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Hi all, Yes, starting another build...(shouldn't you be finishing those other GB subjects ) This time the recently released ICM HueyCobra in 1/32 scale, which is not the usual for this kind of subject...most modern helicopter releases are in 1/35. @Julien already did a very nice in-box review of this kit here so I'm not going to repeat his efforts: All I'll say is, very nice kit and a major upgrade of the fifty-year old Revell kit which was all we've had in this scale up to now. Very nice options, loads of armament, and both types of tail enable pretty much any AH-1G model to be built from the kit. I'll also be adding the Quinta cockpit decoration set, my first experience of these much-vaunted accessories. Looks very good so far. Includes instrument panels, crew harnesses and other cockpit accessories. Hope it lives up to the hype! I'll be building this alongside the MRC/Academy Whiskey Cobra for the GB, by way of a comparison of the development of this excellent and innovative airframe. All the best, Alan

I was going to post this when I finished it last month, but I didn't want to clash with (or get unfavourably compared to !) HL-10's one. It's the ancient Revell 1/32 kit, (the original UK boxing) with its original price tag of 14s.9d! I bought it from eBay for a fair price from a poor chap whose eyesight is failing - he had already started the kit and was unable to continue. I hope I've done right by him Not many original parts left - replacements detailed as follows: Cobra Company: cockpit, 20mm cannon and turret (truly excellent pieces!) Fireball Modelworks: engine cowl and exhaust, rocket pods, decals (also very high quality) Werner's Wings: Extremely good vacform canopy, a must-have for this kit. CMK: crew figures Academy: Crew heads (from the 1/32 Hornet); turret miniguns (from 1/35 BlackHawk kit) Verlinden: helmets in the cockpit (from their detail set for the AH-64, wrong helmets for that kit, so very useful here!) Lots of aftermarket added on this! The excellent Cobra Company cockpit, which transforms the interior. The finished article in a simple diorama setting entitled, "Real Men Drink Kool-Aid"! (All pictures courtesy of IPMS Farnborough website, taken by Chris Bradley) The build was inspired by the book "Snake Pilot" by Randy Zahn, who flew 68-15068 "Cyndy Ann" as Aircraft Commander, callsign Cavalier 24. (The name was painted by crew chief Marshall "Bones" Maring, and was spelt differently from the real Cyndy, after whom the aircraft was named). This book is an absolute must-read if you like Vietnam-era aviation. Although a very simple diorama, Zahn mentions often that all they had to drink at the forward operating base at Phuoc Vinh was Kool-Aid, a fruit squash drink. I played on this for the diorama, and it meant I got to avoid the Vietnam diorama cliche of Coke cans! The XM-35 mod added a sawn-off 20mm Vulcan cannon to the underwing hardpoint on the left side. It was designed to enable stand-off engagements with the NVA .51 AA guns. The fitting of the cannon required extra wiring looms inside protective panels. The ammunition was carried in two sponsons on either side and fed through a crossfeed under the nose. All these additions are provided in the Cobra Company aftermarket set. Contrary to most online and book references (and even the decal instructions), 15068 had a left-mounted tail rotor. The diorama (if you could call it that) was a simple plywood base. It's based on a photo which shows C/1/9 Cav helicopters in the open on dirt parking without revetments. Suits the kind of simplicity I like! I added various vents, tail "stinger", and beacon mount/light from scratch, and extra details in the cockpit, rotors etc. I think for such an old kit, it's very well served with very high quality aftermarket items, and scrubs up nicely! I am happy to answer questions and offer any tips on the build process if anyone else is making one of these. All the best, Alan

After building my OH-58D Kiowa Warrior I swore I would never build another helicopter. This is it! Here's my very long intro post: In the box - this attractive green plastic, very little of which I will actually be using! The Revell re-release has this extra sprue with the 19- and 7-shot FFAR rocket pods, new stub wings and corrected curvy intake filters: In the aftermarket dept I am adding the rather brilliant Werner's Wings vac canopy: The bulged windows and accurate shape are visible from this pic. As I am making a late-war Vietnam "G" I have added the Fireball Modelworks Anti-Strella kit and right tracking tail rotor: Also the now-indispensable Cobra Company cockpit -the casting quality of this is incredible, one of the best I've ever seen: I've also got the Fireball AH-1G decals, and two superb, nay definitive books: And on the back cover of Lou Drendel's book is the very machine I'll be recreating: The build will probably be shorter than this intro page*, but hey! Let's go Centaurs! Al *Only took 9 years!

Call me insane, but here is my 6th and final entry. (Unless I find another gem on eBay cheap ) I've just won it, so until Mr Postman pops it through the door and it's in my grubby little hands you'll have to make do with an eBay photo. I built one of these in the late 80s but the skids ended up a bit lopsided, I was using Revell Contacta Pro and unfortunatly didn't leave it long enough to set. Those were the days before I trusted myself to use superglue. (I now live near a hospital as well...) I can't wait to get started on this one, the AH-1G is a beautiful looking aircraft and with my move to 1/144 (mainly) it's not often I'm going to get a second chance at building a kit from my early modelling days. ***Update*** Now I've got the kit here's a photo of my lovely sealed HueyCobra

Built for the obsolete kit group build. Converted to an "early" variant AH-1G with scratch built cockpit and details. AH-1G 66-15259 was the first HueyCobra to fly an operational mission and also the first to achieve a combat kill. Build thread.

OK, time to start HueyCobra number two! I'm not bothering with sprue shots as they're exactly the same as my other build, and to keep it interesting I'm not telling you what I'm doing These are the only kit parts I'm using, the only other things I'll be using are scraps of card etc. I've made a start on the trenches with Mr. Surfacer already.