icm 1:35 ICM PHU BAI COMBAT BASE 1968

[Fran]

1:35

PHU BAI COMBAT BASE 1968

 

 

ICM

Catalogue number 53056

Price: around 145,89€

 

ICM is a proud Ukrainian Company and they proudly announce themselves as such on the box top of all releases since the war as began.

And proud they should as they are making an extraordinary work in the modelling world.

 

        

  Phu Bai Combat Bae was a former U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps base south of Hue, in Central Vietnam. On 30/31 January 1968, the base was hit by Vietcong mortar and rocket fire as part of the TET Offensive. The base was used to support U.S. and ARVN forces fighting in the Battle of Hue. The first relief force was dispatched from Phu Bai to the MACV Compound in Hue City. On 15 February 1968, General Creighton Abrams established MACV forward at Phu Bai to assume direct control of US forces in northern I Corps, which were then engaged in the Battle of Hue, the Battle of Khe Sanh and the TET Counteroffensive. MACV Forward ceased operation on 10 March 1968. IN 1969, the 85th Evacuation Hospital moved from Qui Nhon and was established at the Norwest end of the airfield, adjacent to Highway 1. The Headquarters of the 101st was moved to Phu Bai.

For a little more detail history about this military base, check here: https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Phu_Bai_Combat_Base

 

There`s a lot of pictures online of actual real pictures of the CH-54 in Phu Bai:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/13476480@N07/21018823201/in/photostream/

Checking the pictures is easy to see where ICM seeks inspirations.

Before cracking the box, I leave you the review made by our Ernie Ling of the 1:35 ICM CH-54A:

https://forum.largescalemodeller.com/topic/19184-135-scale-ch-54-tarhe-by-icm/#comment-224683

 

This model kit that we are reviewing today is a multiple model kit, the CH-54A with the M-121 bomb (model kit 53055), helicopters ground personnel (53102), US Helicopter Pilots (1960s-1970s) and M801 US Landing mat (53200).

 

 

So ICM just bring parts of each one to a single box, and add a new box art (a really good model box art, I must say, as usual on the ICM model boxes) and we have Phu Bai Combat Base 1968!!

So, inside, beside de parts of each model kit mention, you get also the instructions of each one.

The instructions of the CH-54 is the one for the 53055 - Sikorsky CH-54 with M-121 bomb.

For me it`s the first time I see in flesh, the 1:35 ICM CH-54.

I must say: I am really impressed with all the work and research on this one and size!!

As Ernie says, military helicopter fans, several of whom call LSM home, cheered loudly at the announcement.

 It’s a very big box, and lifting the color lip top off, you get two sturdy big cardboard box, both full of plastic.

 

Let`s see the plastic.

The plastic is typical from ICM, in gray color, with very good surface details.

 

In my model I have some moulding lines that are easy removed and perfectly normal in a standard model kit.

I don't have any flash. The moulding quality is quite good in all dimensions, large parts and very small parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The surface detail is quite good, actually, is best one I have ever seen in a ICM model kit.

 

 

 

 

There`s some really good nice details and of course, positive rivets as it should have, being an helicopter. The surface is loaded with thousands of beautiful, tiny positive rivet heads so you don’t need any help from aftermarket goodies.

 The wheels. I like to have good wheels and in this particularly heli, with wheels that are quite visible even more.

 

 

The wheels are moulded in two halves, with good detail on the hubs. In final, a good result can be achieved by using the wheels straight from the box. Me, Myself and I will probably for a resin aftermarket wheels set.

  

About the interior of the cockpit/cabin, it`s quite detail straight from the Box.

 

 

 

The moulding in the instruments and switch panels is good and the detail is there. Just need to be painted. The result will depend on the modeller. As for seatbelts, ICM don’t give them moulded on the seat (thanks!!!) but also don’t give any PE (as they don’t have outsourcing – it`s a all in product) so you will have to source out somewhere, either aftermarket either scratchbuild.

 

 

Again, ICM clearly wants to give to all modellers, a quite good direct products straight from the box, and they actually did it very well and leaving room for the aftermarket players and to modellers that want a little more detail.

