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AH-1G Cobra (Early Production) US Attack Helicopter ICM 1:32 (32060)


Julien

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AH-1G Cobra (Early Production) US Attack Helicopter

ICM 1:32 (32060)

 

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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 don't 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 G model was the initial 1966 production model gunship for the US Army, with one 1,400shp (1,000 kW) Avco Lycoming T53-13 turboshaft. Bell built over 1100 AH-1Gs between 1967 and 1973, and the Cobras would go on to fly over a million operational hours in Vietnam, approximately 300 were lost to combat and accidents during the war. The U.S. Marine Corps would use AH-1G Cobra in Vietnam for a short period before acquiring twin-engined AH-1J Cobras. 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 Kit

This is a brand new kit from ICM, and their first helicopter kit. The quality of the moulding is first rate from ICM with fine engraved panel lines and nice rivet detail on the tail boom and tail. While this boxing is the the early G you can see from the sprues that other versions will be along as there is the opposite handed tail, different landing skids, an upturned exhaust, different winglets and TOW missiles on the weapons sprures.  The kit arrives on 5 main sprues of grey plastic and a clear sprue. As well as the main helicopter and armaments, the kit also comes with the ground handling attachments for the skids, something often missing from kits. While there is good detail on the kit and the option to open up the engine and gearbox area, this area is not massively detailed and will open itself up for the super detailer if they want. 

 

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Work starts conventionally in the cockpit. The two five part armoured seats are built up and added into the main cockpit tub. Tail controls are added to the floor ,and for the pilots station a cyclic and collective columns go it. For the front seater the weapons control column is made up ad fitted in.  Side controllers are also fitted for the gunner. Instrument panels and coamings go in for both stations with instruments being provided as decals. Now the cockpit is complete the visible parts of the engine/gear box and its compartment are built up.  This is followed up by parts for the rotor controls.  The tails are added onto the fuselage. Here there is quite a large part which overlaps to compete a good solid join. The tail rotor needs attaching to fuselage half before closing up if you want it to move.  The engine / gear box parts are fitted into the right fuselage followed by the cockpit and cockpit rear bulkhead parts. The fuselage can now be closed up with additional cockpit armour panels being fitted at each side. At the rear of the engine housing the exhaust part goes in.

 

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At the front of the helo the nose goes on, being careful to choose the right parts for the decal option being modelled. Turning things over the large central fuselage insert goes on with additional parts at the nose. The chin turret is now fitted with either one or two miniguns depending on your decal option. A light goes behind the turret. The final exhaust ring goes on the back and the tip of the tail is added. Next up we concentrate on the stub wings. The two wings are built up and the weapons pylons are fitted. These are fitted to the fuselage along with the rear stabilisers towards the tail. The landing skids can then be fitted.

 

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Next up the large clear canopy parts go on. A sight is fitted to the front of the central glazing section. The front and rear large side canopy parts are fitted, these can be open or closed as need by the modeller. The access panels can be fitted to each side of the open engine/gear box area; again these can be open or closed as required. We now move to the main rotor. Each of the two blades are split upper/lower, and they are joined together. The central rotor head is made from tow parts, these are upper and lower, these sandwich in the rotor blades. Once these are on the control arms to the swashplate are then added along with the central mounting shaft. The rotor this then mounted. 

 

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To finish off armaments can be added to the pylons as needed. The kit provides Two M157 7 shot rocket pods, two M158 7 shot rocket pods, two M200 19 shot rocket pods; and two M18 minigun pods. If the modeller want to use them then two pairs of ground handling wheels can be made up and attached to the back of the skids, Towing bars then can be attached to the front of the skids.

 

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Decals

The decal sheet is in house from ICM, the declas look thin, in register and have minimal carrier film. 4 Options are included;

 

  • 5728/47 "Blue Max", 2nd Battalion, 20th Aerial Rocket Artillery Regiment.
  • 66-15252 / 15 - Presumed to be part of the Cobra NETT (New Equipment Transition Team) 
  • 66-15310, B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 20th Aerial Rocket Artillery Regiment., 1st Cavalry Division (Air mobile) originally from Cobra NETT and featured a two tone trial camouflage scheme.
  • 67-15762 / "Executioner", 235th Air Cavalry, Capt Lou Bouault (Aircraft commander), Daub Ting, November 1969. 

 

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Conclusion

This is another great looking kit from ICM which great tooling and possibilities for future variants on the sprues. Very Highly recommended. 

 

Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd.

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Review sample courtesy of

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Looks like a fabulous kit, ICM just keep getting better, and it is good to see them breaking into new areas such as this.

Now how can a justify getting one, and fitting it in with my collection of WW1 biplanes? 😉

 

Cheers

 

john

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4 hours ago, Viking said:

 

Now how can a justify getting one, and fitting it in with my collection of WW1 biplanes? 😉

 

Cheers

 

john

Well one of the Options is "Blue Max"

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  • 2 months later...

Thanks, for the review, Julien!

 

Have been looking forward to a new AH-1G Cobra kit for a looooong time now. 

 

Will be waiting to purchase the late model, with the Vulcan 20mm and ammo panniers on the sides above the skids. 

 

I do wonder how the multi-piece canopy will go together and hold up under the pressure of applying masking...? Wish they would have included a single piece canopy as an alternate --- likely we'll see one of the aftermarket companies produce one...

 

A minor quibble --- the kit looks great!

 

Thanks again for the in-box review, Julien...

 

With Regards and Aloha,

 

Johnny B.

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21 hours ago, JohnnyBros718 said:

Thanks, for the review, Julien!

 

Have been looking forward to a new AH-1G Cobra kit for a looooong time now. 

 

Will be waiting to purchase the late model, with the Vulcan 20mm and ammo panniers on the sides above the skids. 

 

I do wonder how the multi-piece canopy will go together and hold up under the pressure of applying masking...? Wish they would have included a single piece canopy as an alternate --- likely we'll see one of the aftermarket companies produce one...

 

A minor quibble --- the kit looks great!

 

Thanks again for the in-box review, Julien...

 

With Regards and Aloha,

 

Johnny B.

Thx, I think I would mask the panels before assembling them.

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I have one of these and the Vulcan-carrying version is on order from Hannants. The first kit looks very "buildable". 

 

I have one, very minor issue with the kit.... why is the box-lid so difficult to remove? If it was any tighter, I'm sure some folks (ie: me) would rip it as they prise it open. 

 

Thanks for the review, Julien. 

 

Chris. 

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2 hours ago, spruecutter96 said:

 

 

I have one, very minor issue with the kit.... why is the box-lid so difficult to remove? If it was any tighter, I'm sure some folks (ie: me) would rip it as they prise it open. 

 

I know! 

 

BTW The late model review kit is winging its way to me now so its coming soon.

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Thanks for the tip, Julien --- truly never would have thought of masking the canopy windows before assembling 'em: brilliant, dude!

 

And great to hear that that the kit appears very buildable and that the late model Cobra is flying in your direction... Looking forward to reading that one, and seeing you delve into the initial Cobra release...

 

Thanks again, Julien!

 

With Regards and Aloha,

 

Johnny B. 

 

PS AM re-reading an old book on the technical and service (military and civilian) history of the Loach --- maybe ICM will give us a "pink team" with a new OH-6A to add to our Cobra...?

Edited by JohnnyBros718
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10 hours ago, JohnnyBros718 said:

 

 

PS AM re-reading an old book on the technical and service (military and civilian) history of the Loach --- maybe ICM will give us a "pink team" with a new OH-6A to add to our Cobra...?

I hope so. 

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