the front. The two steering wheels are made up from two-part hubs, and have rubberised tyres fitted to them before slotting them onto the front axles, and with the three layers of road wheels installed, the tracks can be wound round the lengths, and glued with a suitable glue, probably super-glue, or CA as modellers tend to call it. The build is finished off by addition of pioneer tools, fire extinguisher, number plate, rear towing hook, spare fuel cans in two-part racks, one per door, crew step at the rear, four hoops to accommodate a tilt in foul weather, rear view mirrors, and headlamps with clear lenses on the front fenders. Markings In keeping with German armour it's either Panzer Grey or Dunkelgelb (dark yellow), the latter camouflages as the war progressed, any camouflage benefits cancelled out by the large red and white crosses painted on each side, front and bonnet of the vehicle. From the box you can build one of the following: Sd.Kfz. 251/8 Ausf.A livery Variant for North Africa, 1941-42 Sd.Kfz. 251/8 Ausf.A livery Variant for Eastern Front, 1941-42 Decals are printed on a bright blue paper, have good register, colour density and sharpness, with decals for the driver's binnacle included on the sheet. Conclusion A welcome re-release of a Wehrmacht staple with a more peaceful task in mind, that will surely find its way into many collections, and is well detailed enough to be built out of the box for diorama purposes. Very highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of

ICM is to release in 2021 several variants from the Ryan Firebee. - ref. 48400 - Q-2A (AQM-34B) Firebee with trailer (1 airplane and trailer) Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM48400 - ref. 48401 - Q-2C (BQM-34A) Firebee with trailer (1 airplane and trailer) Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM48401 - ref. 48402 - Q-2A (XM-21, KDA-1) Firebee, US Drone (2 airplanes and pylons) Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM48402 - ref. 48403 - Q-2C (BQM-34A) Firebee, US Drone (2 airplanes and pilons) (100% new molds) NEW - III quarter Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM48403 V.P.

They are already in the 1/48th scale programme 2024 (link), but ICM is also to release 1/35th Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk kits in 2025. Source: catalogue 2024 V.P.

V3000S/SSM Maultier ‘Einheitsfahrerhaus’ (35410) 1:35 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd The V3000 was a product of Ford’s German operation that was established before WWII as Ford Werke, and even after WWII started, Mr Ford, who was quite a fan of Herr Hitler, continued doing business with the regime, with some saying that this relationship continued much longer than it perhaps should have done. The truck was powered by a V8 petrol engine that output a respectable 95hp, with a load capacity of three tonnes and a single enclosed cabin, that while the crew compartment was angular with no consideration to aerodynamics, it kept the crew dry and warm. Initial production batches suffered from overheating issues when the weather was warmer, so later variants had larger radiators and additional vents around the bonnet to allow more cooling air into the compartment. The V3000S came into service in 1941, and was built in many forms, sometimes referred to as the Maultier when the rear axle was replaced by a track system to improve traction on poor ground, others using the long-winded Einheitsfahrerhaus, which means single cabin. As strategic resources became an issue, efforts were made to simplify production and reduce the use of metallic components, with many cabs being made from pressed wooden panels, which introduced the problem of rotting during the extreme freeze/thaw cycle that was inherent to the climate on the Eastern Front. Over 25,000 were made of all types throughout the war, and at the end of the conflict, even though Ford’s factory had led a relatively charmed life with little damage and had chosen to use slave labour despite not being forced to, the parent company was given $1.1m in war damages, and was allowed access to the profits from the WWII period. Mr Ford must have had some pretty powerful connections. The Kit This is a reboxing of a fully-wheeled kit that originated in 2010, but has had new parts added in the interim, and has also been seen in other people’s boxes over the years. It arrives in ICM’s top-opening box with a captive flap on the lower tray, and inside are five sprues in grey styrene, a clear sprue, small decal sheet inside the glossy colour printed instruction booklet, which has colour profiles of the decal options on the rear pages. Detail is good, and incorporates a full engine and bay, chassis, axles, tracks and cab features, as we’ve come to expect from ICM. Construction begins with the chassis rails, which are extended on top at the rear, then are fitted with three two-part u-clamps, after which the cross-braces are prepared by adding small parts to them to improve the detail. There are a total of six cross-beams joining the two rails together, then the leaf-spring suspension is attached underneath each end, adding extra parts at the front. The V8 engine is built upon a two-part block, which has cylinder heads and ancillaries added, plus air box, gear lever over the transmission box, and cooling fan at the front. The completed motor is dropped into the front of the chassis, with a two-part spare tyre on a double-rail in the middle of the chassis, then a choice of early or late radiators are built, one having directing tin-work to guide the air from the fan behind it. It is fitted to the front of the chassis, joined to the engine by a pair of L-shaped feeder hoses, which vary between the style of radiator you have chosen. The front wheels are made from two halves, with a stepped washer placed in the centre without glue to allow them to rotate after completion, so don’t overdo the glue. They are joined to the ends of the front axle, with a steering arm ensuring that the wheels turn in unison once they are glued in place and the axle is fitted to the leaf-springs under the chassis, which also received a straight bumper iron and two curved support rods to the sides. An exhaust is made from three parts, leading from the down-pipe across the chassis, then back toward a muffler, after which it dog-legs back across the chassis to exit in front of the rear axle. A sub-frame for the track assembly is provided, and must be detailed with several brackets and pivots, before the drive axle is built from two parts to create the thickness of the differential, fitting three-layered drive sprockets to each end, then making up four twin wheel bogeys with separate springs and a small return roller at the top. The rear axle is fitted to the open end of the sub-frame, and the idler wheels are installed on the simple axle at the other end, mounting the four bogeys, two per side on the remaining tubular axles. The track is link-and-length, using long runs across the top and bottom of the road wheels, adding short diagonals to the ends of the bottom run, then completing the rounded ends with eight individual links wrapped round the idler and drive sprockets. The completed track assembly is mounted on the underside of the chassis, and power is provided by a short drive-shaft from the transmission to the differential. The cab is begun by inserting the two radiused windscreen panels into the frame at the top of the firewall bulkhead, and placing the dashboard under it, applying a decal to depict the instruments. The floor panel with integral kick-board has the foot pedals and handbrake lever applied, then it is mated with the bulkhead, which has a lower section installed at the same time to extend it into the firewall and create the footwell. A short scuttle panel covers the space under the windscreen, and the engine bay’s side walls are fitted to mount the curved radiator grille between their front ends, after which the driver gets his steering wheel on a short column, then a bench seat is glued to the floor in two parts, adding the door frames on each side, and the rear of the cab that has the back cushion and a small window fitted before it is mated with the base and the roof is mounted. The doors each have handles and window-winders plus flat clear panes to keep the weather out. The tapering bonnet has two extensions added to the underside, plus a brace across the underside and a fin with logo down the centre, or there is an alternative with more grille cut-outs in the front of the bonnet that has a fin without logo and uses different parts, including a separate front that has the grille cut-outs moulded-in. The assemblies are brought together to complete the cab, which then has a choice of three styles of fenders, all of which require alteration to remove or shorten the crew steps that are moulded in. A convoy light, headlamps with clear lenses, door handles, fuel filler cap, width indicator lollipops, windscreen wipers, outer door handles and even a shovel are added around the exterior of the cab to finish it off. The load bed has a single floor part that is stiffened by adding five cross-members underneath, and four shallow risers around the edges, the headboard being higher than the others, with a cut-out for rear visibility. Two small three-part stowage boxes are made and fixed under opposite corners of the bed, then the front mudguards are fitted to reduce spatter from the tracks covering the cab, with no regard for those behind them. The headboard has a two-part frame for the tilt slotted into receivers moulded into the headboard, and the three sub-assemblies are then brought together to create the finished truck. Markings There are three options included on the tiny decal sheet, all in later war Dunkelgelb dark yellow, with one wearing a comprehensive brown and green camouflage scheme applied over the yellow, the other overlaid with a heavy coating of winter distemper paint that is starting to wear away into a mottled pattern in places. From the box you can build one of the following: Non-camouflage 1944 Camouflage 1944 Winter Camouflage 1944 Decals are by ICM’s usual partners, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion A welcome re-release of the base kit in later war tracked variation, where it more closely resembles some of Soviet Russia’s output of the time, especially around the boxy cab. Plenty of detail is apparent, and construction should be straight forward, remembering that you have a choice of radiators that then informs your choice of bonnet fittings. Highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of