Surface panels line detail is very pleasing and the intakes, engines and transmission provide a lot of detail straight from the box.

 

The engine is not a full engine but only the part that you will be able to see.

However, the rotor-blade is in full great detail.

In both areas, aftermarket guys have a word in this, and seeing the Res-kit detail sets, they elevate the bar and you will get ultra-detail if use those sets.

 

Now, the “new” thing: The M-121 bomb.

In December 1967, the U.S. Air Force began a testing program to use large bombs for explosively clearing jungle areas for landing of helicopters. After tests in the United States, the U.S. Army began dropping the bombs using CH-54 helicopters. Use of the helicopters was expensive, time consuming and inefficient due to the CH-54's limited range. In October 1968, a C-130 crew from the 29th Tactical Airlift Squadron of the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing flew a series of test drops while under the guidance of MSQ-77 radar controllers; additional test drops were made in December. In March 1969, the 463rd commenced Project Commando Vault, and bomb drops became a regular occurrence. Besides clearing the jungle and preventing the ambush of helicopters that were approaching the landing zone (the M121's blast diameter was 60 meters), the explosion also stunned the NVA or Viet Cong personnel within 500 meters and revealed or destroyed booby traps in the landing area.

Due to the bomb's weight and powerful effects, ordnance handlers would chalk mark the bombs as "Excedrin Headache #10,00x" where x was the sequence number of the bomb; a reference to the well known (at the time) advertising campaign promoting the efficacy of the Excedrin brand of extra strength pain relievers.

Use of the M121 to clear a jungle zone was a technical success, but the weapon did not satisfy MACV's command requirement to clear a jungle area for five helicopters at the same time.[3] Despite this, the United States continued to use the M121 to clear helicopter landing zones in the jungle until stockpiles were depleted while a more powerful bomb was developed for jungle-clearing purposes. The new BLU-82, developed in 1969, entered service later in the Commando Vault program. Unlike the M121, which used TNT, the BLU-82 used a slurry mixture of ammonium nitrate and powdered aluminum. It had a slightly bigger blast diameter (80 meters).

(history from Wikipédia)

 

The M-121 has a small sprue with all the parts for it.  A nice detail is the “tail” parachute. The detal are there waiting for a nice paintjob.

 

 

The details, checking pictures of the real thing is quite nice.

However, I have read something about the inaccuracies about the nose.

 

I just dryfit the bomb to chek it:

 

 

 

Comparing with some online pictures, it looks like that the bomb shape of the nose, of the bomb pictures that I saw, is bit off, in fact.

Anyway, it`s nothing that take my sleep.

 

 

Moving to Clear Parts

 

These are big, very well mould and really clear with no distortion at all.

 

The decal sheet has a very good color pigmentation and is “home-made” by ICM showing the gigantic effort of ICM to have an all-in house made product.

 

Just love the bomb inscription. 

The scheme is Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe 67-18416 with M-121 bomb, 478th HHC (1st Cavalry Division), Phu Bai Airbase, Autumn 1968.

 

The instructions booklet

The instruction book is a A4 size with 36 pages with the first and last page in glossy paper.  

 

 

 

 

The instructions are easy to follow, with very good drawings with good parts identification and indication where to fit.

 

The colour indication. Not my first time telling this but one of ICM CEO said, in one podcast (Models from Ukraine) that ICM wants to be an “all in company” so all the ICM production is a vertical one, they made the CAD, the steel molds, the decals and now they are making also paints.

It`s, in fact an all new approach in the modelling world but ICM is getting there because I already saw, finally, in one of my usual model shop (Art Scale Kits) ICM paints on sale.

 

So the colour being only ICM references starts to be a non-issue to the novice modeler (attention, this particular modeler is not for the novice one) that simply can get some ICM paints quite easily in a foreseeing future.

 On this model, there`s no masking tape template.

 

Let`s move to the figures.

 The figures… This is a combo kit with the CH-54 and two sets of figures:

 

Helicopters Ground Personel (Vietnam war) (catalogue n.º 53102)

 

and

 

US Helicopter Pilots  (1960s-1970s) (catalogue n.º 53101)

 

There`s no box whatsoever so you just get the sprues diagram and painting instructions. Not assembly instructions are given… but if you look carefully we see the parts numbers on the figures. So there´s is assembly instructions.

