logo Banner
White Dot
barWheeledbarTrackedbarAerialbarNavalbarScifibarMiscbarSitemapHome Index
Black Dot
<< Previous Cobra Index Next >>

2

  • Cobra airbrushed acrylic US Olive Drab, with slight overspray and paint wash around surface features via darker paint hue. UweM Paint Wash Technique - uwemilitaria.org/Technique/wea2Wash.html

  • Using helicopters in armed assaults (not just medical evacuations like in WW2 and Korean War) was established by French Army during 1954-1962 Algerian War of Independence from France. However, incremental armaments installed on these troop transport helicopters proved a dedicated chopper platform should be developed. Bell corporation conducted studies in 1950s and flew its own company-funded gunship prototype called Model 207 Sioux Scout ( modified OH-13G Sioux, type used for aerial medievac seen on US TV program M.A.S.H. ). Being the first dedicated gunship design and already deployed Vietnam battlefields, AH-1G Cobra eventually ousted competing AH-56 Cheyenne attack helicopter program. OH-13 Sioux Armaments - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Helicopter_Armament_Subsystems#OH-13_Sioux_and_OH-23_Raven

  • Rollover : ( Rollover JPG link ) Cobra tail fins painted enamel International Orange, airbrushed light layer of acrylic Flat Black for weathering. Bell Model 207 prototype showed that tandem seating for pilot & weapons officer was effective, along with external weapon wings and chin gun turret. But for extra payload and performance, more powerful engine was needed, hence Bell selected UH-1 Huey in 1965 as basis for gunship conversion, tilted Model 209 HueyCobra. Bell AH-1 HueyCobra - www.faqs.org/docs/air/avcobra.html

  • Cobra pict

    Cobra wings can hold 4 rocket tubes, larger version shown is M20/19 rocket launcher holding 19 2.75-inch rockets. Smaller M157 rocket launcher version holds 6 2.75-inch rockets.

    Cobra parked in armor rivulet (sand-bagged walls reinforced with armor slabs) to minimize collateral aircraft damage during surprised nigh-time Viet-Cong mortar attacks.

    Viet Cong are South Vietnamese Communists, allied with North Vietnam, also called VC or Cong.

    Viet Cong | Wiki

    They participated in all major battles throughout 20-year Vietnam conflict, but was unilaterally abolished by North Vietnam 3 days after conquest of Saigon in 1975. By late-1970s, most VCs were purged from political power and fled overseas as bonafide "Boat People" refugees.

    These ex-VCs live incognito among Vietnamese communities in Americas - Europe - Australia - SE Asia... lest, some may look them up to settle old wartime scores.

     
    Cobra pict

    Nov 1967, US Army 174th Assault Helicopter Company getting their first Cobra batch at Duc Pho - South Vietnam.

    This unit is well known to adorn their Hueys and Cobras with large shark mouth nose art. Hence, that is exactly what the men in photo are contemplating painting.

    174th Assault
    Helicopter Company | 174ach.org

    174th AHC - Duc Phu base | 174ach.org

     

    Cobra pict

    Original batch of "Blue Max" Cobra (insignia on propeller housing) deployed to Vietnam in late-1960s, as indicated by tail rotor on right side of pilot.

    Latter Cobra versions moved tail rotor to pilot left side for flight stability during landing

    Cobra pict

    Model mini-gun and mortar assembly close-up. To ensure both guns would move in-synch, metal pin drilled & glued to both parts.

    Items sit in groove slot, cone-shape cap snapped into place for turret rotation

    Cobra pict Internal engine section painted Tamiya acrylic Flat Black, since its access be precluded once fuselage was assembled
    Cobra pict Engine & exhaust section glued, Flat Black paint hand-brushed for 1st layer coating, 2nd layer coating done by airbrush
    Cobra pict Cockpit section assembled and glued into position
<< Previous Cobra Index Next >>
black line