From the manufacturer’s website:

Manufacturing white metal parts for plastic scale model aircraft since 1990

We manufacture a line of white metal landing gear for 1/18 to 1/144 scale aircraft. Some Sets consist of the main gear only, while others include the nose gear, tail gear and/or adjacent related components. Some inaccuracies in the original kit gear have been corrected, but the mounting points remain identical to the factory parts. With numerous sets, we have not sought to duplicate non-load-bearing component parts where the factory plastic parts are reasonably accurate.

ICM has provided this beautiful new release form the Skycrane Range for review, in this 1/35 scale model of the Civil S-64E Skycrane and Universal Pod. This is based on the original release Military versions..

• Twenty-two grey sprues
• Three clear sprues
• Two decal sheets
• One instruction guide

The box is very big and contains a lot of sprues and it is very daunting when you first one it up. It is only the you realize the size of this helicopter at this scale. The detail quality is excellent in every way with this kit; crisp and detailed molding has become improved with every ICM kit.

The assembly is easy but as this is such a big model there are a lot of steps.

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) is a company that specializes in supplying stronger metal landing gear for just about every scale model kit there is. Their benefit can be seen when considering the weight of some finished models, especially where softer plastic is used. I have several models sitting on my shelves where the kit plastic gear legs were used and have, over time, started to splay outwards under the weight.

The SAC landing gear is contained in a compact clear plastic blister pack with a card paper backing to protect the contents. The kit name, manufacturer and scale are printed on a sticker at the top, front of the card. There is a typo spelling “Westlake” instead of “Westland”. There are some basic instructions on the back of the cardboard, but the modeler is expected to use the kit instructions for part placement.

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has provided the IPMS reviewer corps a set of 1/48th scale metal landing gear for Airfix’s Vampire F.3/FB.5/FB.9. These parts are drop-in replacements and provide a more robust landing gear set given its metal properties.

In the Package

The metal pieces are packaged in a clear blister package with cardboard backing. No instructions are provided.

Review Process

The metal landing gear set is used as drop-in replacements for parts C8, C14, C26 (nose wheel), C29 & C30 (main landing gear for F.3), and C27 & C28 (main landing gear for FB.5/FB.9). The metal used is malleable and has some give to allow for any minor bending if needed. Also, seam lines will need to be cleaned up prior to painting just like the plastic kit parts.

When comparing the parts to the instructions, the oleo arms are missing on the SAC parts. So, removing those arms off the kit parts or scratch-building may be necessary.

Iliad Design has provided IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for the WWII Supermarine “Silver” Spitfires in service for the Royal Air Force, USAAF, and RAAF. There is no specific mention of a preferred model company for this decal set.

This 1/48th scale decal sheet covers five schemes:

1. Spitfire LF IXc, No. 601 Squadron, Italy, 1943.
2. Spitfire Mk. IXc of Lt. Col. E.P. Allen, XIX TAC, St. Dizier, France, October 1944.
3. Spitfire Mk. Vc, No. 85 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Pearce, Western Australia, February 1945.
4. Spitfire Mk. VIII, used as a “hack” by the 307th FS, 1944.
5. Spitfire LF XVIe of No. 1 (Pilots) Refresher Flying Unit, 1950.

In the Package

There is one decal sheet and one page of instructions (printed front & back). It has all the individual markings and roundels for all five aircraft. Stencils will need to be provided by the kit’s decals or an aftermarket source.