 

 

but it shouldn’t be hard to do…

 

Both sets have 4 figures in different postures.

 

 

The figures in plastic from ICM are very good.

There`s the seam line mould that is need to be removed but with care and patience you get a good result. That seams line is from the moulding so is inevitable. But if it easy to be remove on legs, arms, is not that easy on the face and specially on hands. So take your time… or if you want to get the best of the best of these figures, just get hands and faces in resin (Hornet are the best ones for me).

 

 

As for the detail, and starting with the clothes I think that are quite well reproduced, but not being a Vietnam clothes specialist, I `m quite happy with the detail. Not as sharp and clear detail as resin but still, very good for plastic.

The posture and body positions are quite convincing and very well reproduce making all the figures in a natural pose which is a quite hard task to do.

The hands of all figures are very well made for injection and as I already said, with care and patience to remove the seam line you will get a good result

Also, these figures are independent of each other, so you can chose to use all or only one or two, of both sets.

 

To finalize the combo, you get a M8A1 US Landing Mat.

Here also with no box, just the sprue and the instructions.

 

 

But for this, I leave you my review on it, here.

 

Conclusion:

 Wow!! What a BIG combo kit of very large and big KIT!!

 

Hats off ICM for making this beauty and get all these together. You can see all the hard and long work made to make this one possible!

It`s the BEST model kit I EVER seen from ICM.

You can make a impressive and quite detail replica straight from the box and that`s something and I totally understand that ICM wanted to get there, as after all it`s not a cheap kit and it could be cheap! Is enormous and FANTASTIC.

 

But at the same it has plenty of room to get aftermarket guys in and the superdetailers.

 

It’s a FABULOUS Model kit combo

Just get one!!!!

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND

 

 

 

 My thanks to ICM for making this fantastic kit.

 

 

 

[biggtim]

I'm curious to see the "M8A1 Airfield Pavement Slabs". I've been planning to 3D print some of those soon, and would love to see how they did theirs.

[FullArmor]

On 4/11/2024 at 1:20 AM, Fran said:

1:35

PHU BAI COMBAT BASE 1968

 

 

ICM

Catalogue number 53056

Price: around 145,89€

 

ICM is a proud Ukrainian Company and they proudly announce themselves as such on the box top of all releases since the war as began.

And proud they should as they are making an extraordinary work in the modelling world.

 

        

  Phu Bai Combat Bae was a former U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps base south of Hue, in Central Vietnam. On 30/31 January 1968, the base was hit by Vietcong mortar and rocket fire as part of the TET Offensive. The base was used to support U.S. and ARVN forces fighting in the Battle of Hue. The first relief force was dispatched from Phu Bai to the MACV Compound in Hue City. On 15 February 1968, General Creighton Abrams established MACV forward at Phu Bai to assume direct control of US forces in northern I Corps, which were then engaged in the Battle of Hue, the Battle of Khe Sanh and the TET Counteroffensive. MACV Forward ceased operation on 10 March 1968. IN 1969, the 85th Evacuation Hospital moved from Qui Nhon and was established at the Norwest end of the airfield, adjacent to Highway 1. The Headquarters of the 101st was moved to Phu Bai.

For a little more detail history about this military base, check here: https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Phu_Bai_Combat_Base

 

There`s a lot of pictures online of actual real pictures of the CH-54 in Phu Bai:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/13476480@N07/21018823201/in/photostream/

Checking the pictures is easy to see where ICM seeks inspirations.

Before cracking the box, I leave you the review made by our Ernie Ling of the 1:35 ICM CH-54A:

https://forum.largescalemodeller.com/topic/19184-135-scale-ch-54-tarhe-by-icm/#comment-224683

 

This model kit that we are reviewing today is a multiple model kit, the CH-54A with the M-121 bomb (model kit 53055), helicopters ground personnel (53102), US Helicopter Pilots (1960s-1970s) and M801 US Landing mat (53200).

