Friday, December 6

Preview: What we know on ICM's five December releases...

We see five releases from ICM in December. With German, Ukrainian, & US subjects leading the way (plus paint), the star being the newly-tooled 48th scale MH-60L Black Hawk. We have art & info in our preview today...


Preview: ICM's five December releases...

MH-60L Black Hawk, US Special Forces 
Helicopter
Kit No. 48360
1/48th scale
Three marking choices included
Blade's diameter: 421mm; length: 111mm; height: 343mm
302 pcs
At the end of 1968, the U.S. Army initiated a programme to develop a multi-role tactical transport helicopter, known as the UTTAS (Utility Tactical Transport Air System). The programme's requirements included a three-person crew, the capacity to carry 11–15 soldiers in the cabin, and a powerplant consisting of two engines. Additionally, the helicopter needed to be transportable inside cargo aircraft.
CAD's of some of the parts of the kit
In 1976, after successfully completing the testing phase, the Army selected Sikorsky as the winner of the UTTAS program. A contract was subsequently signed for the production of the first batch of helicopters, designated as the UH-60A Black Hawk (Sikorsky's internal designation was S-70). This model served as the foundation for a diverse family of helicopters, catering to various purposes such as transport, special operations, electronic warfare, naval multi-role, anti-submarine, medical, and more.
CADs of the kit
The MH-60L modification is a specialised variant of the Black Hawk, designed for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) of the U.S. Army, also known as the "Night Stalkers." This helicopter is equipped with advanced features, including weather radar and a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor. Furthermore, it can be outfitted with an air refuelling system, enhancing its operational capabilities.


Acrylic paint set for Black Hawk US helicopters 
Kit No. 3067
5 colours & 1 varnish included
This paint set developed to suit the new Blackhawk special operations kit in 48th scale...


Sd.Kfz.3b with Flak 38
Kit No. 35455
1/35th scale
Length: 212mm, Height: 93mm
Decals provided for both transport & armed versions.
245pcs
The 2 cm Flak 38 anti-aircraft gun entered service with the Wehrmacht in the latter half of 1940, boasting a reliable design and impressive firing rate of up to 480 rounds per minute. This made it a highly effective tool for close-range air defence, and its production continued uninterrupted until the end of World War II. In addition to targeting aircraft, the gun's versatility allowed it to engage lightly armoured targets. To enhance mobility, anti-aircraft guns were frequently mounted on various vehicles, including wheeled and semi-tracked models. One such example was the semi-tracked version of the widely used Wehrmacht truck, the V3000S, designated as Sd.Kfz.3b (also known as the V3000S/SSM). The anti-aircraft guns were mounted in the vehicle's bed, with the option to place them on specialised platforms or without. For firing, the sides of the vehicle's body could be folded down or completely removed, transforming the vehicle into a self-propelled anti-aircraft installation. These mobile installations played a crucial role in the German Army's air defence efforts across all fronts during World War II.


ZIL-131 with driver
Kit No. 35019
1/35th scale
Length: 183mm, Height: 76mm
AFU camouflage decals provided
402 pcs
The Ukrainian Armed Forces operate a diverse fleet of military trucks, which are utilised for transporting personnel, ammunition, military cargo, and towing artillery guns. The fleet comprises modern vehicles from Ukrainian and Western manufacturers, as well as a substantial number of trucks inherited from the Soviet Union's dissolution. One such vehicle is the all-wheel-drive ZiL-131, which entered production in the late 1960s and was later modernised with the introduction of the ZiL-131N in 1986. Renowned for its high reliability and exceptional off-road capabilities, the ZiL-131 remains in service with the Ukrainian Army as a multi-purpose general cargo truck. Drivers of these military trucks undergo rigorous training at specialised courses and training centres, which encompass both theoretical and practical instruction on driving ranges. A critical aspect of military vehicle operation is that drivers are fully equipped and armed while in the cab. The skills of a military driver are paramount to ensuring their own safety and that of their comrades, as they must be able to react swiftly to changing situations on the battlefield.



Wehrmacht Armored Vehicles
Kit No #DS3525
1/35th scale 
Three kits included: Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.A, Panzersphahwagen P 204(f) & Sd.Kfz.247 Ausf.B
290 +247 + 150 pcs
Following the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, Germany was prohibited from possessing armoured vehicles. However, the subsequent Boulogne Protocol allowed the Weimar Republic to maintain a limited number of armoured transport vehicles and police armoured cars. Upon Hitler's rise to power, Germany began preparing for a swift war, necessitating high mobility for its military units. This, in turn, required a substantial fleet of vehicles, including regular trucks and armoured vehicles. Armoured car production resumed in Germany in 1934, and by 1936, they had become standard equipment in reconnaissance units, such as the Sd.Kfz. 247 Ausf.B armoured car. At the outbreak of hostilities, the armoured vehicle fleet was augmented with captured vehicles, including the Panhard 178, one of the most formidable armoured cars of World War II (designated PanzerspƤhwagen P 204(f) in the Wehrmacht). The German Army also extensively employed semi-tracked armoured transporters, which offered versatility in design, allowing them to be used for transporting personnel, mounting various types of weapons, or carrying equipment. The Wehrmacht's most common armoured transporters were the semi-tracked Sd.Kfz.251 armoured personnel carriers.

Due in next month, you can find out about ICM's other releases on the ICM plastic model kits website