OV-10D+ Bronco (72186) 1:72 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd The Bronco was conceived as a light attack, long loiter aircraft of modest size, enabling it to operate from unprepared fields and roads close to the combat zone. As so often seems the case, the final design turned out to be much larger and heavier due to the requirements of the avionics and ejection seats, thus limiting its use to conventional airfields. The twin boom aircraft first flew in 1965 and was destined to serve with the US Navy, Air Force and Marines as a replacement for the ageing Cessna O-1 Bird Dog & O-2 Skymaster. The Marines were the first to take the OV-10 into service as a forward air controller platform operating both night and day missions. Whilst the Bronco is best known for its operations in Vietnam, it also served in later conflicts as late as the Gulf War before being retired from US front-line service in 1995. The USAF received Broncos in 1968 and deployed the aircraft in the Forward Air Control (FAC) role, using smoke laying methods initially, and later using laser targeting designators. Eventually after extensive modernisation to the -D model with the addition of a FLIR turret and new avionics, then another upgrade to the -D+ version that involved replacement of much of the wiring loom and further stiffening of the wings to enable it to carry more and fly harder. By this time it carried its own ground attack armament including rockets, machine guns and bombs, plus targeting equipment that gave it the capability of Light Attack Aircraft, and made it a scary prospect for the enemy to see overhead. Seven export contracts were signed with other foreign operators including Germany, Columbia and Indonesia, each having their own letter suffixes, and the very last of which will be leaving service in the near future after long service. The last action of the Bronco in US Marine service was the first Gulf War, where a mixture of As and D+s fought side-by-side bravely carrying out the Forward Air Controller (FAC) task against enemy forces, although they did suffer some losses due to equipment inadequacies and possibly owing to its relatively slow speed making it an easier target for the anti-aircraft assets of the opposition. Although efforts were made to keep the bronco in service, by 1995 it was withdrawn from active service and handed-off to other government institutions, with the job being carried out from there on by two-seat F-18s that had speed, modern avionics and plenty of self-defence capabilities to hand. The Kit This is a reboxing of the brand-new tooling from ICM, bringing the fruits of their research creating the 1:48 tooling of this aircraft to the smaller scale modeller. The kit arrives in a shallow top-opening box with a captive flap on the lower tray, and inside are four sprues of grey styrene, a rectangular sprue of clear parts, a decal sheet, and glossy-covered instruction booklet that has spot colour throughout, and profiles of the four decal options on the back pages. The level of detail on the sprues is excellent, and almost identical in terms of content as the larger kit, differing mostly in terms of sprue-count due to the comparative size of the parts, as more can be fitted on one sprue in this scale. Construction begins with the rear seat, which is made from six parts, and is inserted into the back of the cockpit floor in front of the aft bulkhead, which has moulded-in equipment boxes on the top shelf. Side consoles, control column and throttle quadrants are added, then the bulkhead between the seats is made up with rudder pedals on a cross-brace under the bulkhead between crew. The instrument panel is then cemented to the top of the bulkhead, with a decal and its own coaming moulded into the top of the part, slotting it into the space between positions. The front seat is built using the same four parts in the initial step, but with three different parts on the back that have two “ears” behind the head-box. A control column and individual rudder pedals are added to the floor, then the side consoles are fitted either side of the seat. The front bulkhead has three detail parts for the nose gear bay glued to the rear, then it is put into the front of the cockpit, to be joined by detailed tops to the side consoles. The pilot’s panel has a decal applied as it is inserted under the coaming, which has a shallow central box glued into the top, allowing it to be fitted into the front of the cockpit. The cockpit is mated to the fuselage pod floor, and is flipped over to add a pair of sidewalls with moulded-in bay doors for the nose gear bay, the top section of the nose gear strut, and a retraction jack. The nose sides have moulded-in cockpit sidewalls with plenty of detail, adding a document box to the port side, and painting them according to the colour call-outs that appear throughout the instructions. A small bulkhead with kinked pipe is inserted into the tip of the nose, adding weight of just 5 grams to be placed in the space in front of the bulkhead before you close the two halves around the cockpit. An insert is inserted in front of the cockpit, and a circular light is inserted under the moulded-in probe at the tip of the nose, adding a pair of intakes to the sides of the nose, and a strake under the rear centreline, then building up the two winglets from top and bottom halves, plus an insert that depicts the gun openings, and a wingtip to finish them off. They glue into the fuselage in shaped recesses on either side, and four raised turrets are added either side of the belly strake, with a small bay door fitted to the retraction jack in the nose bay. The nose wheel is made from two halves and is slipped between the legs of the yoke that is glued onto the upper nose strut along with a linkage, joined by a pair of gun barrels in, and four sway-braces under each winglet. A hemispherical faceted FLIR turret is inserted into a hole under the nose, which quickly differentiates this boxing from earlier variants. The upper wing is a full-span part, and has a long spar that doubles as the back of the flap bays fitted in a recess with locating ribs helping achieve the correct position. The lower outer wing panels each have 1mm holes drilled in them if you are installing the underwing pylons, then they are added to the upper wing along with the inner panels, leaving space for the engine nacelles and fuselage nacelle that will be fitted later. The four flap sections are built in mirrored pairs from three parts each, and the ailerons have two small parts added to the top and bottom before all six flying surfaces are glued into the rear of the wing, fitting an actuator to the inner edge of the ailerons, a laser warning sensor on a hump on the wing over the fuselage, and two intake baffles above where the engines will be built shortly. Firstly, the wings are mated to the fuselage nacelle from above, and the windscreen part with a clear instrument in the top framing is fitted over the coaming. The canopy roof joins the windscreen to the rear of the cockpit opening, then the two side glazing panels are fixed to the remaining gaps in the side, with no in-built option to pose either entryway open, other than taking a razor saw to them. Unless you’re very brave, that’s going to be a job for the aftermarket folks. The two engine nacelles and their booms are built in mirror image, starting by adding the main bay doors and an instrument box on one wall, then building the main gear legs onto the forward bay roof from several parts, fixing the main roof and aft bulkhead before they are trapped between the two nacelle halves, finishing off the front with the intake fairing and a two-part shaft that is linked to the back of the spinner, leaving the prop spinning if you go easy with the glue. The lower nacelle skin fits on a pair of ribs, fitting the two-part exhausts for the turbo-prop engines, an auxiliary intake and the rudder panel as the last step. Once both booms are complete, they are offered up to the wing underside, remembering to add the three-part elevator panel between the two tail fins. The Bronco had dive brakes in the shape of four fin-shaped protrusions that popped-up sideways from inside the wing, and these can be depicted deployed, or left off if you prefer, adding a pair of three-part props with spinners to the front of each nacelle. A windscreen wiper blade is fixed to the windscreen with as little glue as possible to avoid marring the screen, two small blade antennae are inserted into depressions in the top of the nacelles, and a horn balance is installed on the top and bottom of the elevator, adding a blade antenna to the port nacelle behind the gear bay. The main wheels are each two parts, and are glued to the swing-arm at the bottom of the main gear legs, adding a lateral towel-rail antenna behind the nose gear bay, and another small antenna at the rear of the port nacelle. The optional wing pylons are two-parts each, and fit under the wings in the holes you drilled earlier. Weapons There is a substantial range of munitions supplied on the sprues, as follows: 2 x LAU-33 Rocket Pod 2 x Mk.81 Snakeye Iron Bomb 2 x Mk.81 Lowdrag Iron Bomb 2 x LAU-69A Rocket Pod 2 x LAU-68 Rocket Pod 2 x Mk.82 Snakeye Iron Bomb 2 x Mk.82 Lowdrag Iron Bomb 2 x Mk.77 Incendiary Bomb 2 x LAU-10A Rocket Pod 1 x 150 gal. Fuel Tank Each weapon is well-detailed, all made from two halves, adding end caps to the tubular rocket pods, and even individual rocket tips on the LAU-10A. There is a full range of stencils supplied for the various weapons on the decal sheet, with diagrams to the sides of the four pages of profiles. An additional page in the instructions shows the correct location for the various weapons, and which are compatible with the mounting points under the wings and fuselage. Markings There are four options on the decal sheet, three in various camo schemes, one in an all-over grey scheme. From the box you can build one of the following: OV-10D+ 155489 Marine Observation Sqn. 1, (VMO-1), USS Theodore Roosevelt, 1990 OV-10D+ 155494 Marine Observation Sqn. 2, (VMO-2), Saudi Arabia, 1991 OV-10D+ 155473 Marine Observation Sqn. 2, (VMO-2), Saudi Arabia, 1991 OV-10D+ 155499 Marine Observation Sqn. 1, (VMO-1), early 1990s The instruction booklet includes a half page diagram of the canopy, giving silhouette drawings of masks that you can cut yourself to avoid having to shell out for a masking set, and you can either apply tape then cut them out, or lay a clear acetate sheet over the drawings before applying tape, cutting the masks carefully with a new #11 blade to protect the instructions, and avoid the difficulties that may occur releasing the tape from the paper if they come away together. Decals are by ICM’s usual partners, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion This is a reboxing of the first new tooling of this type in the new millennium, and benefits from the advances in injection moulding technology and CAD rendering that give the modeller a thoroughly modern, well detailed kit of the last Bronco variant that is complete with a host of weapons, some of which will remain in the spares box. Highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of

