Jeff the Snake Charmer***finished***

[jssel]

Here is where I will charm the Snake.

Kit of choice is the Revellogram 1/48th AH-1S/F. Originally this kit was released as the S model and now the F. As the S model it was really accurate and well designed. I have built two others and it goes together very nice. Now days, the raised panel lines are poo pooed but it is still a very nice kit. Having built the kit before I can tell you that there was some terrible sink marks on the rotor and they are gone now. Did Revell re-work the moulds? And we model builders still wait for a larger scale G model or "legacy Cobra." The most famous of all Cobra's.

At any rate:

Box art:



The innards:



The Decals:



You can see that you could build either the U.S. Army version or the Israeli version. The decals look very nice indeed. Being former Army I will do the Sand Shark. There was an article in the now defunct Scale Modeller magazine on this machine. It has been documented very well.

[Dirkpitt289]

Those are some real cool decals.

[ShaunW]

Nice entry Jeff, that is a beast!

[flakmonkey]

You have to love the Cobra. One day I will build a Whiskey Cobra in Marine grey/green camo. Good luck with this one Jeff, it looks a monster just in the box.

[jssel]

After a pretty large attack of insomnia last night and an early morning session on the bench I have the following to report.


Deviating from the instruction sheet, I put together most of the two piece units. Even with the age of this kit, the clean up was pretty easy with only the minimum of flash and mold lines to contend with. I have decided to open the cockpit canopy for this build and so the first piece is cut. Monogram molded the glass the easiest way possible with the entire left side as a separate piece. On the real deal, the gunner/pilot enters from the left and the pilot enters from the right. Separating the pilots hatch will be rather tricky. A couple of angles prohibit the use of a razor saw.




Some screening was added to the engine compartment as on the original airframe.




Overview of the fuselage halves.



The cockpit comprises of 10 pieces. The raised relief should look pretty nice after paint and dry brushing.



My interior color will be Tamiya's German Grey XF63 or RLM 66.

[ShaunW]

Off to a good start Jeff and the cockpit parts look pretty decent. How are you going to deal with that canopy then if you can't get at it with a razor saw? scoring through the plastic with a sharp blade is one option I but that might be tricky, or can you get a powered cutter with a smaller blade than a razor saw to it?

[Titan]

Nice start Jeff, I will probably use Tamiya Nato black for the interior of my Cobra but won't be able to start mine until Wednesday as I'm waiting for some FS30140 vallejo paint to arrive but if it's a good match then I will be doing the IAF machine , I also now want to get the P-51d off the bench and out of the way so I can be doing that while I am waiting.
I have the mesh sorted for the screens and as I have mentioned before the canopy will be closed.

Regards
Mark

[jssel]

Good evening painting and dry brushing. Nothing is more unforgiving than digital photography and I can see a couple of areas that need clean up. Darn bifocals. Still can't get the tilt right.



And the cockpit all together. The targeting sight needs the framework painted when the glue sets up enough.

[Jagewa]

Way to go Jeff, on a Blitz run with this one.

Cheers
Jim

[ShaunW]

That is a good start Jeff. Have you dealt with the pilot's entry hatch yet?

[Justin1980]

Awesome start Jeff, where as work is the downfall of the modelling classes sometimes insomnia can be a small present!

Regards

Justin

[jssel]

@ShaunW. Yeah, I am etching the plastic slowly with a fresh #11 blade. Back and forth, slow as she goes. There is a pretty deep panel line on the outside to follow and that keeps the blade on track.

There is no solid location pins for cockpit alignment in the fuselage so lots of dry fitting is needed to get it in place. One advantage is that the lower fuselage is wide open (The belly piece and the skids are an intregal piece). That allows for some moving around.

Test fit, test fit, glue.

[Titan]

With the paint on that cockpit has some very nice detail doesn't it Jeff?

Regards
Mark

[MerlinJones]

Who wants to bet on 'im forgetting nose weight?

[jssel]

Oh ye of little faith. But thanx for the reminder