UH-60A Black Hawk with ESSS and Skis

Fans of the Black Hawk helicopter have been spoilt by ICM with a huge selection of the Black Hawk in 1/48th scale performing various roles and a number of variants. This release from ICM follows the same standard layout of a troop carrier in the interior, the usual issues survives of no harness detail for the crew seats, although there is now a 3 man crew available of 2 pilots and a crew chief. Decals are included for the instrument panels, and what is present should meet the needs of most modellers. 

The exterior detail is very well done, and the finely recessed panel lines should meet with approval. Something that does not meet with my approval, are the number of holes that need to be drilled as there are no indicators on the plastic for accurate placement. I do approve of the fact that the drill size is provided. However, when the holes to be drilled are covered in 100ths of a millimetre I do not believe this makes drilling holes an easy task. The engine detail as regards the exterior aspects are nicely detailed and I like that the access doors can be set as preferred. 

The special undercarriage detail is provided via 3D printed parts - so clean up can be classed as labourious due to the frame that protects the parts. However, it does provide the modeller highly detailed parts to replicate the skis. The rotor head detail is of a good standard in my opinion, however, I have usually found that some detail has to be omitted due to the limitations of the material. 

Fuel drop tanks are included for this release. One thing I will say with reference to my drill hole comments - is rather than drilling a hole and getting it wrong, I prefer to cut off the locator tags of the parts that need placing in these holes and then place them on the semi-finished model. I appreciate they I may misplace some parts, but to me it is better then drilling a hole and then finding out that the part that goes there obscures a detail that it should not. 2 finishing option have been included:

UH-60A Black Hawk 89-26156, Kentuckey National Guard, 2009

UH-60A Black Hawk 80-23424, Montana National Guard, 2013