Fran

1:48 “Flak-Bait” B-26B ICM Catalogue number 48321 Price: around 72€ This version is a new box and new decals from the fantastic ICM B-26. (nice QR codes to the ICM youtube channel) And the special box is to honor a special aircraft – the famous Flak Bait. “Project engineer Peyton M. Magruder designed the Glenn L. Martin Company's B-26 Marauder in response to an Army Air Corps specification issued in January 1939. This specification also caught the attention of North American Aviation, Inc., and that firm responded with the B-25. War fever caused the Air Corps to forego a prototype test stage and both bombers went from the drawing board straight into production. The consequences were deadly for men flying the Martin bomber. The Army threatened to withdraw the aircraft from combat, but Marauder crews stuck with their airplane. By war's end, they had lost fewer airplanes than almost any other combat unit and compiled a notable war record. As those problems were being resolved, Marauders immediately went into combat after American entry into World War II. On June 4, 1942, Army Air Forces (AAF) Marauders defending Midway Island attacked Japanese aircraft carriers with torpedoes, but failed to score hits. The AAF sent Marauders to North Africa after the Allied invasion in November 1942 for service with the Twelfth Air Force. Eighth Air Force B-26s flew the first bombing mission against German forces in Europe on May 14, 1943. In preparation for the invasion of France, the Eighth's Marauders were transferred to the Ninth Air Force, the primary American tactical air force in Europe, in October 1943. Like the M1 Garand combat rifle, the Sherman tank, and the LST, the Marauder was an important weapon in the war against the Axis powers. B-26 crews flew over 100,000 sorties and dropped approximately 150,000 tons of bombs, primarily against Nazi Germany. The AAF lost fewer Marauders than any Allied bomber it flew—less than one-half of one percent. Besides the United States, the air forces of Great Britain and France operated Marauders in combat. Few Marauders survive today out of the 5,266 produced by Martin. The NASM B-26B-25-MA named "Flak-Bait" (AAF serial number 41-31773) survived 202 combat missions over Europe, more than any other American aircraft during World War II. Workers at the Baltimore factory completed "Flak-Bait" in April 1943, and a crew flew it to England. The AAF assigned it to the 449th Bombardment Squadron, 322nd Bombardment Group (nicknamed the 'Annihilators'), and gave the bomber the fuselage identification codes "PN-O." Lt. James J. Farrell of Greenwich, Connecticut, flew more missions in "Flak-Bait" than any other pilot. He named the bomber after "Flea Bait," his brother's nickname for the family dog.” https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/martin-b-26b-25-ma-marauder-flak-bait/nasm_A19600297000 If you want a full inside study of the fantastic historic, just go and buy this fabulous book. https://www.bookdelivery.com/pt-en/book-b-26-flak-bait-the-only-american-aircraft-to-survive-200-bombing-missions-during-the-second-world-war/9780764363436/p/54275816?bmkt_source=google&bmkt_campaign=21516763169&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA5eC9BhAuEiwA3CKwQpaLqfC3T9cvvbJ8iHpkpcSuQh4JJv7iQqzdYVCVjXP0f7IYTy6d7hoCysUQAvD_BwE Let`s crack the box. The parts of the B-26 Flack Bait are exactly the same of the original box B-26B. So the sprues are the same as the original b-26B release that we already reviewed here. So, ICM, cleverly, already made the initial release ready for the Flack Bait one… not hard to do, yes, but still. So check all the instructions, is possible to see the, for make the Flack Bait, you need to use differences parts (canopy and front glass nose) and one piece more – the G83. And, the instructions tell you to use a different canopy, the H-21 part. Also the front glass nose, you can use version A or B, depending the time war that you are thinking of making. However, ICM don’t gie the modeller which front glass nose you should use in any of the four schemes. So check carefully your references of the on you want to make. I think that would be a nice touch from ICM to indicate which glass nose version that the modeller should in any of the four version. As far of the construction process, is very very similar to the B-26B original box, but in this version, you will have to do a very little surgery in both fuselage halves, by cutting one small windows the the fuselage bottom. (step 1 and 39) Another difference is to cut the pitot on step 126, while in the original boxing, this step does not exist. At the end, the masking templates, ICM gives two more for the new window. Anyway, the instruction manual is detailed and easy to follow. It includes step-by-step assembly diagrams, color callouts, and decal placement guides. Passing on, a fist general view, is a typical ICM quality plastic, with no distortion, no flash, with very good surface detail. In the external view, the surface detail is there but you don’t see most of the rivets made. An intermediate modeler will do that with no problem. The fuselage has a fantastic fit as usual in the ICM models in a few years now. As for more inside detail of the kit, as I said just check our review of the B-26B original box HERE. The decal sheet has a good color registration and supply 4 Flak-Bait options: Ø B-26B “Flak-bait”, 332nd Bombardment Group, England, Mid- 1943. Ø B-26B “Flak-bait”, 332nd Bombardment Group, England, Summer 1944 Ø B-26B “Flak-bait”, 332nd Bombardment Group, combat mission in Europe, Spring 1945; Ø B-26B “Flak-bait”, 332nd Bombardment Group, Bavaria, Summer 1945; The decals are design by ICM and made for the third party but I have no idea who. Conclusion Well, A fantastic release from ICM and without the pitot (the only thing I didn’t like with the first release) this one is even better. The detail out of the box is very good and it will make a very good replica. You just need some references of the Flak bait you want to make, to chose the right nose glass cone. The construction is not totally straightforward as there are several sub-assembly that you need to take care and time (as undercarriage is a complex sub-assembly steps) to get it right on spot., so the novice could have some trouble in build this one. But all other modelers can make from this a truly fantastic model of the B-26 Marauder. VERY Highly recommend this to intermediate/expert modeler My thanks to ICM for making this fantastic model. Just get yours on

