October 05, 2026

Preview: ICM's five October releases...

A new Huey & paint, a ground-bound Stuka, a topless Unimog & an upgraded Viper are the subjects of ICM's October releases. We update you with the contents, CADS, history & artwork in our preview...


Preview: ICM's five October releases...

Helicopters, multirole fighters, rocket launchers, support trucks, and tailored paint sets form the core of ICM's upcoming October schedule. We look at the histories, kit specifics, and components included in this month's "drop"💣.

UH-1C Huey Gunship, US Attack Helicopter
Kit No. #48293
1/48th scale
186 pcs
Model height: 86 mm / Length: 335 mm
Following the Korean War, the U.S. Army formulated new requirements for a multipurpose helicopter based on operational experiences. Bell Helicopter won the resulting competition with its Model 204, which initially carried the designation XH-40. The prototype conducted its maiden flight on October 20, 1956, leading to the production-ready HU-1A Iroquois. The original designation led to the widespread "Huey" moniker, and in 1962, the type was officially redesignated as the UH-1 under a unified military classification system. The first variants arrived in Vietnam in 1962 to handle transport, medical evacuation, and fire support. The expanding demand for dedicated gunships prompted the creation of the UH-1C, which entered service in June 1965. This variant incorporated a more powerful engine and widened main rotor blades to enhance overall flight performance and manoeuvrability. 

A CAD of the completed kit - sure does look like a Huey!
The decals included in this kit
A primary weapon setup was the XM21 system, matching two six-barrel 7.62 mm M134 miniguns with unguided 70 mm rocket pods. These gunships provided close air support for ground troops and secured landing zones during operations. Total production reached roughly 750 airframes.

The spues of the kit
The Kit:
This 1/48th scale model kit is an entirely new tool configuration representing ICM's first entry into the Huey and Iroquois helicopter family. Containing 186 individual parts, the plastic components build up into a replica measuring 335 mm in length. The kit includes multiple options for weapons loadouts to depict different operational states, along with a 3D instrument panel decal for the cockpit interior. Full-colour painting guides and decal sheets are supplied to finish the model in one of three different Vietnam War marking schemes.


Ukrainian Air Force F-16AM with GBU-39 Bombs
Kit No. #72146
1/72nd scale
66 + 11 pcs
Model length: 202 mm
The Ukrainian Air Force integrated its first batch of F-16 multirole fighters in August 2024. By the winter of 2025, active operational reports indicated the aircraft were being deployed to execute strikes against ground positions. For these specific operations, Ukrainian F-16s employ several munition types, including GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs. The GBU-39 has been in active service with the U.S. Air Force since 2006, featuring a total weight of roughly 110 kg and a length of 1.8 metres. 

The decals included in this kit
It utilises an integrated set of folding wings that unfold into a standard flight position immediately after release from the aircraft. The bomb can be programmed by the pilot during a combat mission to alter target coordinates and select specific fuze modes. Under optimal operational conditions, the weapon can strike targets at ranges up to 110 km. Additionally, Ukrainian F-16s can be fitted with AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pods on the centreline fuselage station to detect hostile radar signatures and generate electronic interference to disrupt tracking.

The new parts added to the kit (just the new ones)
The Kit:
The 1/72nd scale kit replicates the F-16AM in its ground-attack configuration as operated by Ukraine. The box includes 66 standard plastic parts supplemented by 11 additional pieces, assembling into a model measuring 202 mm long. This is a reboxing of Hasegawa's classic 1/72 scale F-16A/F-16A Plus plastic sprues (which originally debuted in 1985).

Modellers are also supplied with 3D-printed components to construct two specialized bomb pylons, eight individual GBU-39 small-diameter bombs, and a centreline AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod. The included decal sheet features specific markings for Ukrainian Air Force airframes alongside technical stencils for the external ordnance and electronic pods.


