World On Fire: The S-64E Skycrane Firefighter

[Uncarina]

It's been a while since I've posted any builds, and while I've enjoyed building the DBMK Sea Fury, the sheer number of fires occurring around the world has led to me deciding to really focus on building the ICM S-64E Skycrane:

 

 

This is actually my third ICM kit of the Skycrane. After buying one back in 2023 I immediately started building it as a water-bomber, and while the build was really enjoyable--superb fit, engineering, and detail--I decided to give it away to a friend and wait for ICM to release a dedicated kit. Which they did, and which I bought, but it lacked the unique water apparatus. Then ICM released the kit pictured above this year, and I bought it immediately.

 

Here's some pics of my initial build, straight from the kit with a Kelik cockpit upgrade:

 

 

 

 

Lot's of fun to put together, but then I received the Reskit cockpit upgrade:

 

 

As expected, this takes the level of detail to a whole new level. I started assembling and painting it but then realized that several of the larger pieces were badly warped from the Arizona heat. Besides, it felt a little bit like cheating since I wasn't really scratchbuilding anything. That's when I decided to do a Franken-build, integrating some of the key unwarped pieces into a kit cockpit with a lot of scratchbuilt upgrades.

 

Having the Reskit upgrade gave me an invaluable point of reference for added detail: rivets, bulkhead detail, and more. And the biggest difference from the kit is the cutout at the rear pilot deck which you can see is missing from my photo above. So with an ultrasonic knife and some courage I did this:

 

 

Then this (Reskit on the right, and you can see some of my added rivets on the left):

 

 

Then this:

 

 

Then this:

 

 

You can also see some of the detail I've added to the bulkhead. There's more to come, and here's a sneak preview:

 

 

By the way, the Reskit set has a near perfect fit in the fuselage, so adding select pieces to the kit parts requires little to no modification.

 

Until next time!

 

Cheers,  Tom

Edited Wednesday at 09:26 PM by Uncarina

[Thunnus]

Very cool Tom!  I like the idea of using the Reskit as a template for your own improvements!

[Uncarina]

13 minutes ago, Thunnus said:

Very cool Tom!  I like the idea of using the Reskit as a template for your own improvements!

Thanks John! It is so much more fun and gives me a better sense of accomplishment.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Jim Barry]

Sweet! I love the skycrane. Perfectly named too! 

[Uncarina]

19 minutes ago, Jim Barry said:

Sweet! I love the skycrane. Perfectly named too! 

Thanks Jim! I love it as well--among the many other amazing things it can do it can fly over 11,000meters/36,000feet in altitude.

 

Sincerely,

 

Tom

[LSP_Kevin]

That's brilliant, Tom! I was lucky enough to have a friend and fellow forum member send me the release of the S-64 kit that lacked the water bomber components, but ICM has since announced the release of a dedicated expansion set of parts for that kit, which I will duly acquire when available!

 

Signed up and following along.

 

Kev

[Uncarina]

1 hour ago, LSP_Kevin said:

That's brilliant, Tom! I was lucky enough to have a friend and fellow forum member send me the release of the S-64 kit that lacked the water bomber components, but ICM has since announced the release of a dedicated expansion set of parts for that kit, which I will duly acquire when available!

 

Signed up and following along.

 

Kev

Thanks Kev! I actually did bought that same kit along with the initial release, now using it for spares (I lost a tail rotor pedal from the kit I'm building). That's great news that ICM is coming out with an expansion set--glad you can use this. I should also let you know that I've selected Georgia Peach as my subject because of the kangaroo emblem included. Thanks for following along!

 

Cheers,  Tom

[LSP_Kevin]

17 minutes ago, Uncarina said:

I should also let you know that I've selected Georgia Peach as my subject because of the kangaroo emblem included.

 

I'm planning to do "Elvis" if I can, as it used to fly low over my house at the old place, and was quite a sight - and sound!

 

Kev

[scvrobeson]

Now that's a great start!  Love seeing these huge Skycranes come together. I saw one completed at a local contest, and holy cow does it have presence when done. And the ICM kit is beautiful. 

 

 

Matt 

[Uncarina]

2 hours ago, scvrobeson said:

Now that's a great start!  Love seeing these huge Skycranes come together. I saw one completed at a local contest, and holy cow does it have presence when done. And the ICM kit is beautiful. 

 

 

Matt 

Thanks Matt! I know from my first build that once the cockpit is completed it becomes truly massive very quickly, due largely to the superb fit.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Cicchino]

Tom, 

 

Keep 'em coming! The Ch-64/S-64 is one of those modeling journey markers dating way back to when I built the Revell 1/72 kit as a kid. It has always fascinated me. I got to experience one up very close and personal back in 1983ish when an S-64 lifted off from a parking lot the take the crane off the top of the BellSouth building in Atlanta while I was walking by on the way to class.  'Impressive' doesn't do the experience justice. 

 

I would love to build one except because of the big footprint of the rotor, for me the ideal helicopter scale is 1/48. If ICM were to come out with one in the smaller scale I would be all over it. 

 

Meanwhile, I'll live vicariously through your excellent build!

 

Regards, 

 

John

 

PS: Glad to see those Malta pics - sounds like you had a great time!

[Uncarina]

3 hours ago, Cicchino said:

Tom, 

 

Keep 'em coming! The Ch-64/S-64 is one of those modeling journey markers dating way back to when I built the Revell 1/72 kit as a kid. It has always fascinated me. I got to experience one up very close and personal back in 1983ish when an S-64 lifted off from a parking lot the take the crane off the top of the BellSouth building in Atlanta while I was walking by on the way to class.  'Impressive' doesn't do the experience justice. 

 

I would love to build one except because of the big footprint of the rotor, for me the ideal helicopter scale is 1/48. If ICM were to come out with one in the smaller scale I would be all over it. 

 

Meanwhile, I'll live vicariously through your excellent build!

 

Regards, 

 

John

 

PS: Glad to see those Malta pics - sounds like you had a great time!

Thanks John! I know what you mean about the area the main rotor takes up, about the diameter of a car wheel. I’ve seen at least one build where they left the blades removable, so that might be a consideration. Meanwhile ICM has released a 1/72 Skycrane, maybe 1/48 won’t be too far off.

 

Thanks again for the advice for visiting Malta! I absolutely loved that visit.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[BiggTim]

Very cool! I've seen those in action up close, and they are pretty impressive.

[Oldbaldguy]

I have one of these staring at me from under the bench.  Now that you have more building experience than most with this kit, maybe you can tell me what the Reskit AM adds to the model.  Is the cockpit open enough that the extra detail will make a visible difference?  If it does, is the difference worth the price once the model is finished vs relying on some judicious scratch building?  Speaking subjectively, of course.  There is so much going on outside the airframe (where it is very visible) that could stand some love and attention that I'm having a hard time warming up to the idea of going to the trouble and expense of building a cosmic cockpit that is pretty much fully enclosed.  Lastly, why the purple seat covers?  

[nichenson]

I am in the same boat as you.  I bought the original with all intentions of doing a fire variant, then got the S-64, and then finally cussed when the one with the tank came out only to find out that they are going to release the tank by itself a little later this year.