Revell 1/32 scale AH-1G cobra WIP(updated 4/03/10)

I have the formation and anti collision lights painted if there is another light that needs adding let me know. And I also weathered the main prop hopefully I got the weathering right. I'll get the tail rotor done  up later.

Yep that is the Werner's Wings Vac canopy. I am probably going to use the kit decals I am flattening the decal sheet right now.

It looks as though it is coming out pretty well.  Is that Floyd Warner's vac-formed canopy?  What markings are yu thinking about putting on it?

more pics of the main rotor

fuselage gloss coated and with wing anti-skid panels and nose anti-glare panel

I'll probably get the navigation and anti-collission lights painted on later then I really got to think about decaling it.

here are pics I did of the main prop.

Canopy

main fuselage

I am back on to work with the AH-1G I have the canopy attached and will mask it for clear coating. But I am also working on putting masking fluid on the main and tail rotors so I can simulate the chipped paint on the rotors.

Your right, I remember it was the ERTL kit I built. Not a bad kit, but was lacking on a lot of the interior detail. I'll have to find one and give it another attempt.

BTW, the Floyd Werner upgrade was for the 1/35th Academy.

Charlie

Both ERTL/ESCI and Italeri/Testors did an OH-58A in 1/48.  I have em both in front of me an dthey are different kits.  The Esci kit actually looks the best as it has the correct windows, whereas the Testors kit has the incorrect civilian windows for teh cabin doors.  Looks like I might be able to kitbash the two into a decent model.  Hmmm, another project.

    Ray

Someone use to make the OH-58A, don't remember who but I believe it was a 1/48th kit that was not too bad. Not much detail on the inside but it fit fairly well.

Charlie

Thugs and Black Death are same kit with different weapons and decals.  I would think that backdating the MRC/Academy kit would be a major pain as you are going from this:

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to this:

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That's a lot of parts to make!  but if anyone ever did it, it would be Floyd.

   Ray

I pretty sure the upgrade kit he sells is for the academy Thug.

Charlie

Retired Gunpilot wrote:

I'm not sure whether he has a website but his name and email is Floyd S. Werner, Jr. fwernerjr@comcast.net He will answer you pretty fast and tell you what he charges for the canopies and shipping. I saw his canopies on another website that just gave his email address. I found him great and had no issues at all with him. Thanks for the other advise. When I get around to building mine I will remember what you said. BTW he also makes an upgrade kit for the OH-58D which I ordered at the same time. Now I just need to order the model. Charlie

Only OH-58 I have is the Academy OH-58D Thugs which is 1/35 but I have OH-58D Black Death coming in the mail so I will have a pretty good choice of armament for both. I understand the Kiowa's were used alot in Vietnam wonder if someone will put out a resin set to backdate the OH-58 to the Vietnam version.

I'm not sure whether he has a website but his name and email is Floyd S. Werner, Jr. fwernerjr@comcast.net He will answer you pretty fast and tell you what he charges for the canopies and shipping. I saw his canopies on another website that just gave his email address. I found him great and had no issues at all with him.

Thanks for the other advise. When I get around to building mine I will remember what you said. BTW he also makes an upgrade kit for the OH-58D which I ordered at the same time. Now I just need to order the model.

Charlie

Retired Gunpilot wrote:

The nice thing about the Werner canopies is they are more accurate also in the overall shape. The 1/32nd kit has the canopies flat on both sides. The actual Cobra had a bulge that Floyd captured correctly. Here are two images of the Werner canopies. The scratch is actually one of my gray hairs. Charlie

So I take it those are Vacuform then? Does he have a website? I can easily replace the kit canopy with that since it is only held on with CA so it wouldn't be too difficult. But if you do start your AH-1G's you will need nose weights since it is a tad tailheavy and try to get a couple of the Nemrod figure sets to replace the original crew. I got lucky having the Dragon set and a couple of Academy UH-1's I used the pilot figure from the Dragon set and the Gunner figure was the Right seater from one of my Academy UH-1C's which I am going to be using the Dragon Right seater in the Academy UH-1.

The nice thing about the Werner canopies is they are more accurate also in the overall shape. The 1/32nd kit has the canopies flat on both sides. The actual Cobra had a bulge that Floyd captured correctly. Here are two images of the Werner canopies. The scratch is actually one of my gray hairs.

Charlie

Retired Gunpilot wrote:

The model is looking really nice. I have two 1/32nd cobras out in the garage. I bought them over twenty years ago and never built them because I got the normal screwed-up flawed canopies with mine. I just ordered a couple of weeks ago two canopies from Floyd Werner that are really really nice and hopefully I will build mine soon. I still looking for an aftermarket cockpit set for mine though. Hopefully Cobra Company will open soon. I bleieve they had a cockpit kit. Anyway, great model. Charlie

So these new canopies are not bowed? too bad Squadron doesn't make aftermarket canopies for the Cobra because then I could pick up one but mine looks pretty good as is for now and I did add the missing canopy frames on the bottom and rear of both port and starboard sides of the canopy.

