AH-1G 66-15273, D Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, a 'Calico Cat scheme' ICM 32nd Scale

[Sharkmouth]

AH-1G 66-15273 AH-1G D Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment is an early bird with the later M28 turret. Another thing making it unique is the camouflage and sharkmouth. There was another one in Vietnam but I have more photos of this one before and after the tail swap and ECS (Environmental Control System) installation.

Kit changes involve removing the ECS vent on the port side behind the pilot. Done. Needs polishing and primer to check for flaws.

Not seen in photographs but obvious of how it was built, I decided to go with the early position lights.

The side bumps for the position lights need removing. Done. They need filling and some rivets, shaved off the included extra tail parts, have to be added.

Then the UHF scabbed on antenna base needs removing.

Done as well but needs filling and some rivets, shaved off the included extra tail parts, have to be added.

 

[centaur567]

YEA!! Go Cobras. Wow, that is an early bird. Gary S.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Special Hobby seats lack the cut out between the ears on the gunner's ceramic seat. I thought it was an error as the manuals don't show it and veterans don't recall seeing it.

Luckily, I have archival photos! It is on the very early production run but I don't have a serial number range.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Early Cobras without the ECS had a different rear wall for the air piping...

This is the reason I bought the Quinta Studio 32nd scale cockpit upholstery:

Soon... soon!

 

[moon puppy]

I think this is the first time i've seen the quilts represented in anything.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Quinta does a really good job with most of their interior stuff.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Quinta does a really good job with most of their interior stuff.

I didn't like the cake icing look to them. Colors don't match the paints I have (not really a problem but for most of my russian kits, I use Akan archival matched paints and the Quinta vinyl can't be painted to match them), edges are not sharp on the bezels and the effect is magnified the smaller the scale. However, for things without sharp edges, like seat belts, rivets, and quilting, they are appropriate. I found that Metallic Details, from Ukraine, also make 3D decal quilting in larger sheets so I don't have to buy the russian products. I am considering using these on a closed canopy Cobra.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Armament

For this build, I need a pair of XM159 19 shot rocket pods inboard and XM-158 7 shot rocket pods outboard. I acquired the Metallic Details for these. One box each of the two I had of each. The kit's XM-159 are usable but the XM-158 looked like scaled up 72nd scale kit parts.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Based on the video I posted of real early Cobras, and the fact that I have two sets of Metallic Details' XM18A1 pods, I have decided to use a pair as inboard weapons on this build. I also seems that I may have detailed pods left over. If so, I will offer them for anyone as long as they share their usage here.

 

[moon puppy]

That last photo looks more like it might have been in Georgia. Funny how Forts Benning and Gordan (now Eisenhower) has nearly the same red clay that Vietnam does.

 

[centaur567]

That last photo looks more like it might have been in Georgia. Funny how Forts Benning and Gordan (now Eisenhower) has nearly the same red clay that Vietnam does.

Same rust color, but sandier. Gary S.

 

[Sharkmouth]

This tidbit is for @Heavens Eagle... Paul, if you are using the kit decals for the NETT Cobra, these will be the changes needed to the kit:

At this time, the profile is wrong in some details but does capture the early changes.

No kangaroo on this side at this time:

Use part B27:

Use part A13:

Use parts E3 and B18 but remove the panel and fill in the hole for the landing light under the nose (not shown):

Yet, it is possible to have both with the bulbs removed from the nose:

From an earlier time with the name. Note the bulbs so none under the nose:

From an later time with the RAAF Kangaroo tag after landing at an RAAF base. Note that the fin tip position light is gone as we can see the new position lights at the sides of the tail boom with their scabbed on mounts:

Remove the ECS vent:

OK, now that we have quite a few photos of 66-15259, let's compare to the profile in the SH kit. No matter what this profile shows, make sure to use the early TAT-102A single minigun turret. Quite a few differences! I don't think any kit has the rotor cap included:

About the TAT-102A turret, Metallic Details offers a detailed replacement but the bottom blanking plate covers the gun's body and I am sure you can detail the external surfaces and replace the gun barrel.

By the way, all these changes will be done to my very early AH-1G 67-15475, Diane with the exception of the rotor cap.