Fran

Fantastic build of an awseome kit! Thanks for sharing Fran

Thanks for the great review! Appreciated!

Well, that`s is great news. Another thing: Technikit is a totally new name for me! Thanks Hubert.

Well, box art and some cad of the upcoming 1:35 He-111 from Border Models.

1:48 Airfield of the Luftwaffe Bomber Group ICM Catalogue number DS4804 Price: around 60€ “The Heinkel He 111 is a German airliner and bomber designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter at Heinkel Flugzeugwerke in 1934. Through development, it was described as a "wolf in sheep's clothing". Due to restrictions placed on Germany after the First World War prohibiting bombers, it was presented solely as a civil airliner, although from conception the design was intended to provide the nascent Luftwaffe with a heavy bomber. Perhaps the best-recognised German bomber of World War II due to the distinctive, extensively glazed "greenhouse" nose of the later versions, the Heinkel He 111 was the most numerous Luftwaffe bomber during the early stages of the war. It fared well until it met serious fighter opposition during the Battle of Britain, when its defensive armament was found to be inadequate. As the war progressed, the He 111 was used in a wide variety of roles on every front in the European theatre. It was used as a strategic bomber during the Battle of Britain, a torpedo bomber in the Atlantic and Arctic, and a medium bomber and a transport aircraft on the Western, Eastern, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and North African Front theatres. The He 111 was constantly upgraded and modified, but had nonetheless become obsolete by the latter part of the war. The failure of the German Bomber B project forced the Luftwaffe to continue operating the He 111 in combat roles until the end of the war. Manufacture of the He 111 ceased in September 1944, at which point piston-engine bomber production was largely halted in favour of fighter aircraft. With the German bomber force virtually defunct, the He 111 was used for logistics. Production of the Heinkel continued after the war as the Spanish-built CASA 2.111. Spain received a batch of He 111H-16s in 1943 along with an agreement to licence-build Spanish versions. Its airframe was produced in Spain under licence by Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA. The design differed significantly only in the powerplant used, eventually being equipped with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. These remained in service until 1973.he H variant of the He 111 series was more widely produced and saw more action during World War II than any other Heinkel variant. Owing to the uncertainty surrounding the delivery and availability of the DB 601 engines, Heinkel switched to 820 kW (1,100 hp) Junkers Jumo 211 powerplants, whose somewhat greater size and weight were regarded as unimportant considerations in a twin-engine design. When the Jumo was fitted to the P model it became the He 111 H. The He 111 H-1 was fitted with a standard set of three 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 15 machine guns and eight SC 250 250 kg (550 lb) or 32 SC 50 50 kg (110 lb) bombs. The same armament was used in the H-2 which started production in August 1939. The P-series was gradually replaced on the eve of war with the new H-2, powered by improved Jumo 211 A-3 engines of 820 kW (1,100 hp). A count on 2 September 1939 revealed that the Luftwaffe had a total of 787 He 111s in service, with 705 combat ready, including 400 H-1 and H-2s that had been produced in a mere four months. Production of the H-3, powered by the 895 kW (1,200 hp) Jumo 211 D-1, began in October 1939. Experiences during the Polish Campaign led to an increase in defensive armament. MG 15s were fitted whenever possible and the number of machine guns was sometimes increased to seven. The two waist positions received an additional MG 15, and on some variants a belt-fed MG 17 was even installed in the tail. A 20 mm (0.79 in) MG FF autocannon would sometimes be installed in the nose or forward gondola. After the Battle of Britain, smaller scale production of the H-4s began. The H-4 was virtually identical to the He 111 P-4 with the DB 600s swapped for the Jumo 211D-1s. Some also used the Jumo 211H-1. This variant also differed from the H-3 in that it could either