 

 

So ICM just bring parts of each one to a single box, and add a new box art (a really good model box art, I must say, as usual on the ICM model boxes) and we have Phu Bai Combat Base 1968!!

So, inside, beside de parts of each model kit mention, you get also the instructions of each one.

The instructions of the CH-54 is the one for the 53055 - Sikorsky CH-54 with M-121 bomb.

For me it`s the first time I see in flesh, the 1:35 ICM CH-54.

I must say: I am really impressed with all the work and research on this one and size!!

As Ernie says, military helicopter fans, several of whom call LSM home, cheered loudly at the announcement.

 It’s a very big box, and lifting the color lip top off, you get two sturdy big cardboard box, both full of plastic.

 

Let`s see the plastic.

The plastic is typical from ICM, in gray color, with very good surface details.

 

In my model I have some moulding lines that are easy removed and perfectly normal in a standard model kit.

I don't have any flash. The moulding quality is quite good in all dimensions, large parts and very small parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The surface detail is quite good, actually, is best one I have ever seen in a ICM model kit.

 

 

 

 

There`s some really good nice details and of course, positive rivets as it should have, being an helicopter. The surface is loaded with thousands of beautiful, tiny positive rivet heads so you don’t need any help from aftermarket goodies.

 The wheels. I like to have good wheels and in this particularly heli, with wheels that are quite visible even more.

 

 

The wheels are moulded in two halves, with good detail on the hubs. In final, a good result can be achieved by using the wheels straight from the box. Me, Myself and I will probably for a resin aftermarket wheels set.

  

About the interior of the cockpit/cabin, it`s quite detail straight from the Box.

 

 

 

The moulding in the instruments and switch panels is good and the detail is there. Just need to be painted. The result will depend on the modeller. As for seatbelts, ICM don’t give them moulded on the seat (thanks!!!) but also don’t give any PE (as they don’t have outsourcing – it`s a all in product) so you will have to source out somewhere, either aftermarket either scratchbuild.

 

 

Again, ICM clearly wants to give to all modellers, a quite good direct products straight from the box, and they actually did it very well and leaving room for the aftermarket players and to modellers that want a little more detail.

Surface panels line detail is very pleasing and the intakes, engines and transmission provide a lot of detail straight from the box.

 

The engine is not a full engine but only the part that you will be able to see.

However, the rotor-blade is in full great detail.

In both areas, aftermarket guys have a word in this, and seeing the Res-kit detail sets, they elevate the bar and you will get ultra-detail if use those sets.

 

Now, the “new” thing: The M-121 bomb.

In December 1967, the U.S. Air Force began a testing program to use large bombs for explosively clearing jungle areas for landing of helicopters. After tests in the United States, the U.S. Army began dropping the bombs using CH-54 helicopters. Use of the helicopters was expensive, time consuming and inefficient due to the CH-54's limited range. In October 1968, a C-130 crew from the 29th Tactical Airlift Squadron of the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing flew a series of test drops while under the guidance of MSQ-77 radar controllers; additional test drops were made in December. In March 1969, the 463rd commenced Project Commando Vault, and bomb drops became a regular occurrence. Besides clearing the jungle and preventing the ambush of helicopters that were approaching the landing zone (the M121's blast diameter was 60 meters), the explosion also stunned the NVA or Viet Cong personnel within 500 meters and revealed or destroyed booby traps in the landing area.

Due to the bomb's weight and powerful effects, ordnance handlers would chalk mark the bombs as "Excedrin Headache #10,00x" where x was the sequence number of the bomb; a reference to the well known (at the time) advertising campaign promoting the efficacy of the Excedrin brand of extra strength pain relievers.

Use of the M121 to clear a jungle zone was a technical success, but the weapon did not satisfy MACV's command requirement to clear a jungle area for five helicopters at the same time.[3] Despite this, the United States continued to use the M121 to clear helicopter landing zones in the jungle until stockpiles were depleted while a more powerful bomb was developed for jungle-clearing purposes. The new BLU-82, developed in 1969, entered service later in the Commando Vault program. Unlike the M121, which used TNT, the BLU-82 used a slurry mixture of ammonium nitrate and powdered aluminum. It had a slightly bigger blast diameter (80 meters).