This year, around the end of March, we will have a 1:32 PZL-23 Karas! Lets hope for high printing quality (I really hope that it would be better that Jetmad) According with Crazy Cat 3D (brand name of the manuacture) it will cost 150€ (with shipping)

I also heard that Titan Models is releasing this year, a 1:48 Tu-95 Bear!

French company Profil24-Models ( https://www.profil24-models.com/model-kits-modeles-reduits/en/) - is to release 1/32nd SEPECAT Jaguar resin kits (French and British variants) I read that the price tag will be 350€ Just saw! https://master194.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=129121 https://www.facebook.com/groups/master194/posts/3889627221300504/

Probably but then it would be a Caproni in 1:48 for 250€ or more… but not a 1:32.

Looks terrific but the price tag is an issue, for sure... I would love to have one copy but not at 499€ plus shipping... But I would pay 200€/250€ for it even if it, for that, it had to come without the wooden box and figures... beautifull box but for me, useless...

Great start!! I had no idea that MicroMir had this model in their catalogue.

1:48 MH-60L Black Hawk US Special Forces Helicopter ICM Catalogue number 48360 Price: €50,60 To get one, just click here - Art Scale Kit (ASK website) ICM is unstoppable!! A brand new mould of the mythic Black Hawk in 1:48!! And once again an extraordinary work in the modelling world. ICM is leaving their legacy in the modelling world, that’s for sure. This Black Hawk is a highly anticipated release, to almost all military modellers. First a bit of history. “The primary mission of the MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is to conduct overt or covert infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces across a wide range of environmental conditions. An armed version, the Direct Action Penetrator, has the primary mission of armed escort and fire support. Secondary missions of the MH-60 include external load, combat search and rescue and medical evacuation operations. The MH-60 is capable of operating from fixed-base facilities, remote sites, or ocean-going vessels. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) operates three versions of the Black Hawk helicopter: The MH-60K (Black Hawk) is a highly modified twin-engine utility helicopter based on the basic UH-60 Black Hawk airframe but developed specifically for the special operations mission. Improvements include an aerial refueling capability, an advanced suite of aircraft survivability equipment and improved navigation systems, including multi-mode radar to further improve pinpoint navigation in all environments and under the harshest conditions. The MH-60L is also a highly modified version of the standard U.S. Army Black Hawk configured for special operations use. It has many, but not all, of the modifications found on the “K” model. The MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator (DAP), or DAP, is an MH-60L modified to mount a variety of offensive weapons systems. Its mission is to conduct attack helicopter operations utilizing area fire or precision guided munitions and armed infiltration or exfiltration of small units. It is capable of conducting direct action missions as an attack helicopter or reconfiguring for troop assault operations. In the direct action role, the DAP would not normally be used as a primary transport for troops or supplies because of high gross-weight limits. The DAP is capable of conducting any mission during day, night or adverse weather conditions. MH-60L and MH-60K Performance Characteristics: Normal cruise airspeed 120 knots Maximum dash airspeed 178 knots Normal mission range (no A/R) 450 NM Normal mission endurance (no A/R) 4 hrs, 20 min https://www.soc.mil/USASOAC/AirFrames.html Now let´s crack the box and check what is inside. First, typical ICM grey plastic with very good surface detail with crisp panel lines and rivet details that are characteristic of ICM's recent releases. In total you will get seven plastic grey sprues, four sprues only with the rotor blade and a clear sprue. The surface detail is excellent with finely engraved panel lines, recessed and raised rivets. This ICM release has a very well detail cockpit and the after compartment is also very full with tubular framed seats giving a busy look to all… So direct from the box, you will get a quite good detail kit. Just missing the seatbelts for a decent cockpit. However there is still lot of room to the aftermarket boys. The same goes to the engine and undercarriage. The deails are ther and they are quite good straight from the box, but AM brands can go futher on the detail . ICM did have a clever design on the nose to adapt the version-specific extensions and variations However, the two halves don’t have the floor and the top of the cabin. I only hope that the fitting will be great because if you have to use filler in any part, with the raised rivets, the damage on this detail is 100% for sure, and very hard to replicate again… These constructions options are because of the future versions already announced. So, dry fitting/test fitting over and over again will be a good step to put all together. There is a lot of plastic as ICM gives the modeler the possibility of several equipament, rotor blades positions and open or close doors. The clear parts, once again is one of the best. Totally clear and no distortions. The decal sheet, ICM design and made by anonymous are quite good with very thin film and great color pigmentation. I like the instruments panels decals. The look quite good. There are three decal options, all black or black with dark grey camouflage scheme. The profiles are quite small… I understand that to make them bigger, ICM would spend more at least 2 in color pages in each profile and that could make the price go higher, but like this is almost impossible to see the color (black and dark grey demarcation and hard to see the decals numbers, though due to the size of the profiles in print, it’s quite hard to discern the details, and the decal numbers are also quite small. From the box you get these: 90-26290, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Tennessee, 2007 93-26489, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Exercise PANAMAX 2011 91-26360, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), 2012 As for the instruction booklet, the first two and the last two pages are in glossy paper with color profiles in the back pages and a mask template (nice touch as usually) The color indication are good but as I said in the past, only with ICM color. ICM color are easier to find and they do sell all them (60 of hem I think) in a full pack. I have had the opportunity to try some and I confess that I liked (either brush and airbrush) but I need to test a little more with proper ICM thinner specially on airbrush. Th one that I didn’t liked at all was the aluminum. That said, and even thought I think that some color references for Tamiya, Gunze or AK would be most welcome. Conclusion: ICM did again, delivering a brand new mold Black Hawk, and it´s is the best Black Hawk in 1:48. It`s, without a doubt a great addition to any modeler's collection, especially for those interested in modern military helicopters. However I only would recommend to intermediate modeler, as the cabin could be a bit tricky to get it. If you want a Black Hawk, this is the model you should get. Just get one!!!! Thanks ICM to make this model available. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND

