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.

Hi everyone - had to split the build due to technical limitations to the web site. Part three will cover the rest of the build until we run out of parts and then part three will do the fixes and modifications.

“He'll find her! That's what he does! That's ALL he does! You can't stop him! He'll wade through you, reach down her throat and pull her heart out!- Kyle Reese”

Step 61 and 62 build the right knee and adding it to the upper section of the leg. One note here. This is getting big so allow yourself a larger workspace. As the knee is inserted, you will need to thread one of the upper pistons at the same time- not difficult because everything fits perfectly. This is also tightened with a Allen wrench and can be fixed tightly of allowing movement.

Working on these makes me want to buy the kit just so I can add the crew!!

ResKit is doing some crisp lines, creases, and detail work. The resin comes off the supports cleanly without risk of breaking or chipping. The attachment points are very fine and placed in inconspicuous places, behind the legs and the back of the helmet for example. Another thing I’ve noticed in my ResKit reviews of late is that the resin is very easy to sand. It takes almost no effort with some 400 grit wet-sand paper to clean these up without a trace of the connections.

The instructions are easy to interpret and include a color chart in a neutral choice of green, grey, and khaki. These skycranes have seen all kinds of service so I expect many modelers will identify their uniform of choice. Both collective and stick are well detailed and the attachment point at the hand is going to be very solid. There’s a lot of glass in the skycrane cockpit and these figures will definitely shine!

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.