ICM is to release in 2016 two new variants from its Junkers Ju-88 kit. Already released: Ju-88A-5 kit http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234975682-148-junkers-ju-88a-5-by-icm-released/ - ref. 48233 - Junkers Ju-88A-4 - WWII German Bomber - released Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM48233 - ref. 48234 - Junkers Ju-88A-14 - WWII German Bomber - released Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM48234 V.P.

Junkers Ju-88A-8 Paravane (48230) 1:48 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd The Ju-88 was designed as a schnellbomber in the mid-30s, and at the time it was faster than current fighter designs, so it was projected that it could infiltrate, bomb and exfiltrate without being intercepted. That was the theory anyway. By the time WWII began in the west, fighters had caught up with the previously untouchable speed of the 88, and it needed escorting to protect it from its Merlin equipped opponents. It turned out to be a jack of all trades however, and was as competent as a night fighter, dive bomber or doing reconnaissance as it was bombing Britain. They even popped a big gun in the nose and sent it against tanks and bombers, with variable success. The A series sported a pair of Jumo 211 engines in cylindrical cowlings producing over 1,000hp each, and was improved gradually up until the A-17. During the Battle of Britain the British defenders flew balloons, or Aerostats above their main centres of population, tied to the ground via strong steel hawsers, with the intention of snagging unwitting enemy aircraft and bringing them crashing to the ground. To combat this, some German aircraft were fitted with wire cutting blades in arrow-headed arrangements around the front of the aircraft to cut or deflect the cables and save the aircraft from becoming another casualty of the wily Brits. The Ju-88A-8 was outfitted with such a contraption, referred to as a Paravane, and to counter the extra weight the crew was reduced to three, and the engines were upgraded to Jumo 211F-1 that produced more power at higher revs to counter both the weight and drag. It wasn’t wholly successful, as the performance was worse despite the attempts to ameliorate this. They were of course only of use at lower altitudes to which aerostats could be raised. The Kit This is a new variation on the original tooling of an A-5 and subsequent A-11 that were release by ICM, with new paravane parts on a single additional sprue added to make it specific to this boxing. The box is the usual top-opening with an inner lid on the lower tray, and inside you will find nine sprues in grey styrene, one in clear, a decal sheet and a glossy covered instruction booklet with spot colour inside, and the decal options in full colour on the rear pages. If you have been lucky enough to see the other kits, you'll know that detail is right up there in terms of quality and crispness, with ICM improving leaps and bound over the last several years despite impediments, which is great news for us modellers, as they aren't frightened of tackling what to us may seem niche subject matters. Construction begins with the addition of sidewall details in the capacious cockpit area of the fuselage. Rear bulkhead, side consoles and seats are all added to the cockpit sides for a change, with an insert in the fuselage for the circular antenna and tail wheel added into the starboard side. The instrument panel is supplied with decals, and fits into the fuselage during joining. The missing floor is added to the lower fuselage panel that includes the lower parts of the inner wings and gives the structure extra strength. It also receives the rudder pedals, control column, and the two remaining crew seats before being joined to the fuselage. The tail plane has articulated flying surfaces, and the wings are supplied as top and bottom halves, with the flaps and ailerons separate from the box, having neat curved fairings so they look good when fitted at an angle. The flaps include the rear section of the soon-to-be-fitted nacelles, which are added as separate parts to avoid sink-marks, and these and the ailerons run full-span, terminating just as the wingtip begins. This variant was fitted with the under-fuselage gondola, and each side has separate glazing panels inserted from inside, and a seam running vertically through its length. It is added to the hole in the underside of the fuselage, with the front and rear glazing plus zwilling mounted machine guns later in the build. At this time the landing gear is made up on a pair of upstands that are added to the underwing in preparation for the installation of the nacelle cowlings. The engines must be built up first though, with a high part count and plenty of detail, mounting on a rear firewall that securely fits inside the cowling. Even though this is an in-line engine with a V-shaped piston layout, the addition of the annular radiators gives it the look of a radial, with their representation added to the front of the cowling, obscuring much of the engine detail. The side panels can be left off to show all that detail however, and I'm sure someone will be along with some in-scale opened panels in due course. The cooling flaps around the cowling are separate, and the exhausts have separate stacks, which aren't hollow but are large enough to make boring them out with a drill a possibility. The completed nacelles fit to the underwing over the top of the main gear installation, securing in place with four pegs, two on each side of each nacelle. The props are made from spinner, backplate and a single part containing all three blades, sliding onto a pin projecting from the engine front, which will require some glue if you want to keep them on. At this point the instructions recommend adding the canopy glazing, which consists of a choice of two faceted nose cones, and the main greenhouse for the cockpit aperture. The rear portion is made from two additional parts due to its double "blown" shape to accommodate the two rear-facing gun positions, so that the gunner's head isn't pressed against the canopy. The guns are fitted through the windscreen and the two circular ports on the rear, although no ammo feed is supplied. Under the wings the four bomb crutches on aerodynamic mounts are built up with anti-sway braces and installed, with bombs supplied that have two of their fins moulded separately, along with the stabilising struts that fit into notches in the fins. While the airframe is flipped over, the two-part wheels, tail-wheel bay doors and twin main gear bay doors are added, both having good detail and the former a radial tread. Exhaust covers are fixed over the individual exits, and a small number of actuators are glued to recesses in the ailerons. Addition of the canopy mounted antenna completes the standard build, but the paravane parts are yet to be added. There are four wing-mounted supports for the cutting blade, each one an A-frame that attaches above and below the wing. They are joined by two more angled A-frames that project from the sides of the nose, all six supporting the two blade symmetrical sections that meet up in the centre and at the wingtips. This and the other delicate parts are best left off until main painting is complete, but that’s your decision, not mine. Markings The kit includes three markings options, and although there are no Swastikas on the sheet, they are supplied in halves for those that want them. From the box you can build one of the following: Junkers Ju 88 A-8 Paravane, 5./KG 30, 1941 Junkers Ju 88 A-8 Paravane, KG 30,1941 Junkers Ju 88 A-8 Paravane, KG 51, 1941 The colours are picked out using letters that correspond to a table on the front page, which gives the names and paint codes in ICM, Revell and Tamiya ranges, so should be easy to convert to your paint system of choice. The decals are printed in good register, colour density and sharpness, with additional instrument dials included on a clear carrier film to help with cockpit painting. All the stencils are legible, with a thin carrier film cut close to the printing. As is common now with ICM kits, there is a page of the instruction booklet devoted to the masking of the canopy, using the printed shapes on the right of the page and the diagrams on the left to create your own masks if you wish. It goes up to 64 thanks to the faceted greenhouse glazing. Conclusion ICM's range of Ju.88s, He.111s and Do.17s are a good example of how far they have come in recent years, adding value to their brand, and improving their reputation with each release. The kit is well-detailed and comprehensive in what it includes, and the Paravane gear is a little bit out of the ordinary, which is always fun. Highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of

