Nam era Cobras

In 1/48, there only some horrid old kits (Lindberg, Fujimi, Aurora) out there of the AH-1G. We certainly need a new kit of it in that scale. In 1/72 Monogram did a decent one, but I do not know if it has been re issued in the

revell line anytime recently. And then there is the 1/32 AH-1G that Revell did way back when that was re issued around 2004 with some upgraded parts.

AZ models is supposedly releasing a 1/72 AH-1G later this year.  Till then, the Monogram kit is your best bet in 1/72 and the 1/32 Revell kit with Werners Wingsa, Cobra Company, and Fireball Modelworks upgrades is the best overall AH-1G that can be had in any scale.

  Ray

Fujimi makes an AH-1J in 1/48.  It's not bad looking if you add the Cobra Company resin cockpit to it.  

Thanks for the info, guys!  I'm pretty sure I built the monogram kit way back when and I have been trying to find the old kits I used to have to build mostly for nostalgia but some were really cool then and got me hooked on modeling and history and planes and ships and tanks.......... Besides is there anything more lethal looking than the AH-1!

If you are not afraid of a bit of cutting, Cobra Company makes a conversion kit to build the Fujimi 1/48 AH-1J into an AH-1G.  It includes a completely new doghouse, turret, cockpit, etc.

The Fujimi 1/48 AH-1J is a fine kit in itself.  It is out of production, but they are not terribly hard to find on the forums or on ebay, if you are patient.  I'd also recommend the Cobra Company AH-1J cockpit for it.

AH1Wsnake

That sounds doable.  Reckon that's what the saws and blades are for anyway!  And if I do a conversion right before I finish someone comes out with a new kit of exactly what I am doing.  I'd be putting something cool on the shelf and helping the modeling community out to boot!!

freem

I have a 1/32 scale b model,  does that count?

Count as what?  I guess I don't understand your question.  There was no AH-1B (there was a UH-1B but none in 1/32 that I'm aware of).  The 1/32 AH-1 is an AH-1G and yes that counts as a "Vietnam era Cobra".  The two Vietnam era Cobras were the AH-1G and the AH-1J.  The 1/32 AH-1G is not a bad kit (for the era it came out) and there are lots of good after-market additions for it.

Yes, I built this one overseas straight OOB, with only minimal modeling tools and equipment. (mail order acrylic Testors square bottle paint set w/brushes, emery  boards, hobby knife, glue, etc.) It was the last "upgrade" release that came with some new tooled parts- rocket pods, intake grillwork, etc. With all the Cobra Company and Werners Wings upgrades, it could really shine...