(history from Wikipédia)

 

The M-121 has a small sprue with all the parts for it.  A nice detail is the “tail” parachute. The detal are there waiting for a nice paintjob.

 

 

The details, checking pictures of the real thing is quite nice.

However, I have read something about the inaccuracies about the nose.

 

I just dryfit the bomb to chek it:

 

 

 

Comparing with some online pictures, it looks like that the bomb shape of the nose, of the bomb pictures that I saw, is bit off, in fact.

Anyway, it`s nothing that take my sleep.

 

 

Moving to Clear Parts

 

These are big, very well mould and really clear with no distortion at all.

 

The decal sheet has a very good color pigmentation and is “home-made” by ICM showing the gigantic effort of ICM to have an all-in house made product.

 

Just love the bomb inscription. 

The scheme is Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe 67-18416 with M-121 bomb, 478th HHC (1st Cavalry Division), Phu Bai Airbase, Autumn 1968.

 

The instructions booklet

The instruction book is a A4 size with 36 pages with the first and last page in glossy paper.  

 

 

 

 

The instructions are easy to follow, with very good drawings with good parts identification and indication where to fit.

 

The colour indication. Not my first time telling this but one of ICM CEO said, in one podcast (Models from Ukraine) that ICM wants to be an “all in company” so all the ICM production is a vertical one, they made the CAD, the steel molds, the decals and now they are making also paints.

It`s, in fact an all new approach in the modelling world but ICM is getting there because I already saw, finally, in one of my usual model shop (Art Scale Kits) ICM paints on sale.

 

So the colour being only ICM references starts to be a non-issue to the novice modeler (attention, this particular modeler is not for the novice one) that simply can get some ICM paints quite easily in a foreseeing future.

 On this model, there`s no masking tape template.

 

Let`s move to the figures.

 The figures… This is a combo kit with the CH-54 and two sets of figures:

 

Helicopters Ground Personel (Vietnam war) (catalogue n.º 53102)

 

and

 

US Helicopter Pilots  (1960s-1970s) (catalogue n.º 53101)

 

There`s no box whatsoever so you just get the sprues diagram and painting instructions. Not assembly instructions are given… but if you look carefully we see the parts numbers on the figures. So there´s is assembly instructions.

 

 

but it shouldn’t be hard to do…

 

Both sets have 4 figures in different postures.

 

 

The figures in plastic from ICM are very good.

There`s the seam line mould that is need to be removed but with care and patience you get a good result. That seams line is from the moulding so is inevitable. But if it easy to be remove on legs, arms, is not that easy on the face and specially on hands. So take your time… or if you want to get the best of the best of these figures, just get hands and faces in resin (Hornet are the best ones for me).

 

 

As for the detail, and starting with the clothes I think that are quite well reproduced, but not being a Vietnam clothes specialist, I `m quite happy with the detail. Not as sharp and clear detail as resin but still, very good for plastic.

The posture and body positions are quite convincing and very well reproduce making all the figures in a natural pose which is a quite hard task to do.

The hands of all figures are very well made for injection and as I already said, with care and patience to remove the seam line you will get a good result

Also, these figures are independent of each other, so you can chose to use all or only one or two, of both sets.

 

To finalize the combo, you get a M8A1 US Landing Mat.

Here also with no box, just the sprue and the instructions.

 

 

But for this, I leave you my review on it, here.

 

Conclusion:

 Wow!! What a BIG combo kit of very large and big KIT!!

 

Hats off ICM for making this beauty and get all these together. You can see all the hard and long work made to make this one possible!

It`s the BEST model kit I EVER seen from ICM.

You can make a impressive and quite detail replica straight from the box and that`s something and I totally understand that ICM wanted to get there, as after all it`s not a cheap kit and it could be cheap! Is enormous and FANTASTIC.

 

But at the same it has plenty of room to get aftermarket guys in and the superdetailers.

 

It’s a FABULOUS Model kit combo

Just get one!!!!

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND

 

 

 

 My thanks to ICM for making this fantastic kit.

 

 

 

Lots of stuff...quite unique...flying skeleton😁