Helicopter Ground Personnel – Vietnam War (53102) 1:35 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd There has been a spate of new helicopter kit releases in 1:35, many of them from ICM themselves, including their CH-53 Tarhe “Skycrane” and their AH-1 Cobra series that’s ongoing, and appears to be the focus for this figure set, although other kits could well use them in different positions. This set arrives in a top-opening box with ICM’s usual captive flap on the bottom tray, and inside is a single sprue of grey styrene, a glossy instruction sheet that’s printed on both sides in colour, and a flyer for their acrylic paint range that debuted some time ago. There are four figures supplied on the sprue, two of whom are standing to inspect their charge, one leaning over for a better view. The other two are kneeling or sitting, the kneeling gentleman inspecting something low down, while the other chap is sitting atop a winglet on the box top, screwdriver in hand, contemplating his next move in repairing or maintaining the engine compartment he has open. This last figure is the most kit-specific, but could easily be re-tasked by adding a box or platform of suitable height under his backside to give his stance some support. The parts for each figure are found in separate areas of the sprue for ease of identification, and parts breakdown is sensibly placed along clothing seams or natural breaks to minimise clean-up of the figures once they are built up. The sculpting is typically excellent, as we’ve come to expect from ICM’s artists and tool-makers, with natural poses, drape of clothing and textures appropriate to the parts of the model. Seamlines and stitching have been engraved into the surfaces, making detail painting easier, and more rewarding to the eye. Markings There are no decals provided, but over the page from the sprue diagram and paint chart are four drawings of the figures in colour, with part numbers supplied in black, and paint codes in red boxes that correspond with the chart and give codes for ICM’s own paint system, plus the generic name of the colour in question. It also lets us know that ICM’s acrylic boxed set #3023 can be used to paint the figures, which you can find in our mega review, scrolling down to the appropriately numbered set. Conclusion I’ve worn out my keyboard saying that figures provide a much-needed human scale to a model, but whilst that remains true, I’m hardly going to tell you otherwise. Excellent sculpting and natural poses make this a compelling set for anyone in the market for figures for their 1:35 helicopter. Highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of