carry 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) of bombs internally or mount one or two external racks to carry one 1,800 kg (4,000 lb) or two 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) bombs. As these external racks blocked the internal bomb bay doors, a combination of internal and external storage was not possible. A PVR 1006L bomb rack was fitted externally and an 835 L (184 imp gal; 221 US gal) tank added to the interior spaces left vacant by the removal of the internal bomb-bay. The PVR 1006L was capable of carrying a SC 1000 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) bomb. Some H-4s had their PVC racks modified to drop torpedoes. Later modifications enabled the PVC 1006 to carry a 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) "Max" bomb. However 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) "Hermann" or 1,800 kg (4,000 lb) "Satans" were used more widely. The H-5 series followed in February 1941, with heavier defensive armament. Like the H-4, it retained a PVC 1006 L bomb rack to enable it to carry heavy bombs under the fuselage. The first ten He 111 H-5s were pathfinders, and selected for special missions. The aircraft sometimes carried 25 kg (55 lb) flashlight bombs which acted as flares. The H-5 could also carry heavy fire bombs, either heavy containers or smaller incendiary devices attached to parachutes. The H-5 also carried LM A and LM B aerial mines for anti-shipping operations. After the 80th production aircraft, the PVC 1006 L bomb rack was removed and replaced with a heavy-duty ETC 2000 rack, enabling the H-5 to carry the SC 2500 "Max" bomb, on the external ETC 2000 rack, which enabled it to support the 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) bomb. Some H-3 and H-4s were equipped with barrage balloon cable-cutting equipment in the shape of cutter installations forward of the engines and cockpit. They were designated H-8, but later named H8/R2. These aircraft were difficult to fly and production stopped. The H-6 initiated some overall improvements in design. The Jumo 211 F-1 engine of 1,007 kW (1,350 hp) increased its speed while the defensive armament was upgraded at the factory with one 20 mm (0.79 in) MG FF cannon in the nose and/or gondola positions (optional), two MG 15 in the ventral gondola, and one each of the fuselage side windows. Some H-6 variants carried tail-mounted MG 17 defensive armament. The performance of the H-6 was much improved. The climb rate was higher and the bomber could reach a slightly higher ceiling of 8,500 m (27,900 ft). When heavy bomb loads were added, this ceiling was reduced to 6,500 m (21,300 ft). The weight of the H-6 increased to 14,000 kg (31,000 lb). Some H-6s received Jumo 211F-2s which improved a low-level speed of 365 km/h (227 mph). At an altitude of 6,000 m (20,000 ft) the maximum speed was 435 km/h (270 mph). If heavy external loads were added, the speed was reduced by 35 km/h (22 mph). Other designs of the mid-H series included the He 111 H-7 and H-8. The airframes were to be rebuilds of the H-3/H-5 variant. Both were designed as night bombers and were to have two Jumo 211F-1s installed. The intention was for the H-8 to be fitted with cable-cutting equipment and barrage ballon deflectors on the leading edge of the wings. The H-7 was never built.” The H-9 was intended as a trainer with dual control columns. The airframe was a H-1 variant rebuild. The powerplants consisted of two JumoA-1s or D-1s.[56] The H-10 was also designated to trainer duties. Rebuilt from an H-2 or H-3 airframe, it was installed with full defensive armament including 13 mm (0.51 in) MG 131 and 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 81Z machine guns. It was to be powered by two Jumo 211A-1s, D-1s or F-2s.”