Search the Community

Bell AH-1F Cobra Gunship Revell 1:48 Most modellers will instantly recognise the Bell AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter. The AH-1 was the first production Gunship or Attack Helicopter to see service. During the Vietnam war the US Army began to see the need for armed helicopter to escort its unarmed UH-1 Hueys into combat. In parallel to this Bell Helicopters had been investigating helicopter gunships as early as the late 1950s. In 1962 Bell displayed a mock up concept to the US Army. This Helicopter featured a 20mm gun pod and a ball turret mounted grenade launcher. It was felt by the Army to be lightweight, under powered and not suitable. Following this the US Army launched and Advanced Aerial Fire Support System (AAFSS) competition. This competition gave rise to the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne heavy attack helicopter. However this proved to be to advanced for its time and was eventually cancelled in 1972 after 10 years of development (some things dont change!) Despite the AAFSS programme Bell stuck with its idea of a smaller, lighter gunship and invested its own money developing the AH-1. They used all of the proven components they could from the UH-1 platform, adding these to a newly designed fuselage. When The US Army therefore asked for pans for an interim gunship for Vietnam Bell was in a fortunate position to be able to offer the AH-1, or the Bell 209 as it was then called. Given the work Bell had already done the programme was completed in a relatively speed eight months and won the evaluation against the competition. In 1966 the US Army signed an initial contract for 110 aircraft. Some slight modifications were made to the production airframes. The heavy armoured glass canopy was replaced by Plexiglas with an improvement in performance. Wider rotor blades were fitted and the original retracting skids were replaced by simple fixed units. The rest is history as they say. The AH-1 went on to serve the US Army until it was replaced by the AH-64 Apache. The last one leaving active service in 1999. The US Marine Corps opted for a twin engine AH-1 which still serve today, in fact a new development the AH-1Z has been ordered as the next generation USMC attack helicopter. US AH-1s have seen combat in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, and Iraq. Surplus US AH-1s are now also in use by the US Forrest service. They use 25 retired AH-1Fs for real time fire monitoring under the name Firewatch Cobras. Additionally The Florida Dept of Forestry has three AH-1Ps called Firesnakes which carry a water/fire retardant system. The Cobra has in addition achieved some export success. It is used by Pakistan, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Bahrain, Spain, Turkey, Thailand and South Korea. The Kit The kit is the old Monogram AH-1S and there is no difference I can see in the plastic at all. The fuselage has a sticky label which says made in Poland (though the old Monogram raised Made in the USA is still on the other half!) , the box is apparently made in China and is Packaged in the USA. Welcome to the international world of modern manufacturing eh! There is some flash on the smaller parts, but nothing which wont come off easily with a quick scrape. The parts count is fairly low at 79 if the box is to be believed. This is by now a fairly old mould kit and I have read the fit (apart from the canopy) is not to brilliant. As befits a modern re-boxing we are told its now an offical Bell Helicopter, Textron Company Licensed product! Construction starts with the cockpit. Weapons controls and a sight are provided for the gunner with full flight controls for the pilot. The seats look fairly good, if a little basic. Pilot and Gunner figures are provided to make the cockpit looks busier. All instrument panels are provided as decals. Following this then engine is completed, the cockpit placed in and the fuselage halfs buttoned up, not forgetting the pin for the tail rotor. The instructions would have you attach the tail rotor at this time but I would think many will leave it off till the end. Following this all the exterior parts are added. Weapons pylons, weapons (Rocket pods and TOW missile launchers. The nose sight turret, and the underside mounted 20mm Gatling gun. The sight and gun are designed to move if you glue them in correctly. Finally the cockpit glass is added, and the main rotor is installed. Canopy The canopy comes as two parts. The Right and top being molded as one, with the left side being seperate and having to be glued in place. The parts look remarkably clear and from what I have read are one of the best fitting parts of the kit. Decals Decals are provided for 3 aircraft in the kit. 67-15771 1st Air Cavalry, C Troop "Jaws Of Death" on display Troy AL, USA. 67-15883 "Trigger & Boomers Excellent Adventure" Operation Desert Storm (I have read this serial is wrong and should be 67-15643) 67-15883 N Troop, 4th Sqn, 2nd Armored Cav Regiment, US Army Iraq 1991. The decals look glossy and in register. Conclusion While there maybe a little flash on the parts this is still the only single engined AH-1 model available in 1:48. While not one of the modern superkits it is my experience with old monogram prodcuts that with a little bit of work they do build into great looking models. Overall recomended. Review sample courtesy of