The model is looking really nice. I have two 1/32nd cobras out in the garage. I bought them over twenty years ago and never built them because I got the normal screwed-up flawed canopies with mine. I just ordered a couple of weeks ago two canopies from Floyd Werner that are really really nice and hopefully I will build mine soon. I still looking for an aftermarket cockpit set for mine though. Hopefully Cobra Company will open soon. I bleieve they had a cockpit kit.

Anyway, great model.

Charlie

Ok I painted on the silver for the lights so that I can add the clear red and green paint later after a Gloss coat.

And here I removed the mask to clean the glass prior to putting a coat of Future on the glass panes. And I did do the coat of Future so now I will go and mask it again before I do the gloss coat. After that will come the decals (ohh what joy).

Ok I finished painting the tail section that I left unfinished the last time since I didn't want to rush it to keep from ruining the paint job. Now I'll be letting the paint cure for a few days before I put a gloss coat on to seal the paint job to protect it. The turret was painted in a second coat as well.

Well the parts count is starting to get lower as I am getting to the end of this project.

Well I got most of the Helo Drab paint on and will try to get the rest on in the next day or so. And I got the wings attached to the fuselage last night.

I'm also going to finish painting the turret housing and the rotor cover plate later which I also painted at the same time as the Cobra.

Happy Thanksgiving

Well got some painting done on the canopy frame.

paint is MM Light Gray

One of the other hobby stores I often buy kits from has the same Revell 1/32 AH-1G Cobra kit listed ; Here's the web link , http://www.frontlinehobbies.com.au/Shop/productList.aspx?search=AH-1G%20Cobra&type=0&group=-1  

If you scroll down the page you will come across the sub category Helicopters .

                                                           John .

I saw a newer boxing/release of that Revell 1/32 AH-1G Cobra kit at the hobby store last week, it was priced at $76.00.

Thats nuts!!  Even with the exchange rate, thats $50 USD.  The kit only sells for about $20 -$25 in the US.

Sorry , I ment to say 1/32 scale . The same Hobby store also had in stock those 1/72 scale Lindberg "snap fit" SH-3 Seaking and HH-3E Jolly Green Giant kits for $29.50 each . [YIKES] . I haven't bought that many kits from them over the years , They do have a good stock of Gunze Sangyo and Tamiya acrylic paints , also a good stock of Squadron Signal referrence books . My last visit I came out of the store with a few jars of paint , a book and some Tamiya white putty . Certainly NO bargins on that day . Even their Mail Order service is expensive , I once recieved a Hasegawa 1/72 AH-1S Cobra kit from them through the post , $14 postage to travell 20 kilometers . The online hobby store in Perth , Western Australia [West Coast] , I live in Sydney [East Coast] only charged me $10 postage for the identical kit ; the distance is approxamtly 5000klm . I sometimes wonder how these hobby stores stay in bussiness . 

                       I appologize for getting off topic...................... John

Helo 53 wrote:

Anyway I saw a newer boxing/release of that Revell 1/35 AH-1G Cobra kit at the hobby store last week , it was priced at $76.00 . I nearly fell over when I saw the price ; I very quickly put it back on the shelf.

And I nearly just fell out of my computer chair, John!!!
I have found my entire stash of all 10 AH-1Gs on ebay.... the lowest I paid was $8 before shipping; the most may have been $18. Suprising how dead wrong some LHSs can be.

Andy

rotorwash wrote:

There must be hope for me yet as we seem to build at the same speed and yours is coming along nicely!  Can't wait to see her finished.      Ray

I really do consider myself to be extremly fortunate indeed !!! . I have a lot more spare time to build model aircraft than most of you guy's . Despite being "notorious" for having multiple builds going , I think I average one 1/72 scale Helicopter/ Aircraft kit per week . I certainly realize most modelers would be quite envious for someone to have that much spare time .

Anyway I saw a newer boxing/release of that Revell 1/35 AH-1G Cobra kit at the hobby store last week , it was priced at $76.00 . I nearly fell over when I saw the price ; I very quickly put it back on the shelf .

Earlier this year I picked up two 1/35 Academy AH-1 Cobra's for $30 each . There the only two 1/35 scale helo's in my stash , the bulk of my kit collection are 1/72 and a few 1/48 kits . For the price I thought they were good bargins . I probably won't get around to building them for at least another 4 years . I would hate to think what they would cost in the near future .

Anyway that Revell cobra looks like it's coming along nicely . Best of luck on the rest of the build and I hope you get to finish her in the not to distant future . I never grow tired of looking at my finished model Helicopters and Fighter Jets in the display cabinets . I certainly am one lucky modeler .

                                                    Kind regards John

There must be hope for me yet as we seem to build at the same speed and yours is coming along nicely!  Can't wait to see her finished.

     Ray

Well finally got this bird masked and cotton balls installed so I can get ready for painting.

Hopefully I'll get it painted sometime this week before it gets too cold.

ok here are the pics of the crew installed sorry about the headless gunner I had to remove his head to strip the paint and repaint it.

And here is some pics of the rest of the helicopter.

and here is a pic of the box