1:48 Nahkon Phanon Air Base Set ICM Catalogue number DS4804 Price: around 69,40€ (at ArtScale Kit) Nahkon Phanon Air Base, a U.S. Military base in Thailand. At Nakhon Phanom the mighty Mekong River slices through the heart of the unified tribal cultures of the Mekong River Valley People forming today the current modern border between the countries of Thailand and Laos. Situated in extreme Northeast Thailand, known as Isan, Nakhon Phanom is adjacent to the central Laotion town of Thakhet which means “foreigner crossing” in Lao. Nakhon Phanom “The City of Hills” was affectionately known as “Naked Fanny” or NKP by the Americans and refered to as the “End of the line at the edge of the world.” To see a lot more of this base, check this site: https://sogsite.com/nakhon-phanom/ ICM Models often makes combo kits sets with several ICM model kit in a single box giving a better price option to the modeller. This set is a very well packed one with a B-26K, an O-2 Skymaster, and several sets, like U.S. Armament set, a figure set and a landing mat, giving every thing that the modeler needs to represent the Nahkon Phanon base. So let´s crack the big box. And the first thing is: Well, that`s a lot of plastic and fun!! It`s is an impressive combo. There are 196 parts for O-2 Skymaster, 344 parts for B-26K Counter Invader, 88 parts for US Aviation Armament, 38 parts for five figurines and 128 parts for M8A1 landing mat. And this set is really is a mix of all, as you get instructions for each set and kit. There`s not a unique booklet but one for each. All this were already release by ICM in the past individually. In an overload loo, the grey plastic is typical for ICM with very good subtle surface details. The B-26K is a recent tooling from ICM, with parts for the -K, which includes new wings with pylon recesses underneath so that is why, there is lots of are not to being use, including two underwings. The B-26 is compose by fourteen sprues in grey styrene and one in clear. The panel lines are very crisp, narrow and restrained, not deep lines! The surface is very neat-looking, with plenty of engraved and raised features on the parts. Props come as one-piece parts. Such design should be easier to assemble, but a bit more tricky to paint. The clear parts, as usual, are in fact, clear This B-26 only has one decal sheets with the markings, some stencils and the instruments panels. The instruction booklet, which has painting profiles in colour on the rear pages. The schemes gives in the decals sheet are four options included, all in SEA (Light Green/Dark Green/Brown) topside with black undersides. 64-17651, ‘Mighty Mouse’ 56th Special Operations Wing, 609th Special Operations Sqn., Nakhon Phanom 1969 64-17649, ‘Sweet Therese’ Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), 1970 64-17645, 56th Special Operations Wing, 609th Special Operations Sqn., Nakhon Phanom 1969 64-17679, ‘Special Kay’ 1st Special Operations Wing, USAF Late 1960s. This aircraft has been restored and is the only B-26K currently flying. All the colours are ICM references and no other. Next we see O-2A Skymaster. The Skymaster is a little beautiful aircraft and ICM got their lines in perfection released in 2020. And this kit is exactly the one release in 2020 (even the instructions said model kit n.º 48290) and ICM have had the care to in this release add (DS4804) The Skymaster model only got 3 sprues. Sprue A with the tails tail booms, wings wheels and parts of engine and nose. The Sprue B with upper wing, fuselage cockpit, instruments panels and minor details. The Sprue C are the clear parts set with the front windshield and the side windows. It has a quite window cabin cockpit so some masking will be a must it. My usual mask brand (artscale) doesn’t have mask for it so is very most welcome the masks templates using the printed shapes on the right of the page and the diagrams on the left to create your own masks. The plastic is like the B-26K, in plastic grey (quite good to work with) with very good subtle surface details The construction could bring some alignment issue but ICM gives some good help in the design constructions