1/35 MRC AH-1W Cobra

by Malcolm Reid

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This model is the MRC AH-1W Cobra. Generally a nice enough kit which and with a bit of extra work can result in a satisfying end product. I added quite a bit of detail to the cockpit (large, open canopy areas so everything is visible) and the ammo bay. The engine provided in the kit is a blob of plastic which was spruced up with a bit of sanding, lots of wiring and intricate painting. The engine bay fire walls and engine cover were also detailed with plastic card to simulate structural ribbing. Fuselage assembly was very straightforward. Blades were bent (not too much as the W’s wide blades don’t tend to sag too much) by holding these over a boiling kettle’s nozzle (carefully, holding onto the blade root side !) and applying a clothes line peg to the other to force the droop.

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I decided to go for a mixed Hellfire / TOW fit – I have seen pics of Cobras with this arrangement, but I’m not sure if it was ever used operationally. There are some nice pics in the Squadron Signal Walkaround book showing half empty TOW 4-packs – I decided to include this feature in my model representing two empty upper tubes – I had to scratch build the entire upper tube frame as the kit pieces represent the tubes only. I drilled out several of the chaff/flare position on the dispensers thus depicting a helo having just returned from a “hot” mission.

I decided to paint the helo as it would have appeared in Gulf War 1. The squadron signal walkaround provides a side view of a very weathered AH-1W which has had desert sand applied over the standard (then) green / grey camo – hence the patches of green / grey on an otherwise sand base. Weathering was applied quite heavily using a combination of pastels and chipping with dark grey. I sprayed sooty black around the tail boom to simulate exhaust staining. Exhaust outlets were painted in a mix of red, gun metal and black to give a burnt iron appearance. The “dicso” light was painted silver, with the facets randomly painted metallic blue, clear red and gunmetal and then finally overspayed with clear orange.  

The AH-1W is a large helicopter as can be seen in the attached pic of 35th scale AH-1 and Chinook.

Malcolm

Photos and text © by Malcolm Reid