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AH-1G Cobra Checklist

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  • Member since
    April 2013
AH-1G Cobra Checklist
Posted by KnightTemplar5150 on Sunday, May 3, 2015 8:34 PM

Hi, everyone!

My son is set to graduate from high school next month, so I thought this would be a good time to get in one last Father-Son project before he leaves the nest. To make it something memorable for him, I've conspired with my mother to build up the updated Monogram re-issue of the venerable old Revell 1/32 Cobra which originally came out sometime around the time my father was serving in the Army as a crew chief. Dad spent his first enlistment working on AH-1G ships before moving on to UH-1D and H ships in subsequent tours. The Cobra holds a special place in his heart and I recall Dad building the Revell kit for me and my brother at least a half-dozen times while we were growing up.

Over the course of this weekend, I have managed to pull together the following:

  • Monogram kit 4677 - the one molded in grey with the updated sprue
  • Werner Wings vac-formed canopy
  • Cobra Company cockpit
I've also contacted Fireball Modelworks for a decal sheet and their resin update set. However, I've had no luck in tracking down the now out-of-production Eduard etched set for this kit. Does anyone have any leads on where I might track one down? 
Is there a better representation of the Lycoming engine and transmission than what's in the kit? I haven't built one for over 30 years, but I remember that being a rough spot of the build. I also want to say that the "doghouse" was sort of screwy because of the way that the engine access panels are modeled in the kit. Or was that just my imagination?
Any leads for other details for this build? Any tips? Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated!
  • Member since
    June 2003
Posted by supercobra on Thursday, May 7, 2015 8:33 PM

Fireball Modelworks makes some good stuff for it - decals, vertical fin, toilet bowl exhaust, rockets pods, etc.

www.fireballmodels.info

Here are a couple of good build threads:

www.arcforums.com/.../index.php

www.arcair.com/.../00.shtm

Good luck finding the Eduard set - I think it is #32-16.  I have one I found years ago at a local hobby shop and have been looking for more ever since.  I wish they would re-release it.

  • Member since
    April 2013
Posted by KnightTemplar5150 on Thursday, May 7, 2015 9:47 PM
Thanks, Supercobra - your reply is appreciated. I contacted Joseph Osborn at Fireball late last week and got off an order for the decal sheet and the resin detail set. I got to thinking about that this morning and came to the conclusion that if I was in for a penny, I'd have to go in for a pound, so another order was placed for the M187 and M200 rocket pods. Going to check out the links you've shared - thanks again!
  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by qcarr on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 9:05 AM

I'd be really interested to see your build, KnightTemplar5150!  The AH-1G is special to me, as well, because my uncle flew one for the 7th of the 1st  (7th Armored Squadron of the 1st Air Cavalry, aka, the "Blackhawks") in Vietnam in 1970-71.  I had the Monogram kit when I was a kid and definitely hope to get hold of one again!

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: The Boonies
Posted by Snake36Bravo on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 12:11 PM

Would love to see this build as well. I only have parts from the kit. One just came up on Ebay last week and sold for a fair price. They often show up there. I've got 5 1/72 kits to build of the G at present and am making my own decal sheets for each unit. I can make any decals unit specific down to particular examples.

Si vis pacem, Para Bellum!

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by qcarr on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 12:52 PM

I just got the 1/72 AZ Model AH-1G Late Huey Cobra and will tackle it after I complete a couple of tank projects.

Snake36Bravo - very cool that you create your own decal sheets!  Do you ever make any to sell?

  • Member since
    April 2013
Posted by KnightTemplar5150 on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 2:56 PM
I haven't opened the kit yet because we're still hunting around for photos of Dad's ship, but my son has managed to get some information from him without letting on that there is a project in the works. At this point, we know that this Cobra was refitted with the tail rotor on the starboard side and that Dad transitioned over to UH-1D and H ships before the Cobras were fitted with the Strella kit. It's not much info at this point, but it gives me an idea what will need to be done to the kit to make a fairly decent replica. The way things are shaping up, there's going to be a lot of surgery taking place before glue and paint.


My son is graduating from high school this weekend, so he'll likely be spending some time with Dad over the next few days. My wife is going to allow me to experiment around with her camera, so I'll see what I can do about a WIP with this project. At this point, I think my son and I could use all the help we can get, so getting input and feedback from you gents would be invaluable!
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