Gulaschkanone WWII Mobile Field Kitchen LKW AHN (35415) 1:35 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd The original AHX truck design by Renault could carry a load of 2 tonnes, and when Germany conquered France they ordered more into production along with the larger AHN, which was capable of carrying 4 tonnes, but was designated 3.5 tonnes by the Wehrmacht, probably as a safety feature. The AHN was equipped with a 4L straight-six petrol engine coupled to a four speed gearbox. From introduction in 1941 to the end of WWII they served in all theatres, and around 4,000 were built in various forms. One option was a field kitchen, carrying a wooden carriage-style 2-wheeled kitchen unit in the load bed, which contained various ovens and hot-plates to serve food to the German troops in all sorts of places in active service. It drafted the smoke from combustion away through a tall chimney, which could be folded down for transit, giving rise to the nickname ‘Gulaschkanone’, due to the folded chimney vaguely resembling the barrel of an artillery piece. The Kit Stemming from a new tool in 2014, this is a reboxing with the addition of a Field Kitchen and some accessories, plus a set of load bed sides with diamond patterned stiffening shapes along their length. Inside the box are nine sprues of grey styrene, a clear sprue, a bag of seven flexible plastic tyres, decal sheet and instruction booklet with profiles printed on the rear pages. Starting with the truck, this is a full detail kit, and construction starts with the chassis, which is built from rails and cross-members, into which you install the engine when it has been assembled from nineteen parts that results in good detail. The two-part radiator slots into the front, and then two C-shaped box-sections with a single cross rail are fitted underneath, adding suspension in the front and rear using leaf springs, which are then fixed to axles after the exhaust has been glued to the chassis rails. Steering linkages are fitted into the left side of the engine, joining up with the front axle's steering rack and steering column, following which the wheels are added, made up from the flexible tyres slipped over the two-part styrene hubs. The rear wheels are mounted in pairs for weight distribution, so have twin hubs joined together with a crenellated mating surface. Fuel tank, spare wheel, drive-shaft to the rear axle and towing hitches are then installed to finish off the lower of the vehicle. The slope-nosed cab is next to be fabricated, and this begins with the stepped floor, which has two-part crew steps added to the underside, and then has the sides with clear quarter-lights put in place, with the front completed in the same manner, adding the windscreen panels. Inside the cab an air filter box, instruments (with decal), windscreen wiper actuators on the top of the windscreen, driver controls and comfy-looking barrel-backed seats are all glued in place after painting, and the rear panel with small rear-view window on the left finishes off the framework. The crew doors with handles and winders have glazing added and are attached to the front edge of their aperture in open or closed positions as you see fit, while the roof goes on as a single part, and has a couple of ejector-pin marks to square away if you think they will be seen. Outer door handles and indicator parts are fitted to the sides of the cab, then at the front is a distinctive radiator grille, which has an emblem design applied over the front, and is fitted to the hole in the nose, plus a filler cap above it. The truck bed has an arrangement of six lateral supports underneath, which are slotted together on two central rails and surrounded by side frames and another frame, so the floor can be dropped on top and the diamond-patterned sides added, including a wooden headboard and tail-gate, both with a separate frame placed over the wood effect parts. A placard is fixed on the left side of the tail-gate, and a numberplate holder with Notek convoy light is made from two parts to be fitted under the tail-gate in the next step. The rear mudguards underneath the bed are attached via a pair of supports that mate with small location blocks under the bed and ridges on the semi-cylindrical guards themselves. Both the bed and cab are fixed to their slots in the tops of the chassis rails, and set aside while the Field Kitchen is made, as it must be placed inside the load bed before the tilt framework can be glued in place. The body of the kitchen has a large circular cooking area for mixing and keeping the Goulash warm, which is first evidenced by a circular depression in the floor, fitting the rear of the box to it, then adding the sides, and an internal divide, finishing off with the front of the body. The top has a raised edge to a circular cut-out, and this has a large pan with curved bottom edges glued underneath before it too is fitted to the top of the body, creating two raised areas by doing so, which have their own tops that have bases of other storage areas, adding the lids to each one and the central circular lid to keep the goulash warm. The chimney is made from two halves, with a rib around the lower end that shows where it folds, but it is moulded as one length for this boxing at least. It mates to the top of the kitchen on a raised circle, then work begins on the kitchen’s chassis, which is more akin to that of a horse drawn coach, which is appropriate, as it was sometimes pulled by horses. The axle is fitted to the leaf-springs moulded into the curved chassis rails, adding a cross-brace and triangular web toward the towing eye. The finished frame is then glued under the body of the kitchen, fitting three covers to vents under the fireboxes, one having a folded-up ladder that could be folded down to add extra working space, or to hang cloths to dry next to the warm ovens. Two one-piece cart wheels are fitted to the ends of the axle, fixing a front rail under the kitchen, which has a V-shaped support to add strength. The final part is a support pole that is used to keep the kitchen level when unhitched, stopping the whole thing from pitching forward due to the weight of the A-frame, or back due to the weight of the goulash. Going back to the truck, the headlights with clear lenses, windscreen wipers, convoy light, and wing mirror are all attached to the sloping front and sides of the cab. Before the kitchen is put into the back of the truck, there are several accessories to be made up that can be glued into position on the bed once everything is painted and weathered. This includes a metal jug with sloped top; two jerry cans with prototypical triple handles; two buckets with separate handles; two wooden crates made from six parts each; four large sacks and six smaller sacks of ingredients, and four oval metal storage containers with separate lids. After adding the kitchen and any accessories from the kit or your own supplies into the load area, the framework of the foul-weather tilt can optionally be placed over the contents. The roof frame is moulded as a longitudinal spine with six ribs moulded-in, adding four bracing strips along its length, then gluing the vertical frames in place on the sides of the load area, mating the roof to the tops on a stepped joint to add strength. Markings There are two colour options as you might already expect, either early war Panzer Grey, or later war Dark Yellow (Dunkelgelb). The decals include stencils for the kitchen, the accessories and the wagon, plus battalion markings, and on the grey option, a little nose art on the sides of the kitchen. From the box you can build one of the following: Pre-1943 Colour Scheme Post-1943 Colour Scheme Decals are by ICM’s usual partners, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion The LKW AHN is an interesting subject in itself, but with a gulaschkanone in the back with a truck-load of accessories, it becomes even more unusual. Detail is excellent throughout, and the inclusion of the main food preparation area gives options for faking your own meal, although it might mean pulling it out of the truck for a diorama, as who makes a meal under a close-fitting tilt frame? Highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of

ICM is to release a new variant from its 1/72nd Tupolev Tu-2 "Bat" kit ( ref.72031 - https://icm.com.ua/aviation/tu-2s-2/), as Tu-2T - Soviet torpedo plane - ref. 72030 Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM72030 V.P.

In Q4 2023, ICM is to release a new tool 1/48th Mitsubishi Ki-21-Ib "Sally" kit - ref. 48195. Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM48195 V.P.

Always the First (35754) Air Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 1:35 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian armed forces have had to become their country’s protectors in the most practical manner, and it’s a job that they have taken to like the proverbial ducks to water. Their regular forces have been expanded by the general populace taking up arms against the invader, and their Special Forces, amongst which are the Air Assault troops, have become masters of stealth and tactics, causing many costly set-backs to the invader that helps keep Ukraine free. The title of this new box of figures from Ukrainian company ICM isn’t an immediately clear indication of what’s in the box unless you read the smaller text below or already know a little about their organisational structure. Air Assault troops are often the first to go into an area of operation, regularly behind enemy lines, causing disruption and uncertainty in the minds of the invader, which helps their brothers and sisters to do their jobs with less impediment, the enemy more concerned about which direction the bullets will come from next. They are well-equipped and armed, and due to the nature of their insertion, must be self-sufficient for the early part of operations and possibly longer, moving quickly and travelling light, which makes the choice of equipment crucial. The four figures are all standing in action poses, two aiming their rifles with legs planted wide for stability, while another prepares to toss a grenade in the enemy’s direction, giving an indication of close combat. The final figure is similarly posed, but could be dealing with a weapons jam of his suppressed rifle, or ducking incoming rounds impacting nearby. The parts for each figure are found in separate areas of the single sprue for ease of identification, and parts breakdown is sensibly placed along clothing seams or natural breaks to minimise clean-up of the figures once they are built up. The sculpting is typically excellent, as we’ve come to expect from ICM’s artists and tool-makers, with natural poses, drape of clothing and textures appropriate to the parts of the model, especially the tactical vests, which are covered in MOLLE loops to hang pouches and equipment. Their battle dress is thoroughly modern, with integrated knee-pads on the trousers, which alleviates soreness behind the knee that you get from external strapped pads. Camouflage is a modern pixelated scheme that extends to the FAST helmets on the accessory sprues. Of course, you could always choose another colour, or you could also pick up a set of Ukrainian camouflage decals like I did, applying them to the figures in small sections, using plenty of setting solution to avoid voids and wrinkling. They’re made by a company called Breeze Decals, who are colleagues with Dora Wings, under the code 35-001 with the name “Ukraine digital camouflage pattern”, and you can find them on eBay as well as many model shops online. The accessories are on two identical smaller sprues that contain several AK74 derivatives, with a choice of different stocks, an underslung grenade launcher, and even the locally produced AK-based bullpup the Malyuk, which means baby, but it also has a more aggressive name of Vulcan-M. If you look closely, you can just about see the AK bones beneath the rifle’s skin. A light machine gun is also included, the Ukrainian variant of the PKM, which is known as the KT-7.62 that is manufactured by Mayak. One edge of each sprue has a pair of FAST helmets that are often used by Special Forces around the world, and have side rails plus a separate night vision goggle mount on the front. The last few parts are a couple of pistols in paddle-holsters, knives in and out of scabbards, optics for the weapons, and comms headset cans (probably Peltor) that are shown on the drawings, but don’t have their part numbers mentioned, but for reference purposes are parts W12 + 13. Markings Modern Ukrainian troops frequently wear digitally camouflaged BDUs and equipment, a swatch of which is shown on the painting guide, although solid colours could be used with a little research. The instruction sheet has drawings on the back of the sprue guide, which has red letters in boxes that correspond to the table overleaf giving colour names, plus the codes from ICM’s own range of paints, most of which can be found in boxed set #3025. You can find details of that set along with many others in our mega-review here. Conclusion This set represents a squad of Ukrainian Air Assault Troops in action for your next diorama or vignette, with great poses, detail and equipment to enhance realism. Highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of

