1:48 ICM MH-60L Black Hawk

[Fran]

1:48

MH-60L

Black Hawk

US Special Forces Helicopter

ICM

Catalogue number 48360

Price: €50,60

To get one, just click here

 

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: 

1. 90-26290, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Tennessee, 2007
2. 93-26489, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Exercise PANAMAX 2011
3. 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