Nest of Vietnamese Cobra Hatchlings for Special Hobby 72nd Scale AH-1G x3 Build

[Sharkmouth]

A very early AH-1G 67-15475, Judy in the Sky, with the TAT-102A turret housing a single minigun, no ECS (Environmental Control System) but it did have the newer position lights on the tail boom.

The second is AH-1G 68-17108 VT-26 of HMA-367, USMC. Early tail and classic Cobra head of the Scarface squadron.

The third is a hard choice as there are many worthy options! At the moment, I am leaning towards AH-1G "Pig Pen" 67-15476 operated by C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment (part of the 1st Cavalry Division). Note the yellowed teeth!

 

[Sharkmouth]

For the third option, I would love to have another M35 (20mm gun) armed or anti-Strela suite Cobra (sugar scoop or toilet bowl exhaust), even both!

I need to identify these as the striping was unique to all as were the sharkmouth schemes.

Others also have both the sharkmouth and anti-Strela suite such as Suzie Q III:

Centaurs M35 armed Cobra. Maybe Gary, @centaur567, might know the identity?

Another candidate with a challenging name and sharkmouth to replicate but M35 armed:

Last, one with both the M35 and anti-Stela suite but no idea if it sported a sharkmouth...

Decisions... decisions!

 

[moon puppy]

Why do I always get "Boots a walking" in my head when I see these threads?

 

[Sharkmouth]

Why do I always get "Boots a walking" in my head when I see these threads?

Well, @moon puppy ... Here ya' go! Free ear worm!

I might have identified a Centaur... @centaur567, do you recognizer her, Gary?

The Sharkmouth doesn't seem to be completed at the front though but otherwise matches...

 

[centaur567]

For the third option, I would love to have another M35 (20mm gun) armed or anti-Strela suite Cobra (sugar scoop or toilet bowl exhaust), even both!

I need to identify these as the striping was unique to all as were the sharkmouth schemes.

Not that I know of. They must have been done after I left. Gary S.

 

[Sharkmouth]

I somehow forgot that Bettie Kay qualifies! M35 and a simple but unique sharkmouth, more like snake fangs!

 

[Sharkmouth]

This one also has the anti-Strela kit:

 

[centaur567]

The teeth on the above Cobra looks close to our pattern. Gary S.

 

[Sharkmouth]

The teeth on the above Cobra looks close to our pattern. Gary S.

Agreed!

I was hoping that this Cobra, The Undertaker;

as this one!

but, after blurring, it really doesn't match!

 

[moon puppy]

seems like we've seen that pin stripe pattern before.

 

[Sharkmouth]

seems like we've seen that pin stripe pattern before.

Several aircraft had it applied but it seems to have occurred after Gary (@centaur567) left.

Nixon's Hired Gun was photogenic and in a lot of photos.

A different one with pin stripes

Still trying to identify this lovely candidate from Gary's unit with twin miniguns in the turret and the 20mm cannon.

Some Cobras had tongues, need to identify the birds though...

 

[centaur567]

The upper Cobra with a tongue is my ship 567. Gary S.

 

[Sharkmouth]

The upper Cobra with a tongue is my ship 567. Gary S.

The Henchman II?

Any close up of the artwork I only see the original which might be different. I hope you remember the differences, @centaur567!

ASK offered decals for The Henchman in both 48 and 32nd so I will GLADLY make #1 Du ME Mi in 72nd scale (I have the MiscroScale decal sheet) and The Henchman II in its place, especially since the decals don't include the tongue!

 

[Sharkmouth]

Thanks Gary! I will be building the big Cobra as your ship @centaur567 and the decals are on their way! So, I now have my third aircraft, for whic I have the MiscroScale sheet, which is #1 De Me Mi but I need to add the Centaurs...

 

[centaur567]

Wow!! I'm so honored. The art work was basicly the same. I just added a Roman numeral two after Henchman. I''ll see if I have a photo. Gary S.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Wow!! I'm so honored.

You're giving me the chance to build it right as the decals are not! So, thank you! Luckily, unlike the 32nd scale offering, I didn't make any changes into a later version yet. I may be asking you about tail swaps, ECS, et cetera as the serial is early but I won't forget the blue tinted canopy!

 

[centaur567]

I think the tail swap was done in 1971 and did not have the black tail after that. It did have the air-conditioning. I think the blood was added to the blame with drips.The teeth were not added to the turret. The 567 numbers on the tail were white.
Gary S.

 

[moon puppy]

I think the blood was added to the blame with drips.

they use to call that happy little mistakes.

 

[centaur567]

Hopefully this will clear things up. Gary S.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Hubert has let me know that I have a new Special Hobby 32nd scale and 72nd scale KP models (AZ Models mold which is more accurate than Special Kobby's shape) Cobras coming so... I have the ability to choose one more each in each scale!

I have new choices! Keeping with Gary's @centaur567 unit, I am considering Lady Godiva:
D Troop/F Troop. "Lady Godiva." This is the first aircraft mounting the M35 20mm Armament Subsystem. In Memoriam Page shows that Captain Marvin E. Runyon, who died August 11, 2019, flew AH-1G Cobra #68-17107 “Lady Godiva” mounted with 20mm cannon. Sandy McLeod notes that they also had to attach a strap next to the front seater’s canopy handle. Vibration on that 20mm side of the aircraft when firing would cause the handle to shake loose and possibly canopy would open during firing run. Thus during missions would have to put strap over the handle.

Or this one:
AH-1G 69-16439 F Troop. Originally flown by DFC-winner CW2 Dave Tela, A/3/17 Cav, Di An, AH-1G 69-16439 is yet another 20mm cannon-modified Cobra that saw extensive combat in Cambodia in May-June 1970. It was reassigned to C/2/17 Cav in June 1971 and then F/4 Cav in early 1972, before finally return into the U. S. after the cease-fire. Configured as a "super scout," 69-16439 carried three XM-158 seven-shot pods along with the 20mm cannon. After assignment to F Troop to become the second 20mm armed Centaur Cobra, armorers replaced the right side inboard seven-shot pod with a 19-shot M-200 rocket pod and configured the nose turret, that previously held twin miniguns, with "B," or Hybrid, configuration of right hand minigun and left hand 40mm grenade launcher.

Someone mentioned that Richard Parrish had the aircraft in 1971-72 and turned it over to Paul Martindale some time in 1972. MASN for 1969 shows: Bell AH-1G Cobra 69-16439 converted to AH-1F. Noted in storage at Fort Drum, New York, May 21, 2001.