ICM is to release in 2016 new tool Focke-Wulf Fw.189 Uhu kits - ref. 72291 - Focke-Wulf Fw.189A-1 Uhu WWII German Reconnaissance Plane (100% new molds) - Q2 2016 Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM72291 - ref. 72292 - Focke-Wulf Fw.189A-2 Uhu WWII German Reconnaissance Plane (100% new molds) - Q3 2016 Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM72292 V.P.

After the 1/72nd kit ( http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234967600-172-polikarpov-i-153-chaika-by-icm-released) ICM is to release in 2015 a 1/48th Polikarpov I-153 Chaika Soviet biplane fighter kit - ref.ICM48095 Sources: http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM48095 and https://www.scalemates.com/products/product.php?id=101557 V.P.

ATZ-5-43203 (72710) 1:72 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd The URAL-4320 series originally entered Soviet service in the late 70s, and as it is still in production, they and their derivatives are almost ubiquitous in Eastern Europe. It is in use with the Ukrainian Armed Forces today, where its off-road capabilities are essential, bouncing over rutted and turned-over terrain where tanks and munitions impacts have ruined the surface over the course of the last year. The invader has also donated some additional trucks that have been left behind, which is helpful. The vehicles are painted in a striking digital camouflage over their basic green colour to help hide them in built-up areas. Keep up the good work! The Kit This is a reboxing of a kit that has its origins in the late 1990s, although there have been numerous additional parts over the years. The kit arrives in a small top-opening box with captive lid to the lower tray, and inside are three sprues, tank, cab and wheel parts in grey styrene, a larger sprue in black, a small clear sprue, a large decal sheet and the instruction booklet on matt paper with colour profiles on the rear. Due to the age of the kit there are some minor issues with flash here and there, but it looks to have been greatly reduced in this latest boxing, and where it remains, a quick scrape with the edge of a blade will see it disappear in moments. The cab part is slide-moulded, and a tiny amount of flash visible around the edges where the mould sections meet, probably because of the age of the mould. A little more care will be needed here to ensure you don’t accidentally remove any of the detail that should be there. Construction begins with the chassis, which is predominantly moulded in black, as per the finished colour of the underside, which is helpful to the novice. The three axles, drive-shafts, cross-members, exhaust and a representation of the underside of the drive-train are all added to the ladder chassis, and the axles are tipped with six two-part wheels with separate hub inserts. The cab interior is relatively simple, and is made from a sled-like floor to which the twin-seat part and gear stick are fitted, while the dash is given a steering wheel on the left side, and a grab rail on the right for the co-driver to stabilise himself when traversing rough terrain. These sub-assemblies are inserted into the cab from below after the numerous windows are fitted from within, adding radiator and inner arches within the engine bay, and two crew steps that are fixed under the side doors, plus lights and door mirrors to complete the cab, which is then put to the side while the tank is made. The elliptical tanker body is built from top and bottom halves, filling the gaps in the rectangular fairings to the sides of the tank. The end caps also have the rectangular profile moulded-in, as well as strengthening ribbing, adding mudguards at the front, a couple of little fire extinguishers, a mechanism in the centre, then at the rear a number plate and more mudguards. Under the tank are two rails that keep it level, and a drainage pipe in an L-shape, finishing the tank off with the circular hatch that drops into the cylindrical fairing on the top. When it is installed on the chassis, a five-part fuel tank is inserted under the left in front of the rear wheels, completing the model by adding the substantial bumper iron to the front end of the chassis rail, and adding windscreen wipers that you’ll need to scratch build yourself. Markings There are two decal options included on the sheet, but with four number plates, that’s really four with two camouflage colour options. The base colour remains the same, adding either subdued digital camouflage decals, or the brighter yellow and brown option. It’s entirely up to you and/or your references which combination you go for. From the box you can build one of the following: Armed Forces of Ukraine Armed Forces of Ukraine, camouflage version from 2021 Decals are by ICM’s usual partners, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion It’s not a new kit, so a little work tidying up the parts will pay dividends, although this edition is much improved over previous boxings that share the common parts. It’s a fine example of a Ukrainian workhorse that’s carrying crucial fuel for the soldiers and civilians during this terrible war, the camouflage hopefully keeping it safe from the enemy. Highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of

Ain't that the truth! These will be my entries: I hope to start soon after giving some much needed love to my somewhat-stalled-due-to-holidays-work-weatherNesher-T frankenbuild. Cheers. Andre

Made a start on this - interesting model Have put the engine together

Hi All, This is my last one of what has been a quiet year output-wise, ICM's CR42 LW in Luftwaffe service, Italy 1944. A nice, straightforward but well-detailed kit with no fit problems. And to finish off, here's a couple including the figures supplied with the kit which I actually painted quite a while ago: As always, thanks for looking. Season's Greetings, J.A.

Hello friends! This is my last model in 2023 and the kit is relatively easy to build.. As always, the plastic is a bit soft and it takes a lot of patience to open the side windows of the cockpit. But what the heck, we are model builders.The main focus is actually on detailing the cockpit. So I added a selfmade fire distinguisher Not a big deal, but a nice splash of color. I completed the cockpit instruments with 3 D decals from eduard. Good to work with and much better than the ones from the kit. The focus was actually on the weathering. In the end it looked a bit different than I had imagined, because I used watercolor crayons for the first time. That's another technique you have to learn first. In the end, I'm reasonably happy with how the little snake turned out. Of course, a small tabletop was needed to set the scene. The figures are also from ICM. A blessing that they bring out more and more figures in 1/48. I hope you like the Cobra. Enough talk, have a look at the photos.

