Introduction:

Together with HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter pilots and door gunners designed to fit 1/35 scale Pave Hawk/Black Hawk kits from Kitty Hawk and Academy, Live Resin also released three Special Operation Forces figures for the helicopter cargo compartment. This review covers HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crew set - SOF personnel carried in cargo door - figure 1 (LRM-35028).

Review:

The figure kit is packed in a hard cardboard box featuring CAD box art images. The image on the front shows the figure from different angles and the one on the back displays the figure sitting in the helicopter cargo door, stating the figure fits Kitty Hawk (KH50006) and Academy (2201 and 2217) models.

The box contains a zip-lock bag full of resin pieces, with bubble wrap providing additional protection for the delicate parts. Upon getting all the carrier blocks out, I was surprised by the number of pieces included in this kit. With the total of 36 parts, this kit is a textbook example of a modular figure concept from Live Resin, providing all the equipment pieces separately, so the modeler can customize the figure to his own preferences. The kit contains:

- torso,
- legs,
- head,
- right arm,
- left arm,
- right boot,
- left boot,
- helmet,
- individual equipment (23x),
- weapon and accessories (5x).

The grey resin is perfectly cast and closer inspection reveals no seam lines or air-bubbles. The details are sharp and wonderfully delivered. Check out the tiny boom microphone, casting this delicate piece in resin is an amazing feat. Large casting blocks are easy to remove using side cutters and a sharp X-acto knife. Minimal sanding is needed to obtain a perfectly smooth surface, reducing resin dust particles on the workbench to least possible. Cleaning all 36 pieces might seem as a tedious process and it does take some extra time, but the end result is well worth it.

The pieces fit really well. Intelligent design with protrusions and indentations in corresponding parts help to optimally align the main figure pieces. All the equipment bits are supplied separately and can be attached to the figure per modeler’s own preferences. I used box art as a template and followed that particular equipment setup (with some minor modifications and omitting the delicate microphone boom, PTT unit and weapon sling) to complete the figure assembly. The weapon is also assembled from multiple add-ons and accessories supplied as separate pieces in the kit, again following the Live Resin modular concept. I do like the option of adding these equipment and weapon bits and pieces myself, however some modelers might feel the assembly is too complex for a 1/35 scale figure.

The figure depicts US Special Forces operator sitting in the helicopter open cargo bay door. The pose of the figure looks good and the facial features are well defined. The operator wears Patagonia Level 9 combat uniform with a wide assortment of ammo magazine, utility and radio pouches attached to his MBAV plate carrier and tactical belt. The figure is armed with Mk18 and the weapon sling is included in the kit as well. Comparing the assembled figure with my references, I can confirm all the details of the uniform and equipment are delivered realistically and accurately.

I can’t comment on fitting the figure to Pave Hawk/Black Hawk models, as I don’t have any of the specified kits in my stash. However, I don’t think there would be any major problems in getting the figure into the cargo area as the photo from Live Resin website, added to this review, suggests.

Conclusion:

Reviewing Live Resin stuff always ends up with superlatives. And rightfully so… Live Resin figures are among the best 1/35 scale miniatures on the market today.

HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crew set - SOF personnel carried in cargo door - figure 1 (LRM-35028) is a great figure kit. Perfectly cast resin pieces fit really well and, although the kit consists of 36 parts, the assembly is pretty much straightforward. Yes, the amount of pieces can turn some modelers off, but I welcome the ability of customizing the miniature to my own likes. The extra time assembling the figure is well worth it in the end, as the finished miniature looks amazing, providing an accurate representation of modern US Special Ops operator. Together with the rest of the helo crew released under Live Resin label, the figure offers a perfect addition to Pave Hawk/Black Hawk 1/35 scale model kits.

Thanks to Live Resin for this review sample.