“Stuka zu Fuß” with Crew
Kit No. #35108
1/35th scale
425 + 27 pcs
Model height: 60 mm / Length: 170 mm
In 1941, the Wehrmacht deployed a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher variant using 28/32 cm Nebelwerfer 41 rockets. The Sd.Kfz. 251/1 half-track armoured personnel carrier served as one of the primary base chassis for this field conversion. The modification added external framework structures along the sloped side plates of the armoured hull, with each side accommodating three rocket launch frames. Due to the space needed for the launching equipment, the rear compartment housed a reduced crew of three to four soldiers rather than a full ten-man panzergrenadier squad. 

The decals included in this kit
Preparing the system for action required heavy manual labour, as the crew had to lift and secure the heavy rocket crates onto the side brackets. Reloading was a slow process due to the physical weight of the ammunition containers. The side-mounted launch frames could be adjusted mechanically to an elevation between +5° and +40°, while horizontal aiming required turning the entire half-track. Two specialized alignment pins were affixed to the engine cowling to assist the driver with precise directional positioning. The system provided heavy fire support for mobile armoured units, and the whistling sound of the rocket flight led to the nickname "Stuka zu Fuß" (Stuka on Foot).

The spues of the kit
The Kit:
This 1/35th scale kit models the heavy multiple rocket launcher built upon the Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf.B chassis. It features a parts count of 425 plastic elements and 27 additional details, resulting in an assembled length of 170 mm. The kit includes components to build both high-explosive and incendiary rocket types within their launching frames, and the physical angles of the armoured hull are reproduced to match the early-variant geometry. A crew of figures is included, engineered in specific rocket-loading poses to interact directly with the vehicle. Decals provide options for three separate wartime finishes.


Unimog S 404 with Drehringlafette Ring Mount
Kit No. #35139
1/35th scale
250 + 10 pcs
Model height: 86 mm / Length: 144 mm
The Unimog S 404 light military truck was designed during the post-war era to provide the West German Bundeswehr with a versatile off-road transport platform. The vehicle utilised a 2,900 mm wheelbase, offered a 1.5-tonne cargo payload capacity, and ran on a 2,195 cc six-cylinder petrol engine delivering 82 horsepower. A flexible frame system, four-wheel-drive layout, and high-clearance suspension allowed the truck to traverse difficult cross-country routes. 

The decals included in this kit
Over its production run, the vehicle was adapted into multiple variants, including standard cargo beds, enclosed Koffer box bodies, field ambulances, mobile workshops, and radio stations. A selection of these trucks received an MG3 machine gun for defensive purposes, fitted onto a rotating ring mount designated as the Drehringlafette. The tubular frame for this mount was bolted above the soft-top cab using support brackets fixed to both sides of the forward bodywork. The layout enabled a gunner to rotate the weapon through a complete 360-degree field of fire to protect convoys or engage low-flying aircraft.

The spues of the kit
The Kit:
ICM's 1/35th scale release depicts the Bundeswehr truck configured as a mobile machine-gun platform. The assembly uses 250 plastic parts and 10 extra details, building into a compact model 144 mm long. The specialized Drehringlafette ring mount and its associated MG3 machine gun are supplied as detailed 3D-printed assemblies. Mechanical features like the engine bay, chassis rails, and internal cab details are fully represented. The kit contains marking options and decals to cover four distinct military vehicles.


Acrylic paint set for UH-1C Huey Gunship
Set No. #3104
To support the primary helicopter release, ICM is also introducing a dedicated water-soluble acrylic paint set. The selection is formulated to provide the primary shades required for the exterior camouflage and interior surfaces of the 1/48 scale UH-1C Huey Gunship (Kit #48293).

Other paint sets hitting the schedule this month include set #3084, formulated for use with the Ukrainian F-16AM, and set #3103, designed to match Wehrmacht armoured personnel carriers like the "Stuka zu Fuß".

Due in next month, you can find out about ICM's other releases on the ICM plastic model kits website