Bristol Beaufort Mk.IA with RAF Pilots (48313) 1:48 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd The Beaufort was originally designed as a torpedo bomber by Bristol, using the experience they had gained in developing the then-excellent Blenheim. They were ready in time for the outbreak of WWII, and as well as their prescribed role, they were also used as light bombers, undertaking many ‘Rhubarb’ missions over enemy territory in the so-called ‘phony war’, embarking on daylight missions that saw heavy casualties, although the accidental loss tally outstripped combat losses, surprisingly. Roughly 1,200 were built in the UK, with the total being elevated to almost 2,000 by additional Australian-built airframes that were known as DAP Beauforts. They were rapidly overhauled by the German fighters and were withdrawn from frontline service as early as 1942, by which time they had also been tasked with Aerial mine-laying. From then on, they were assigned to serve away from the front, and saw extensive use as a trainer, which might go at least some of the way to explain the high attrition rate due to accidents. The Mk.IA had an improved turret fitted at the rear of the crew compartment spine, that was notable because it was more square in profile, and torpedo bombers were fitted with early ASV radars, the antennae for which were mounted on the leading edges of the wings. A further development of the Beaufort was the Beaufighter, which used important components of the Beaufort that included the wings and engines, with a new cut-down fuselage that was comparatively low and streamlined, with a powerful cannon armament under the nose that was useful in its assigned duties as long-distance heavy fighter, and later nightfighter, where it excelled. Some obsolete Beauforts were even converted to Beaufighters to make further use of the shared parts, which gave many of the original airframes a more honourable end than they would otherwise have seen. In an attempt to improve on the original Mk.I that took up the majority of production, the designers created additional variants that used other engines, had faired over turrets when they were to be used as trainers, and even a project that saw the fitment of a pair of Merlin XX engine that didn’t achieve the desired effect, so was cancelled, in much the same manner as the Merlin powered Beaufighter that managed to be “underpowered” despite the pedigree of the engines that propelled it. The Kit A lot of modellers that build in 1:48 were waiting with baited breath for this new tooling from ICM, and now it has been with us for some time, with a few boxings already on the shelves now. This new issue includes a sprue of crew figures, torpedo and trolley to sweeten the deal, and it arrives in a reasonable-sized top-opening box with their usual captive lid on the lower tray. Inside are nine sprues in mid-grey styrene, a large clear sprue, decal sheet and glossy instruction booklet that has colour profiles on the rear pages. Opening the resealable bags reveals the detail that has been lavished on this kit that includes lots of internal ribbing, a set of ribbed flap bays and flaps, a representation of both banks of the Bristol Taurus engines, detailed gear bays and bay doors, and a torpedo to complete the package. Construction begins with a narrow torpedo bay under the fuselage that is glued to a section of the aft floor, then detailed with ribs, flipped over and joined to a bulkhead that has a doorway cut in it, then has a chute made up on one side before it is attached to the rest of the interior floor, which is initially free of detail, apart from underneath, where it has bomb shackles moulded-in, and a semi-cylindrical bay toward the front of the fuselage, which will allow the torpedo to nestle into the fuselage part way. The starboard fuselage half has an insert fitted into the wing-root depression to match the crisp moulded ribbing that is all over the interior as far back as the trailing edge of the wings, and extends into the tail-wheel bay. The side windows are inserted from inside, swapping the rear one out for an opaque cover if appropriate, then the floor is mated on several slots into the fuselage sides ready for the twin spars and a good quantity of detail. The forward spar is detailed with four parts to depict the radio gear with a plotting table below it, and on the other side a section of fairing is fixed, then the assembly is glued into its slot, joining the bottom of the spar with the fuselage blank. The cockpit is a two-tier assembly that is started by joining the two halves of the side console together, adding a raised floor panel, the instrument panel with five dial decals and rudder pedals, a short half-bulkhead and the swivelling front seat. Another simple seat is made up and glued to the rear spar along with another step-like fairing, and it too is slipped into the rear slot in the fuselage and glued in place. The pilot’s seat is made up from two parts and has a bow-tie control column placed in front of it, while to the rear, an Elsan toilet is dropped onto a raised plinth in the rear fuselage floor. The tail wheel bay is made up from ceiling with two small bulkhead ends, and it is glued into the very rear, which already has ribbing moulded into the sides. The tail-wheel and strut is a single part than inserts in the bay ceiling on a peg, so can be left off until after main painting. The port fuselage half is prepared in a similar manner to the starboard, save for the optional rear window, and a 0.9mm hole that is drilled in the ceiling. Just before closing the fuselage, another detail part is fixed to the bulkhead behind the pilot’s seat, with more glued into the nose, which might be better added before you paint the cockpit. The main canopy is glued over the cockpit aperture, and the nose is glazed by four additional clear parts, and a choice of port-side aft door with a circular porthole or gun port fitted over the hole in the fuselage, which can have a Lewis machine-gun with dinner plate magazine on a spar across the opening. If you are installing the gun, the clamshell door part should be left off. The Beaufort had mid-mounted wings, so each one is separate, and made from two halves. The port wing has a small landing light bay inserted before it is closed, and a small dome is removed from the leading edge, then the clear glazing is inserted once the glue has set up. A clear wingtip is fitted, and a one-piece aileron is added and able to be offset if you feel the urge. You also must make a choice whether to fit the wing surface over the inner flaps with a trio of strakes in a nacelle extension, or a straight section with curved root fairing. The same process is carried out minus the landing light bay on the starboard wing, then both wings are slotted over the two spars that have corresponding guides moulded into the inside of the wings to ensure good location. The elevator fins are each two parts and are mounted in the usual slot/tab method, to be joined by one-piece elevators and rudder, which the latter having a pair of horns near the hinge. Two flap sections are added to each wing’s underside, then the two nacelles are made up from halves along with a bulkhead near the front, and another that is glued into the wing before the nacelles are put in place. The roof of the bay is free of any detail, and is the location that the twin strut gear legs and their actuators are fixed once they are built up. The main wheels are each two halves, and they flex-fit into the lower section of the main leg, which has a curved tubular framework added to the top section, probably to assist with the smooth opening and closing of the door bays. The lower section of the main gear forms a twin triangular framework that is linked by several cross-members before the lower section is glued into the sockets in the upper section, and has another pair of actuators added at the rear to brace the top section. Both assemblies are inserted into the bays on each level of the ceiling, then the twin bay doors with their ribbed inners are added to the sides of the bays on hinge tabs. At the same time, the bomb bay has a small insert attached to the front bulkhead to add detail to the area. Each Taurus radial engine is formed from two well-detailed banks of cylinders with a circular collector ring attached to the centre by three stators, plus a complex system of tubes installed around the circumference in between the cylinders, and another at the rear of the engine that has a square peg at the back for fixing them to the wing through the cooling flaps at the rear of the cowlings. Two holes on the top of the nacelle receive a different two-part intake, then the cowling is wrapped around the engine, comprising two halves and a pair of curved exhausts for each engine. She’s looking very much like a Beaufort now, but needs some defensive armament in addition to the optional Lewis gun in the side. The new mid-upper turret is mounted in the back of the cockpit “hump”, and is built upon a separate section of the fuselage with a circular base that receives the guns’ mount and gunner’s bicycle-style seat below the lip, gluing most of the turret into position along with a fairing lip around the end, then deciding whether to mount the clear glazing in the top of the nose, or the alternative that mounts another two Lewis guns in the nose. The bomb/torpedo bay forms a cruciform shape when viewed from below, as it was lengthened to accept the torpedo, and has the mount fitted into the wider centre section, and if not carrying a torpedo, two inserts close off the bomb bay from its two narrower sections. The bay doors are in three sections, the narrower front and rear sections having one door per side, while the wider bomb bay section has two doors each side that fold together, minimising the aerodynamic drag, as well as fitting in the space below the aircraft when on the ground. If you plan on posing all the bay doors closed, there are three additional conjoined parts to ease your path, which is always nice to see. The torpedo has been seen in a separate box before, and its build is covered on the last page of instruction steps, making it up from two halves, adding a three-part H-tail with twin spinners, and another spinner-plus-spacer at the business end. There are also five steps to create a trolley for moving your Torp about and loading it onto the Beaufort on rising scissor-links if you want to add a bit of diorama appeal to your model. The torpedo is mounted with all bay doors open, and glues onto a long curved rectangular frame in the centre of the bomb bay. While the model is inverted, the underslung nose turret can be built from three parts for the gun and two-part dome, or a blanking plate is fitted over the aperture. A pitot is also mounted under the nose, a towel-rail antenna under the fuselage, and three small outlets are mounted on the wings and just behind the bomb bay. Back on its wheels, the cockpit hump is detailed with two more antennae, and another either flush with the roof in a typical D/F loop fairing. The radar antennae are reminiscent of TV aerials, formed from a main antenna with several dipoles perpendicular, one under each wing, mounted on two brackets that fit into holes drilled in the wings earlier, and another offset under the nose on a single post. These are most definitely best left of until the very end so that they survive without damage. Figures This set has been sculpted to coincide with the recent launch of ICM’s own Beaufort, and arrives in a medium-sized, top-opening box with ICM’s trademark captive flap on the lower tray. There is a single sprue in grey styrene and an instruction sheet within, containing parts for five figures, consisting of three aircrew and two mechanics. As usual with ICM figures, the sculpting is first-rate, and parts breakdown as well as seamlines are sensibly placed to ease clean-up and construction. The aircrew are all wearing WWII period RAF blue uniforms with leather flying jackets and two are wearing Mae West life jackets over the top. The captain is wearing a flat-topped cap and carrying what looks like a log-book in his right hand, while his left hand rests in his jacket pocket. The other two crew are walking with their hands to their sides, carrying a parachute pack or leather flight helmet in one hand, and the parachute carrier is also still wearing his harness. The ’erks are wearing dark blue overalls, one in long boots is standing with his hands about to rest on what is shown to be a torpedo on the box art, while the other gentleman in short boots is kneeling, ministering to a trolley wheel on the art. Both their overalls have the word “TORP” written on the panel on their blacks, with a white square below left, denoting their specialisation, presumably so they can be tasked with jobs appropriate to their skillsets from a distance. As usual with ICM figure sets, the instructions include drawings in full colour that have the part numbers and colour codes called out in black text and red boxed text respectively, the latter cross-referring to the paint table on the opposite side of the sheet, which gives colour codes for ICM’s paint system as well as colour names in Ukrainian and English printed over a swatch of the colour itself. There is also an ICM paint set for RAF Pilots numbered #3033 that is available from Hannants if you’re in the market. It’s on our mega-review of the ICM Acrylic Paint Sets here, but you’ll need to do a little scrolling, where you’ll also pass #3018, which is another set to help you paint the Beaufort itself. Markings ICM have begun to include templates for masking material with each of their new kits, which can be found just in front of the colour profiles for you to place tape over, cut around and apply to your model, thanks to drawings above that indicate what goes where. There are four decal options included on the sheet in a variety of schemes. From the box you can build one of the following: DD959 Q, No.217 Sqn., Malta, 1942 L9965 T, Mediterranean Sea region, 1942 DX157, presumably Indian Ocean region, Spring 1944 EK979, RAF Training Unit, Bilbais, Egypt, 1944 The decals are printed by ICM’s usual partners, and include dials for the instrument panels, with good register, sharpness, and solid colours. As is common now with ICM kits, there is a page of the instruction booklet devoted to the masking of the canopy, using the printed shapes on the bottom of the page and the diagrams above to allow you to create your own masks if you wish. It goes up to 64 thanks to the copious glazing of the Beaufort. We already mentioned the ICM acrylic paint set intended to assist with painting the exterior of your Beaufort, which is set #3018, the details of which you can find in our Mega-Review here. Conclusion I was looking forward to the initial release, and this rebox with new parts and figures is great news, adding extra value to the kit, including a torpedo and trolley into the bargain. It’s another Beaufort in my preferred scale, there’s plenty of detail, and a good choice of decal options. Very highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of