* *History from Wikipedia. Now, let´s go to the model kit set. This is a combo kit with all in box.! ICM called it "Airfield of the Luftwaffe Bomber Group" All are in 1:48 and all in the box is intended to recreate a Luftwaffe airfield scene from World War II. It includes two main components: the Heinkel He 111 H-3 bomber (a reissue of an earlier ICM mold) and a set of airfield figures and accessories, such as ground crew and equipment. Starting for the main star in this set: The Heinkel He-111 H-3 The centerpiece of the set, this is a German medium bomber widely used by the Luftwaffe. The kit includes parts to build a detailed H-3 version, with a cockpit interior, bomb bay, and visible engines. If you choose to display them exposed, they are quite complete and allows you to make a maintenance scene in a diorama, direct from the box. I thinkg that if you want to make open, just some fine wires will make all the difference in the realism. The plastic parts are in gray color with fine surface details, such as panel lines and rivets, typical of ICM’s more recent molds. The injection markings are very subtle and mainly in places that will be hard to see when build. All the internal structure is present in the fuselage halves and compartment details (like the cockpit, rear gunner) are good in detail straight from the box. A full Bombay area is available from the box and it is quite satisfactory straight from the box and you have the option to make it open or close. The transparent parts are provided for the cockpit canopy, gun turrets, and windows. They are clear and free from distortion, as usual in ICM model kits, allowing for excellent visibility of interior details. Here is where the 4 options given chance a bit, so check your references to use the correct clear parts in the nose and belly gunner. You got 4 markings from the box: 1- He-111 H-3, 1./KG53, France, Spring 1940; 2- He-111 H-3, Geschwaderstab/KG53, France, August 1940; 3- He-111 H-3, KG26, Norway Spring 1941; 4- He-111 H-3, 5./KG27, Russia, April 1943; The instructions are the usual booklet from ICM with ICM colors indication only. Moving to “Airfield Figures and Accessories” As I said, this is a combo kit. So beside the He-111, there`s also airfield accessories that gives a 50kg bomb crane, 250kg bomb crane, jerry can, fuel barrel, barrel for lubricants, compressed air cylinder, toolbox and an airbrush. Also a field tripod crane perfect if you want and have the skills to make e little maintenance engine scene with those engines opens… The parts are very detailed even the chain in plastic is well made for 1:48 but if there is anything that is worth upgraded is the chain and it’s an easy upgraded to make. If these wasn’t enough, ICM gives you even more, a road barrier, a watchman`s booth and a small stepladder. All these plus a full ordnance set. All parts have no flash at all, and the surface detail is very good as the actual ICM standards. The small parts like a tiny 1:48 airbush are just perfect and very well mold with no flash and very little cleaning or almost none. The connection points sprues in perfect places to make easy the cut from the sprues. There`s not a single instruction booklet for this specific box but several instructions from the original release of each. Anyway, the instruction manual is detailed and easy to follow. It includes step-by-step assembly diagrams, color callouts, and decal placement guides. And finally, lets check the German Luftwaffe Ground personnel (1939-1945). This set is 7 figures set and one dog, depicting pilots and mechanics All parts have no flash at all, and the surface detail is quite good so you can really get a very good figure from this set, using all together or just one as the posture could be used in several other scenario. The figures have the torso in one piece without arms or legs as they are separated with the exception of the standing mechanic. The overall detail of all figures is very good even for a mold injection figure. The dog is make into two halves so a good fitting will be necessary to not ruin the fuffy fur. The color indication and instructions is a simple A4 sheet on both sides, one wih the parts diagram and color index and the other side, with figures with parts numbers and color numbers. There is decal for the He-111 H-3 and the Airfield/ordenance set, and both have, as usual, very good color pigmentation and registration. CONCLUSION The ICM DS4805 "Airfield of the Luftwaffe Bomber Group" is a great choice and a perfect set to all that wants a WWII He-111 with some extra to make a diorama or just want a He-111 H-3 and use all other stuff in others projects. With all the stuff package inside you can use that in at least, 3 or 4 others projects, with no problems. This set is an excellent value for your money so once again Judos to ICM for releasing this set. Highly recommend To get one of this beauty, just go to Art Scale

