Charlie Still Don't Surf! AH-1G References

[Sharkmouth]

Saúl, they made the kit as 1/32 scale, not 1/35th so it is a little larger than most other Cobra kits. Not sure why, or what the reasoning was/is on it. Anyway, yeah there will be decals left over on it. "When" I get around to building it.

ICM, from which the Special Hobby molds were used, also released it in 1/35th scale. However, it lacks all the goodies from the SH release which were made for them by CMK. CMK probably can't release them separately in 1/32nd scale (Czech agreement) but did release the same parts in 1/35th scale for the 10% smaller ICM releases.

Click for instructions:


Strangely, no instructions to show what the orange, 3D printed parts are:

So, here are the contents:

 

[Sharkmouth]

@Heavens Eagle, note that the camouflaged New Equipment Training Team, 66-15259 Virginia Rose II is missing the name, in the upper part of the red rectangle, which was on the original. Still looking to find an image of the RAAF Kangaroo on the tail.

Special hobby does provide a decal (J) to simulate it painted over based on what they interpreted in this later photograph without the Kangaroo:

The name is barely visible here:

Jon Bernstein's book includes this profile. Click on it to visit the recent restoration efforts on this Cobra:

 

[Sharkmouth]

One thing that many Cobra maintainers seem to have tossed aside is the rotor disk cover. It appears on many of the camouflaged NETT Cobras but rarely seen in combat units. Perhaps @centaur567 can chime in?

Stateside trainer 66-15252

Barely visible on Virginia Rose II:

Even after the name was removed:

More of the six NETT birds. These don't have the rotor cap.

Blue Max unit but no idea on anything else... ICM claims it is 66-15310 of the B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 20th Aerial Rocket Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Mentioning configurations based on serials... Why? It is in this manual and I will see if any has an external difference that matters:

 

[Sharkmouth]

@centaur567, is this correct? Part B27 has the white position light at the tip so I need to remove the side bumps with what appear to be position lamps aimed rearwards?

66-15249

Stateside Army Test Bird Bearcat 15 (not a NETT Cobras as ICM states) serial number 66-15252 has the rotor cap:

 

[Sharkmouth]

Another Army Aviation Board test Cobra. Note the cameras on the port nose and under the tail boom:

 

[Duke Maddog]

Wow, that's a lot of information and photos! Nice!

I remember Laura as well. She is missed.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

@Sharkmouth More good relevant info. Appreciate it Saúl! Looks like I have a helicopter in my upcoming line up.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Optional kit parts...

Note the clear position lights on the side bumps.

 

[moon puppy]

What's that thing hanging off the tail under the rudder?

 

[Sharkmouth]

What's that thing hanging off the tail under the rudder?

The 'stinger' looking thing? If so, it is a tail skid.

 

[moon puppy]

I know about the tail skid, it's that thing that looks like it's strapped in forward of the skid.

 

[Sharkmouth]

I know about the tail skid, it's that thing that looks like it's strapped in forward of the skid.

Oh, on this one... Those are forward and rear-facing cameras as it is a test bird from the Army Aviation Board:

If this is the one, I did mention them but I guess I wasn't clear as to the camera locations.

 

[moon puppy]

Ah, yeah they didn't have go pros back then did they?

 

[Sharkmouth]

Note that his aircraft has both nose landing lights and the belly one as well:

 

[centaur567]

Our Cobra did not have the rotor cap. Never saw one taillights were the bumps on the tail boom. No nose light it was underneath. That's a fin not a rudder and it was concave. Tail rotor position depends on time frame, ours were modified at Vung Tao. Don't forget the blue tint canopy. Gary S.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Our Cobra did not have the rotor cap. Never saw one taillights were the bumps on the tail boom. No nose light it was underneath. That's a fin not a rudder and it was concave. Tail rotor position depends on time frame, ours were modified at Vung Tao. Don't forget the blue tint canopy. Gary S.

The single tail position light, at the top of the fin, is a very early feature and was quickly replaced during production by serial number 67-15701. The twin landing lights in the nose was removed from production even earlier, serial number 67-15489 being the last one. I did show that the under nose landing light was back fitted to several.

As for the tail rotor being a pusher (early) or tractor (late), I recall you pointing out that it could be dine in the filed andit explained by the camouflaged sharkmouth had a pusher in one photo:

...and a tractor in another with the plain OD green replaced tail:

with the ECS also retrofitted:

 

[Sharkmouth]

Centaur Cobra "Crazy Bruce" with serial 37-15540 had all the early features but with the dual weapon turret.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Sure enough, the next Centaur Cobra, by serial, is Mississippi Queen 67-15546 already has the ECS retrofitted (panel is darker).

@centaur567, your Henchmen II serial number 67-15567 didn't have the fin tip position light. Could this be a field modification to replace the cap and add the side position lights to the fin?

 

[moon puppy]

That's a fin not a rudder

I stand corrected.