SAR Models - Anyone Heard of This Company?

Tony,

Thanks for the info on the kit. My suspicions were correct about them not having the right rotor head and blades on the Charlie model. It is the Seminar Kit of the "B" I have and the one "Avus" did such an excellent job on!

Jon,

Thanks for confirming my thoughts on the "Cobra" connection to the Bravo model Huey Gunship. I just didn't remember where to find it in print. It actually may be in my book on the Cobra now I think about it. Still "Feet Wet"! Weather too bad even for IFR flights in the Gulf today. May be a boat ride mid afternoon tomorrow if they can't fly in the morning. It's going to be a short week home!

Thanks for the INFO guys!! ....very interesting indeed.

That is the UH-1B reboxed from it's original release under the SEMINAR banner. It was #2 to the MRC kit, also released as a UH-1C which was a total joke because it retained the incorrect B-model rotorhead.

This particular model is infamous for the soft-vinyl ammo belts - the mould release agent or the vinyl plasticiser attacks the polystyrene of the kit itself. I have seen several reports of badly scarred clear parts and rotor blades as a result.

You've been warned, and if you want more details, search the archives at Heli-Kit-News www.5chr.freeserve.co.uk for "Seminar".

Cheers!
Tony

Ok, guys, here's the deal,

The gun platoon of the 114th AHC was known as the "Cobras". They were among the first units to operate Huey gunbirds and also were rather early on the list to do Cobra transition in-country. The HueyCobra actually got its name from this unit. In 1965, while the Cobra was still being developed, Bell Techreps witnessed the 114th Guns in action and were really impressed. They chose to name the new dedicated gunship after that platoon. The rest, as they say, is history!

I'll have to "research" that one, but it was one of the first Units with the "B" model gunships if I recall. That was before the "Cobra" was ever built. I thing Bell robbed the name for their new gunship the AH-1. I think there are pictures of the nose art in the Squadron Signal Airmobile book. I happened to have the book offshore and found one picture dated 1963 with the art on the nose on page 16. Also have my Huey In Action and on page 13 their is another shot of a UH-1B of the 114th Aviation Co. with the Cobra art work on the nose. It was more than likely the Gun Platoon's call sign. There is also a "color plate" in the center section of one of their later Charlie models with the nose are. I am currently waiting on Crew Change and it looks like the helicopters are grounded due to weather. May be a long crew boat ride today. Normally I'm home by now. I'll be lucky to get home by 8 PM tonight now! Oh well, overtime pay to buy more "plastic" with at the next Hobby Lobby 50% off Sale. May have to make a "road trip" to Baton Rouge to Andy's Hobby Town and to Jerry's in Westwego. I'm trying to make some headway on my Shark so I brought out most of my Huey books to work this week. My list of mod's and detail work is just getting longer.

Glad we got all that taken care of......

but what about calling it a COBRA!....like....whats up with that?

Thanks Guys!

Hey, it's another manufacturer of 1/35th helicopters.

Can't complain there.

James

Hey Mel,

That's the Huey I've bulit (the one on my site). I remember the box art. It wasn't MRC like I thought.
I recall that the pieces didn't fit well; I had to bend them into place and use CA-glue since with the usual plastic glue they wouldn't stay in place.

Papa-Echo,

It's not a clone of the the MRC/Academy kit. It is not as good. I have the "B" model and the rotor system is crude! About as bad as Panda! I am curious if they have the right hub and blades. The drawing shows the larger cambered fin of the Charlie model. The best kit for your money is the MRC/Academy UH-1C "Frog" with the Shark decals. You get all the weapons systems of the "Heavy Hog" and "Muskets" kits too.

Ha! Arty and I posted almost at the same time!

I guess its a re-release.

Hi James!

HA!....now your e-mail makes more sence!

HUEY COBRA?????

That one is new to me.....but then I'm not a Nam vet or a virty bird historian.

1/32 would be a bit more interesting being that this HELO has been done over and over and......

I wonder if its just a MRC model under a different name??

They are from Korea. I bought and built that kit while I was stationed there a few years ago. Not too bad. the detail is a little bit thick in some areas. Figures arent too bad. It is a close second behind the MRC/Academy UH-1B/C models. It looks pretty good once built.