Alan P Posted March 26, 2022 Share Posted March 26, 2022 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 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted March 27, 2022 Share Posted March 27, 2022 Another good subject choice Alan. I'm looking forward to watching your progress on both Cobra kits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted March 27, 2022 Share Posted March 27, 2022 I just started humming Credence Clearwater Revival for some reason…! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfa1983 Posted March 27, 2022 Share Posted March 27, 2022 Wait... this is a different one?! Amazing. I struggle to finish one measly 1/48 scale model and you come in all guns blazing with TWO 1/35 \ 1/32 Choppers! 🙇♂️ We are not worthy 🙇♂️ We are not worthy 🙇♂️ 😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 Finally got started on this one! I know we're all getting a bit used to Quinta but this is my first attempt at using them. Some call it cheating, but it's a no-brainer for me! So pleased with the easy application and superb appearance of these accessories. For comparison here's the cockpit from the last AH-1G Cobra I did in this scale (Revell's ancient 1/32 kit): This one used the Cobra Company resin cockpit and airscale decals for the instruments. It also took about two weeks, rather than ten minutes! But it's not all good, they suffer from the same affliction as Eduard accessories, namely the colours of the cockpit surround are very wrong, way too light and blue. But who's going to notice with this kind of detail? I think this all looks so good I'm not going to add any paint effects. This will be a pristine build with minimal wear and tear. Alan 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desert falcon Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 That cockpit is looking very nice !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted April 25, 2022 Share Posted April 25, 2022 I've not used any Quinta stuff yet, but I'm impressed with what I've seen of them, including here. James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted April 25, 2022 Author Share Posted April 25, 2022 3 hours ago, 81-er said: I've not used any Quinta stuff yet, but I'm impressed with what I've seen of them, including here. James Yeah, same. Thought they were a bit gimmicky but look superb. Also easy to work with. There's a Hungarian company called Red Fox also making similar products I've bought, but I haven't used them yet. They look at least as good and are a bit cheaper too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 1, 2022 Author Share Posted May 1, 2022 Going to be lucky to get this done by the deadline (never mind two of them!) Once again, a few precious days off coincides with unseasonably freezing cold weather. As Blackadder would say, "Fortune vomits on my eiderdown once more." Left-tracking tailfin halves attached to the fuselage bits. This kit is very good. Detail and fit are first class. The kit provides many different features to enable virtually any period of AH-1G to be built from the one kit. What used to be a mountain of aftermarket and loads of chopping and sawing on the Revell is all in the box and fits nicely together. Internal engine areas painted primer yellow. Going to have the starboard side open to display the engine parts. There's some nice engine/transmission detail which you could detail further if you wanted to - the doghouse rotor cap isn't included in this kit, so you'd have to paint and detail at least the transmission part as that would be visible through the hole at the top. The internals and fuselage halves fit together very nicely. Nose weight is required but can be added later as the lower belly of the fuselage isn't attached until later. All looks nice and busy in there! The high position of the installed cockpit shows why it's always worth investing in a detailing set when building a Cobra! Cheers, Alan 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 That is shaping up well, Alan. Nice work to both you and ICM! James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 5, 2022 Author Share Posted May 5, 2022 On 5/1/2022 at 6:26 PM, 81-er said: Nice work to both you and ICM! Thanks a lot James, this kit is lovely to build. Fuselage now assembled. Fits like a glove. The open underside means you can stuff loads of nose weight in there after assembly! The fascia on the belly also fits really well. I might get away with zero putty, we'll see! The nose also fits very well, as do the reinforcements on the cheek - these were to protect the wiring looms from the blast of the 20mm M61 cannon. Cockpit almost finished with armour plates and aircon hoses into the backs of the seats. That is a damn fine looking airframe. No wonder it's one of my all-time favourite aircraft. Cheers, Alan 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted May 5, 2022 Share Posted May 5, 2022 It certainly looks to be coming together well Alan. While a modern tooled kit should that isn't always the case sadly but I'm glad to see this one is proving a pleasurable build for you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 9, 2022 Author Share Posted May 9, 2022 Thanks @Col. it's almost therapeutic after the Revell Super Hornet! The main airframe components practically fell together, The nose weight appears to have done its job as well. The ammo sponsons for the XM-35 fit perfectly, no seam filling required! The same goes for the crossfeed underneath, this is a really well-engineered kit. So far this is areal winner for me - if the canopy parts fit this well, this could be my new favourite kit. Cobra fans are extremely lucky right now, we've got this kit and the 1/35 Academy AH-1Z Viper which is also a superb build. All we need now is a 1/32 F-model and I can die happy! Also finished the armament: The barrels on the 20mm are a bit plasticky, but some creative paintwork will probably take care of it. The 19-shot M200 is a leftover resin by Fireball Modelworks, while the excellent 7-shot M158 pieces are by CMK, I mean, how good are these?! These are stolen from the Special Hobby HiTech boxing of the early AH-1G ICM kit - I won't be using them for that build. Alan 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted September 10, 2022 Author Share Posted September 10, 2022 Still working on this! I feel like one of those Japanese soldiers who refused to believe the surrender order in 1945 and were still fighting the war into the 1960s and 70s Well, I had something of a nightmare with the canopy...I applied vinyl self-adhesive masks in mid-July and then had to abandon my shed for about two weeks due to the unbearable temperatures. When I came back - disaster! The easy-peel glue melted in the heat to form this horrible sticky mush! I tried to peel off the masking but it left this sticky residue when I took it off This was pretty upsetting. I risked using nail polish remover and it worked. I followed up with polishing compound but it never got its shine back. Better than it was, but quite annoying. Another modelling lesson learnt the hard way! I've ordered some proper masks now so it should be ready for paint very soon. Alan 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted September 10, 2022 Share Posted September 10, 2022 I feel for you. I've had the same sort of problem in the past but never on a build with such a dominant greenhouse. Have you considered finding a new clear sprue? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedy Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 AP I’d have done that as a frosty morning canopy! although on reflection I suspect they didn’t get many frosty mornings🤔. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted September 11, 2022 Author Share Posted September 11, 2022 17 hours ago, Bertie McBoatface said: I feel for you. I've had the same sort of problem in the past but never on a build with such a dominant greenhouse. Have you considered finding a new clear sprue? Possibly, but near enough is good enough in this case! 4 hours ago, speedy said: AP I’d have done that as a frosty morning canopy! although on reflection I suspect they didn’t get many frosty mornings🤔. Yeah frosty mornings maybe, but sticky mornings probably not so much! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 41 minutes ago, Alan P said: Yeah frosty mornings maybe, but sticky mornings probably not so much! Misty mornings for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 Good to see you're still going, Alan. Not so good about the canopy, but it's a lot better than it was. Would a coat of Klear or gloss of some kind help bring the clarity back? James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted September 11, 2022 Author Share Posted September 11, 2022 46 minutes ago, 81-er said: Good to see you're still going, Alan. Not so good about the canopy, but it's a lot better than it was. Would a coat of Klear or gloss of some kind help bring the clarity back? James Yes I'm going to try it with Gauzy again, that stuff is like magic. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted July 10, 2023 Author Share Posted July 10, 2023 I've moved this build to the Go Large Or Go Home GB, I promise to finish it there! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now