Once again IPMS USA provides our thanks to Ross at SAC for providing us one of his gear sets to use and review! In this case, it is a skid set for the New(er) Trumpeter UH-1B

This new Huey from Trumpeter kit is a mixed bag; Glad to have it but it needs work. The eagle-eyed among us will note the underside of my first one is being heavily redacted/sanded. That’s because the company appears to have researched the kit using a combat veteran complete with a bunch of battle-damage repair patches. They all need to go for a new bird.

I mentioned this a while back online and someone obviously within the company pretty strongly gave a “nuh-uh” answer and pointed to their photo references, a Huey from a museum, (I’ll bet somewhere in Vietnam) who made the assertion the panels were always there.

Come on, dude, I worked with active Hueys for a short time, and the underside was smooth as a baby’s backside except for drains, a few antennas, and other things. . That and dear ol’ dad was a Huey driver for years, he also confirmed my assertion. They aren’t there unless it’s a patch. Lots of other positive and a few challenges, and my converting it to an “F”/”P” is not helping. Find and graft a “D” model boom on a short cabin…. Dare ya. Lots more than just that… The side-exhaust engine is particularly vexing...

Back to the review: This SAC set provides the usual flexibility of softer metal that can be work-hardened for a strong, reliable (and repairable) option for the kit plastic gear.

Consisting of 7 white metal parts, this gear provided strength where it is needed in holding up the model over time. It will require gentle bending and work hardening during installation.

The skids are one piece and slip into the mounting troughs on the underside of the kit. Four of the additional parts are skid retention straps, two for the front and back skid bars; it is my understanding these may or may not be needed, being added later in the Huey life, check your reference.

Also included are the two step plates (kidney-shaped) for the upper portion of the forward skid… I used Superglue and they attached immediately with no filler needed.

The Huey is a relatively heavy model, and the metal skids serve dual purpose; additional flexibility to allow being re-bent instead of broken, and ability to hold the model in position once finished.

In closing, thanks again to Ross at SAC for providing this gear to IPMS/USA.