After the 1/48th kits (thread), ICM is to release 1/72nd North American OV-10 Bronco kits - ref. 72185 - North American OV-10А Bronco - US Attack Aircraft (100% new molds) - released - ref. 72186 - North American OV-10D+ Bronco - US attack and observation aircraft - December 2023 Sources: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM72185 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ICM72186 V.P.

Quietly Came, Quietly Went… (35752) Special Forces of the Ukrainian Army 1:35 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian armed forces have had to become their country’s protectors in the most practical manner, and it’s a job that they have taken to like the proverbial ducks to water. Their regular forces have been expanded by the general populace taking up arms against the invader, and their Special Forces have become masters of stealth and tactics, causing many costly set-backs to the invader that helps keep Ukraine free. The title of this new box of figures from Ukrainian company ICM indicates what’s in the box, but keep it to yourselves, right? Ukrainian Special Forces, who get up to all sorts of mischief and have the best equipment available to do the most damage to the invader. They infiltrate, do their work then exfiltrate, hopefully without being seen or heard unless they want it that way, but if they encounter enemy soldiers unexpectedly, they are well-armed and trained to look after themselves, returning home to base for the Ukrainian equivalent of tea and scones, followed by some rest, before going out another day on the next mission until the country is totally free. True bravery. There are four figures in the box, representing a squad of soldiers that are discussing their next move around their leader, but with weapons ready in their hands in case they are seen by the enemy. Two soldiers are stood looking down at their commander’s handheld device, while he and the other team member are crouching down. The parts for each figure are found in separate areas of the sprue for ease of identification, and parts breakdown is sensibly placed along clothing seams or natural breaks to minimise clean-up of the figures once they are built up. The sculpting is typically excellent as we’ve come to expect from ICM’s artists and tool-makers, with natural poses, drape of clothing and textures appropriate to the parts of the model, especially the tactical vests, which are covered in MOLLE loops to hang their gear from. If you’re not a big fan of painting faces, all the troops have masks over their mouth and nose, partly for anonymity, but also to keep out the dirt and dust kicked up during combat. The accessories are on two identical smaller sprues that contain several AK74 derivatives, with a choice of different stocks, an underslung grenade launcher, and even the locally produced AK-based bullpup the Malyuk, which means baby, but it also has a more aggressive name of Vulcan-M. If you look closely, you can just about see the AK bones beneath the rifle’s skin. A light machine gun is also included, the Ukrainian variant of the PKM, which is known as the KT-7.62 that is manufactured by Mayak. One edge of each sprue has a pair of FAST helmets that are often used by Special Forces, and have side rails plus a separate night vision goggle mount on the front. The last few parts are a couple of pistols in paddle-holsters, knives in and out of scabbards, optics for the weapons, and comms headset cans (probably Peltor) that are shown on the drawings, but don’t have their part numbers mentioned, but for reference purposes are parts W12 + 13. Markings Modern Ukrainian troops frequently wear Multicam BDUs and equipment, a swatch of which is shown on the painting guide, although solid green is also an option, however Multicam is much more Gucci, and is an effective camouflage in all areas of operation except arctic. The instruction sheet has drawings on the back of the sprue guide, which has red letters in boxes that correspond to the table overleaf giving colour names, plus the codes from ICM’s own range of paints, most of which can be found in boxed set 3041. You can find details of that set along with many others in our mega-review here. Conclusion A tight-knit squad of Ukrainian Special Forces for your next diorama or vignette, with great poses, detail and equipment to enhance realism. Highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of