1:48th Snakes - I got bored yesterday

I like the upturned exhaust on the AH-1S . Was it scratch built or part of an aftermarket set . I've sent away to Cobra Company for the 1/48 AH-1G cockpit and dog housing set and also the UH-1C tail fin for the Monogram kit . I certainly admire your scratch building ability to mixed and match the kit parts to build different versions . Very nice indeed . Kind regards John .

P.S. I cant wait to see your HH-3E

John,

The "toilet bowl" exhaust actually comes with the Fujimi AH-1S kit.  I snagged one out of another Snake kit that I've got and it is now on my TOW UH-1B.  I think the Cobra Company AH-1G cockpit/conversion comes with one, so you should have one on the way!

The HH-3 is just about ready for paint, I just need to get some new light gray for the underside and I'll be ready to spray!  I think I may do my first G model in the Southeast Asia paint scheme too...  I'm planning on doing an early and a late G, so this one will most likely have a TAT-102A turret and XM-18 minigun pods.

Jon

Hey Johnny, that's not a workbench, it's a snake pit ... LOL!

BTW - I spotted an original AH-1S on display in front of someone's headquarters on Fort Lewis.  It's so close to a G-model you could swap out the nose cone and gun and have a really rare critter.  Round canopy, early exhaust and no toilet bowls, IR intakes or exhaust ... it even has 76 trombones on the pylons.

Hey Bob!

Spent the past two days at Quad A lookin at new Army stuff and taking pics.  Got some great stuff, but unfortunately, there wasn't a single Huey or Cobra to be seen.

So what's the story with the Snake you mentioned? Can you get me the tail number?  It is almost definitely a former G, so it probably has a combat history in Vietnam!

Jon

Wow!  Been a while!

Don't have much to report on this project at present.  I've bounced from project to project over the past year and really the only kits I finished were my AH-1W, RAH-66A and three jets for work.  I've been doing some work on my XM-35 armed AH-1G and I do have a full gun for it now (stolen from a Legend F-105 weapons bay) with the associated mount. 

As far as a cockpit for the S, I know it isn't 100% accurate, but I'll be using a spare Monogram AH-1F cockpit with some minor mods tossed in for some semblance of accuracy.  I think the hardest part about the S conversion is going to be the det cord housings and helmet sight rails.  Gonna be interesting. 

We'll see, I've been on a Blackbird kick as of late, but I'm headed to Ft. Campbell tomorrow (I think) and I'm going to take a bunch of pics of the helicopters at the museum there.  Maybe I'll get inspired to finish these birds before the little one arrives!

Jon

Jon,

 The Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker has an AH-1S(Mod) on display if you didn't get a chance to see it.  

We had S-Mods when I was in B Co, 503rd Attack Helicopter Battalion in Buedingen, GE from about 1980-1982 when we finally got fielded with AH-1F (Modernized) aircraft.  We had a mix of S-Mods with 540 Rotor systems and 747 Kaman blades.  We carried full TOW racks with 19 shot rocket pods.  As you'd expect, there was no way we could actually carry that much armament but it gave us some mission arming flexibility without having to reboresight racks.  We typically carried a mix of 7.63mm & 40mm weapons in our turrets.  Nearlyall of our aircraft took the Reflex Sights out and depended upon "Kentucky Windage" for rocket engagements.

Jon, the snakes are looking fine, hope to see them finished soon. I just got all my stuff from Cobra Co and Fireball and I plan on just updating my G to one of the later years with the tail rotor on the right side and the XM-35 and better pods and cockpit. I won't start on my though until probably some time this summer. Also got the new canopy from Floyd. While I loved the Mod-S's I favor the simplicity of the older Gs.  Good luck and keep the greasy side down at Campbell.

Charlie

Thanks man!  I've got tons of Cobra shots, and took a bunch of the S(MOD) that was in the museum as well as 248 (the first production AH-1 that is now an S(MOD) up next to the Kiowa building at Hanchey) while I was in the Longbow course.   I'll ping you if I can't find shots that I need. 

My plan is to finish the G model first, since it really is a gap in my collection.  I still don't understand why I have two completed Marine Cobras on my shelf and no Army ones... just bizarre.

Anyhow, Trigger, Rotorwash and I are headed to Ft. Campbell in the morning to take some pics.  I wish I were flying there, but I don't have my IHADSS with me.  Would be nice to get back in a Longbow cockpit now. I'm so sick of the Alpha.  I think I'm sufficiently insipired to get back into building some Snakes, just need to finish the Seasprite conversion I'm working on...

Jon

I've got tons of Cobra shots, and took a bunch of the S(MOD) that was in the museum as well as 248 (the first production AH-1 that is now an S(MOD) up next to the Kiowa building at Hanchey) while I was in the Longbow course.

Hey there Jon,

First off, my name's Rob, and I guess you'd call me the FNG on this here board I look forward to picking your's and everyone else's brain on here as I (finally!) get back in the groove of helo buildin'...!

My question first off is, your mention of Cobra 248 just now.  Correct me if I'm wrong (and lord knows I might be...) Is that, or is it not, that same aircraft that was used as a NASA test & research ship in the 70's?  I dont know why, but that just popped into my cranium just now...

If it is, Im assuming its a static display now...?  I'd love to see those pics you got of it if at all possible...

Thanx in advance, and greetings to everyone!

 -Rob

Cobrahistorian wrote:

As far as a cockpit for the S, I know it isn't 100% accurate, but I'll be using a spare Monogram AH-1F cockpit with some minor mods tossed in for some semblance of accuracy.  I think the hardest part about the S conversion is going to be the det cord housings and helmet sight rails.  Gonna be interesting.  Jon

Thats interesting that your using the F cockpit. I would have thought that it would be easier to use a G model cockpit and make minor mods to that since it was still basically a G.

Aeroscout, I'll take you up on that offer for the pictures if you dont mind.

Rob,

 Yep, you're right, she was, in fact a NASA bird before returning to Army service. In fact, her crew chief from her NASA days is a member on here.  I will see if I can dig out the pics I have of her.  Didn't get many, since taking photos up at Hanchey was a little tricky, but I'll see what I can find. 

Getting back to the original subject, here's how my Snakes are currently:

From left to right AH-1W, T, J, G, S, E.   

Jon

Jon,

Don't get sick of any time you get to fly an attack aircraft.  I'd give my left arm to be back in the seat.  Enjoy every second you can in any aircraft you find.  My last fligh was in an AH-1F up in Rhode Island when I was at the War College...best day in my life but also the saddest!

v/r

Wade

It is nice to see such detailed work to obtain accuracy, especially from someone who obviously knows the subject very intimately.

Darwin, O.F. 

Jon,

Something I forgot to ask earlier on your F model, did you ever decide what a/c you were gonna make? I recall you were pretty hot on "Betsy".