US Army Aviation - 4th Cavalry - "Squatter Swatter" Bell AH-1G Cobra

[LDSModeller]

Hi All,

 

I originally signed up for this GB when first posted . Usually with Vietnam topics,, I like to build

some thing from New Zealand's contribution to this War/Conflict.

 

Interestingly when New Zealand entered this war/conflict as a US ally, we already had

experience with operations in South East Asia, in the form of the Malaya Emergencies

where we fought as part of Britain's Commonwealth against the communist there (and won).

 

Vietnam was an interesting time for both Australia and New Zealand......

 

My Mother lost a cousin in Vietnam with the New Zealand Army, and I do recall

vividly, my Mother telling me one day after school (primary/elementary) that my Father (RNZAF) had gone

to Vietnam. He never mentioned it, or had photos/slides he normally took when on

Overseas Exercises/deployments.

 

New Zealander's as well as our Aussie cousins served in a variety of operations in Vietnam,

some RNZAF personnel serving with either RAAF or USAF units as in the photos below

 

RNZAF Pilots/Aircrew serving with 9 Sqn RAAF

(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)

 

RNZAF Aircrew with USAF as FAC

(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)

 

Okay onto my topic/build of choice

I had a few kits in mind as in photo below

 

But I decided to go with a whirly bird

 

As per my topic title, this is an AH-1G from the 4th Cavalry, markings for a Cobra flown by Capt. Hugh Mills.

This Cobra is featured in "Gunslingers in Action" Squadron/Signals Publications, which I have a copy of but is

MIA at present in a box of my books...... somewhere in my house

So the kit in question

 

I had made a start so many moons ago (way under 25%) with a view to showing off part of the engine

as seen in the sprue shot below

 

Kit canopy/clear parts

 

Kit instructions - usual Revell style

 

 

Kit decals - I really hope they are still good to use

 

I'll have think as to whether I keep the engine compartment open, or just button up and build mostly OOB.

 

Anyways thanks for looking in, and more soon

 

Regards

 

Alan

 

 

 

 

 

[Pappy]

Noice!

 

 

[DaveJL]

Nice to have a big scale Cobra in the GB!

[LDSModeller]

On 3/26/2025 at 11:30 PM, Pappy said:

Noice!

Thank you

 

On 3/31/2025 at 7:24 AM, DaveJL said:

Nice to have a big scale Cobra in the GB!

Thank you - lots of potential there, but I'll try and keep it simple ( so I finish it )

 

On ward and upward

 

Bit of an update

 

I decided to button up the engine bay, I think I'll have it ready sitting ready to

head out on a mission, so will decorate it like a Christmas Tree 

 

This is the inside of the fuselage, the this strips of styrene are there to add internal support

 

 

This is the outside, and all parts have seated nicely - not withstanding, there are as you see some glaring gaps

 

 

So as to cut down on the lashings of putty likely in the situation, I added some thin styrene strip bedded with

Tamiya extra thin cement.

 

 

I'll give it a day or to two dry, then I can remove any excess, and fill the remainder with a small amount of putty.

 

Whilst waiting for that, I began on the cockpit  - I have hunted for photos of the cockpit rear, and from what I can tell

the "Box" type moulding doesn't/didn't really exist on the real thing (A) and "B" is part of the cockpit ventilation/cooling

system which sits closer to the fuselage side.

The seats aren't that flash either, but I have a cunning plan for those

 

 

So I decided that the "box" needed to be removed (B) was integrally moulded, so be came a victim of circumstance

 

Anyway out came the razor saw and "  Few Moments Later" - the end result (looks like I was drunk doing this )

 

 

I added some styrene to fill in the hole and cover with a clean facing to work with. You can see it sitting at the

end of the cockpit tub

 

 

You can see from the annotated photo (C) above, I have indicated "Raised" details for controls/knobs etc.

 

It's like;y I will keep those as is, as the decals provided on the decal sheet look okay, but really don't show anything

in relief, like I want to see (especially with a huge transparency)

 

Anyway, as always, thank you for looking in. and I hope you enjoy what I have posted

 

More soon

 

Thanks

 

Alan

[heloman1]

Interesting choice. I picked one of these kits a while ago, at ta price I couldn't resist. However 32nd isn't my preferred scale! I'll follow your build with interest.

Luckily, I recently purchased the ICM kit in 1/48th.

 

There's a lot to be seen through the greenhouse!

 

Colin

[DaveJL]

Some nice work so far!

[Alan P]

Still a nice enough kit, even though it's older than me! Built four of these over the years, lots of different aftermarket used. But the base kit is still pretty good, if a little work!