Revell AH-1G Cobra Inquiry.

Hey Snakedriver,

How's that Snake you were working on coming along?

If you're gonna hang that M-35 system on your "Snake" be sure to check out the tail rotor set-up of the aircraft you are modeling. Most of the cannon armed birds I saw had the "Tractor" tail rotor on the starboard side. This also requires putting some camber into the vertical fin. I noticed the Cobra Company resin set includes the beefed up structural panels for the port side fuselage.

Randie,
Glad to help, was going to mention Squadron's, AH-1 In Action book and (although I didn't realize it until today) Cobrahistorian's book, I have it and it will be useful.
Hope to see some picture's of your project somday.
John

Randie,

Yep, same pod as the A-1. The Revell kit actually comes with two of them, although they're pretty crappy on detail. They are the correct shape, though so modifying them is pretty easy.

As for my AH-1F conversion, well, its been on hold for a while. Since I moved, all of my Cobras have been in storage. I've gotten distracted building Apaches and really need to get back to the Cobras I've got building.

I'm working on a step-by-step accurizing of the Revell Apache kit right now, but will get back to the Snakes after that!

The XM-18? Is this the same minigun carried by some of the A-1 Skyraiders on SAR missions? If so. Hmmmmmmmmm, shouldn't be too hard to scratch build one of those.
By the way! Whatever came of your conversion of the AH-1G to AH-1S? I think it was??
You really need to make up that conversion. I, for one, would be very, very interested in purchasing one!!!
That would give me a reason to buy more AH-1G kits!!!!
Oh, and by the way, your book on the Cobra in Vietnam is on my birthday list!!!

Randie

Randie,

Depended on what they were going to do with it. I've seen a few different configurations. The "super-scout" with 3 7-shot rocket pods and the 20mm; 2 7-shots outboard and a 19-shot inboard, plus the 20mm; or my personal favorite, an XM-18 minigun pod inboard on the right wing, 20mm on the left and two 7-shots outboard!

From what I've seen, the 19-shot inboard on the right wing was the most common, but by no means standard. The two pics I have of "Heather Dawn" both show her with a 19-shot inboard on the right wing.

When carrying the 20 mm set up. What did they carry on the opposite side?
Just curious. I have pics of them but, since my latest move I haven't gotten to my reference material boxes yet!

Randie

Randie,

Yeah, I like the twin-mini birds too. I've only seen one with twin 40mms and that was a stateside training bird. From what I've seen, most twin birds (but not all) had the 20mm cannon setup too. Talk about rotary-barrel hell!

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cobrahistorian I actually snagged miniguns from my UH-1C to do the twin mini's in "Heather Dawn's" turret. Hope that helps!

That's one that I am interested in doing.
I have seen a couple of pictures in both of the Squadron books that I have and to me it just seemed much more impressive!!
And as I have FOUR of the UH-1C kits! I might be able to "snag" a couple of mini's myself.
Thank you BOTH for your input. I plan on doing at least 2 if not more.

Randie

Randie,

The Revellogram AH-1G is a reissue, but everything you need is in the Cobra Company cockpit and rocket pods sets. Also, CC just released their BRAND NEW M-35 weapons system which I have not built yet, but am dying to get my hands on. The M-35 system is a 20mm Vulcan cannon which was hung under the left wing of many Cobras from 1969 onwards.

The CC update also comes with a complete M-28 turret, so you don't have to worry abou the crappy minigun and 40mm "chunker" from the kit. I actually snagged miniguns from my UH-1C to do the twin mini's in "Heather Dawn's" turret.

Hope that helps!

Went to RevellMonongram's web site, replace the rocket pads also.
John

If it is a re-release the chin turret comes with the 40mm/mini-gun option, the 40mm needs to be replaced.. Looks lke the stub weapons may have been replaced although if the mingun pods are the same, they need some work, too. Haven't looked at the Cobra company update but the cockpit in the original was very basic. It's been 30 years since I built the kit, so my memory is a weak. Need to line up your reference matter, check out Squadron's "Cobra Walk-Around."
You could also contact the Army Aviation Museum at "www.armyavnmuseum.org" for photo's to be sent to you or go to "www.army.mil" click on Army a-z, go to Ft. Rucker, click on it, when it comes up, click on any of tne aircraft photo's and browse around on the links provided.
Hope this helps.
John