steps of it so I believe that with some care and patience you can get it done. The decal sheet, with very good color registration, gives the modeler 4 options, the first 3 with blue grey and white on top and blue grey on bottom. The last one is all black. ICM doesn’t give any reference about it, only painting profiles in colour on the rear pages which, nowdays and being in a combo Nakhon Phanon airbase box it should have some information about plane, place, squadron. I went to Scalemate and I just check the instruction for the O-2 Skymaster release in 2020, and the instructions are literally the same. Nothing against but I think ICM could have put some information about the schemes option. Not having hen, it will come up to the modeler to do some research and check which option could be use in this set. Probably all but I`m not at all an expert in Vietnam war. I found some Nahkon base pictures and you can see the Skymaster in black and others in blue gray and aluminum. So, I presume that they are all from Nahkon base, but with no indication, year, pilot, etc…. I would like some information on the instructions about it. The booklet instruction is the usual one from ICM with color indication only from ICM colors. Moving to the others sets that are in this box and all were previous release as set as a stand-alone boxing. Starting with ordnance. The weapons are compose by four sprues and gives a lot for this project and any other in Vietnam: 2 x LAU-10A Pods of 5" Rockets 2 x LAU-69 Pods of 2.75" Rockets 2 x LAU-68 Pods of 2.75" Rockets 2 x BLU-23 500LB Fire bombs (Can be made with or without the fins) 2 x BLU-27 750LB Fire Bombs (Can be made with or without the fins) 2 x Mk.77 750LB Incendiary Bombs 2 x SUU-14 Dispensers 2 x Mk.81 Snakeye Bombs 2 x MK.81 Low Drag Bombs So, no excuses to load up your B-26K with everything: iron bombs, napalm, rockets, you name it! This set has its own decal sheet, and instruction. The decals place indication on the ordnance is quite easy to follow. Next, figures set. You get 5 figures, in different poses and you can use all or just one… It’s just one sprue in grey plastic. but all parts have no flash at all, and the surface detail is very good, as usual now with ICM, with very subtle details on the cloths and on the faces with less seam line from the mold. The figures have the torso in one piece without arms or legs as they are separated. No assembly instructions are given… but if you look carefully we see the parts numbers on the figures. So there`s the assembly instructions. As for the landing mat (even in 1:35) please check our review here. Conclusion Wow! What a combo set!! This box gives the modeler long hours of modelling and joy. The combo diorama with B-26K Counter Invader, O-2A Skymaster, US Aviation Armament, five figurines, and an M8A1 landing mat is a great value for your money. You just need to have the space to put them all together. If not, you can build them separately Every is perfect inside and a great price. The only two things I would add, if I could would be some PE parts (or 3D parts) with seatbelts and color indications besides ICM color… Some AK, or Tamiya, or MRP or Gunze color. Highly recommend this to intermediate/expert modeler

Here, the pictures that were shared on facebook!

and there is some new pictures of the upcoming Border 1:35 He-111

Sorry for the delay in making this tread but Still January 2025!! So still in time!! All the news and upcoming release for Large Scale and Large Model to share to all!! Caproni Lukgrap is closer and closer... I know that the price tag will be 499€. It`s a premium model kit! Another Tiger I from Takom.... and a few new items from Plusmodel, perfect to Dioramas!! (Roof gutters)

Wow!! I just found this thread!! What amazing build!! I really hope that it has come to an end!!

Nice looking model kit! nad really nice work... Sorry to ask, but on those first pictures, how many WIP do you have on the working table??? 😀

Hi guys.. I will also join in as all others years. As for the gift, I will enter with the 1:32 Eduard Me-109 E-1 https://www.scalemates.com/kits/eduard-3001-bf-109e-1--115282