ICM News Sep 2025

1/35 S-64E Skycrane
The Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane is the civilian version of the CH-54A Tarhe heavy twin-engine military helicopter. The military variant was widely used during the Vietnam War to transport heavy cargo, from artillery guns to combat boats.

The S-64E features a six-blade rotor and two Pratt & Whitney engines. It has an all-metal fuselage and a three-seat crew cabin with two side-by-side pilot seats and a separate operator’s seat. The operator’s seat faces backward at a 180° angle, allowing monitoring of cargo through the transparent rear wall during loading operations.

This versatile helicopter performs numerous functions globally: rescue operations, firefighting for emergency services, construction work, heavy cargo transport, and timber harvesting.

Most S-64s have unique names displayed on their nose section. The aircraft has set remarkable records, including the highest horizontal flight altitude (11 km) and fastest climb rates to various heights (3, 6, and 9 km).

1/35 Panzerspähwagen (Funk) P204(f)
Armoured Command Vehicle

In 1934, Panhard began producing the Panhard 178 armored car, designed for cavalry reconnaissance. These vehicles featured a rear-mounted engine, four-wheel drive, and a 25-mm anti-tank gun as main armament. Production ran until mid-June 1940, with 527 vehicles manufactured.

The Panhard 178 saw combat in spring 1940 with French cavalry units and gained an excellent reputation. Military specialists widely regarded them as among the best vehicles in their class.

Following France’s defeat in June 1940, about 190 of these armored cars were absorbed into German forces, while French factories produced several dozen more for the Wehrmacht. The Germans redesignated them as Panzerspähwagen P204(f). Some were converted to command vehicles by installing Hochantenne roof antennas that covered most of the hull’s upper surface. These modified versions received the additional designation “Funk” and served both on the Eastern Front and in occupied France.

1/35 “Miracle on the Marne”

When World War I began, Germany implemented the Schlieffen Plan—a strategy for a swift advance through Belgium to Paris, with the goal of encircling and capturing the French capital from the west. At first, the plan unfolded successfully, pushing France into a critical position. However, as the campaign progressed, the German army found itself without enough troops to complete the encirclement of Paris. German high command then altered their strategy, shortening their offensive route, abandoning the planned bypass of Paris, and redirecting forces eastward toward the Marne River.

France and Britain responded decisively by concentrating forces in this vulnerable sector, assembling an Allied force nearly twice the size of the advancing German armies. Their powerful counterattack forced the Germans to stretch their lines thin while attempting to maneuver along the front. As gaps appeared in the German formations, French and British units quickly exploited these weaknesses by advancing into the openings.

This pressure ultimately forced the Germans to retreat, marking the complete collapse of the Schlieffen Plan, which had been designed for a rapid victory on the Western Front. This unexpected Allied triumph later became known as the ‘Miracle on the Marne’.

1/72 M2 Bradley
US Infantry Fighting Vehicle

The M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle entered service with the US Army in 1981. It was developed through a long-term program called Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle, which aimed to create a protected, highly maneuverable transport for mechanized units of the US Army. The vehicle was named after Omar Bradley, the legendary American general of World War II.

The M2 Bradley serves a dual purpose: transporting motorized infantry units during combat and providing fire support. It features a traditional layout with the engine positioned in the front of the hull to better protect the crew. Both the hull and turret are constructed from aluminum alloy reinforced with other metals to increase damage resistance. This armor configuration provides all-around protection against 14.5 mm armor-piercing incendiary bullets.

The Bradley’s primary weapon is an M242 25 mm automatic cannon capable of penetrating 66 mm thick homogeneous steel armor. For engaging heavy armored vehicles, a dual launcher for BGM-71 TOW missiles is mounted on the left side of the turret. Throughout its service life, the vehicle has undergone various modifications and improvements that have significantly enhanced its protection capabilities.

1/72 Trailer of Armed Forces of Ukraine
The Armed Forces of Ukraine widely use various trailers alongside trucks. Many feature van bodies that house personnel, laboratories, repair workshops, field kitchens, electronic systems, or medical stations. These trailers typically include electrical lighting, power supply, and heating systems. The 2-PN-2M trailer with its universal closed KP4 van body serves as a common example. Following established tradition, such trailers are commonly known as KUNG — an acronym for “unified zero (normal) dimension body”.

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