ICM 1:48 Bristol Beaufort Mk. Ia Torpedo Bomber ICM 48315 Available at Art Scale Model € 54,60 – in Art Scale Kit ICM, the Ukrainian model manufacturer, has once again impressed the scale modeling community as this release continues ICM’s tradition of delivering well-engineered models of lesser-known yet historically significant aircraft or variants of well-knowed aircraft. The Bristol Beaufort was a twin-engine torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, drawing heavily on the design of the earlier Blenheim light bomber. Entering service with RAF Coastal Command in late 1939, it played a vital role during World War II, particularly in maritime operations. The Mk. Ia variant, the focus of this kit, featured improvements over the initial Mk. I, including a new machine gun turret (similar to that of the Blenheim), ASV (Air-to-Surface Vessel) radar for detecting surface targets, and tropical filters for operations in hot climates like the Mediterranean and North Africa. The Beaufort saw extensive use against Axis shipping convoys and warships, with notable service from bases such as Malta. Its versatility allowed it to perform torpedo strikes, conventional bombing, and minelaying duties until it was phased out of frontline service in 1942, succeeded by the Beaufighter. It`s the second Beaufort that I have the pleasure to review. So, let´s crack the box. The kit arrives in ICM’s standard sturdy packaging: a strong cardboard box with a glossy slipcover featuring an action painting of a Beaufort in flight, delivering a torpedo. Inside, the parts are well-protected in a single resealable plastic bag, with the clear parts packaged separately to prevent scratching. The sprues are eight in medium-grey plastic, one clear sprue and an extra sprue (of the other Beaufort review made) containing a torpedo and its trolley. The surface detail is quite good with the recessed panels very good. There`s no rivets details on it, but it`s 1:48 scale. I can leave without them. The fuselage halves have location pins so a easy and fine fit will be easy to get. The interior straight from the box offers a decent level of detail for the four crew stations (pilot, navigator, wireless operator, and gunner) as the cockpit includes molded instrument panels, seats, and control yokes. If you want more detail, AM will come from the rescue and there`s already several sets available as the large greenhouse canopy makes the interior highly visible, so aftermarket 3D decals (e.g., from Kelik) are in fact, an option. The turret, a very defining feature of the Mk. Ia, is very well-executed with a multi-part assembly that allows for posing. as for the radar antennas. The wings does have separate control surfaces (ailerons, flaps, and stabilizers). The engine Taurus radial is quite good actually straight from the box and you can display it open. Just leave the cowlings out. The engine detail is quite good but no enough to left it wide open. For that I would add some wires at least. The clear parts, once again, are fantastic as it has been usual in ICM. Also as usual, ICM provides a template in the instructions that is quite good if you don’t want to get some AM masks. The new part from the other Beaufort that we review is the Torpedo and Trolley, as it comes in a bonus sprue. The torpedo is detailed and can be displayed in the open bomb bay, while the trolley adds a ground-handling dimension that complements the aircraft beautifully. The decal are thin, well-printed, and opaque, with good color registration. As for the Markings Options, three schemes are provided: 1. Bristol Beaufort Mk. IA DX 135, n.º 5 (Coastal) Operation Training Unit, Long Kash, 1943 2. Bristol Beaufort Mk. IA LR906, n.º 2 Torpedo Training Unit, Castle Kannedy, September 1943 3. Bristol Beaufort Mk. IA DW816, 22 Squadron, Ceylon, April 1944; As for the instruction booklet, the frist two pgaces (and the last two) are in glossy paper. The instructions are clear and easy to follow as usual in all ICM new models. Conclusion This is a great kit. I already tested the dryfit of the previous model release and it is excellent. You can get a great Beaufort straight from the box or just indulge yourself and get a lot of AM already available and make a top end model. So, just go and get one and built it! You will enjoy. My sincere thanks to ICM for making this beaufort variant. **Rating: 8.5/10** Just get one yourself at Art Scale Model

Now this… 2025 will very bad for my bank account!!

I share the news on the LSM News 2025 topic. However I could have make it in a new topic...

And bang!! A brand new 1:32 Hawker Hurricane!! KOTARE!

Late April/early May

Well,, just announced by Lukgraph!

Blues Skies Harv!! we will missed you deeply.!

Hi Lothar. can we have more pics of it? for me this kit is totally unknowned. Thanks

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)