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  • Cobra propellers airbrushed acrylic Flat Black, but its propeller assembly hand-painted Testor Enamel Chrome, paint washed in enamel Flat Black (same technique used on tail rotor).

  • As Bell Model 209 HueyCobra made its debut, by coincidence US Army was in urgent need of attack choppers to escort its Huey troop transports in Vietnam. Although Huey gunships already existed in Vietnam, they did not possess the armor protection, combat loitering time, or heavy weapon payload required by ground troops. In fact, early Huey versions could be readily be shot down by enemy's combined AK-47 assault rifle fire. Kalashnikov AK (AK-47) AKS, AKM and AKMS assault rifles (USSR) - world.guns.ru/assault/as01-e.htm

  • Rollover : ( Rollover JPG link ) Cobra tail boom & rotor airbrushed light layer of acrylic Flat Black to resemble accumulated soot from engine exhaust. Decals on tail fin shows 1st Calvary Division on top, serial #15725 in middle (numbers picked out from spare decal bin), twin yellow canons for US Army Aerial Field Artillery (AFA) unit.

  • Cobra gunships initially part of US Army artillery branch, it had to wait for new anti-armor weapons (ex. HEAT warhead missiles) development before assuming bonafide "Tank Buster" status. This was achieved in 13 Apr 1972, when 2 "Blue Max" Cobras using HEAT missiles destroyed NVA tanks during An Loc street battles. FIELD ARTILLERY, 1954-1973 US Army Publications 1975 - www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/FA54-73/fm.htm

  • Cobra pict Cobra in rocket strafing run along tree lines in Vietnam. Choppers provided better aerial ground support than fixed-wing aircrafts due to long loitering time and slower speeds for pinpoint attack
    Cobra pict

    After Vietnam, AH-1G evolved into 2 major variants. US Marines used AH-1W Cobra with twin engines called Sea Cobra (also called Super Cobra).

    AH-1 SuperCobra / SeaCobra | Wiki

    Dec 1991, photo shows Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 (HMH-362) Sea Cobra takes off from USS Saipan for Persian Gulf maritime interdiction operations. Marine & Navy air wings prefer machines with twin engines due to prolonged flight over open oceans.

    HMH-362 | Wiki

    USS Saipan (LHA 2) | Navysite.de

    Long before 1991 Gulf War and 2003 Iraq War, US military might has been in Persian Gulf region since 1977 when President Carter ordered formation of Rapid Deployment Force to guarantee undisrupted maritime transit of oil tankers thru Persian Gulf (a check against Islamic Iran interference on US industrial lifeline).

    US Rapid Deployment Forces | Wiki

    During President Reagan era, US went as far to "re-flag" foreign oil tankers to fly American flags (ex. Kuwait re-flagged 50% of tanker fleet with US), hence legally received US military protection. In 1980s, naval skirmishes ensued with Iranians, including running gun battles with their coastal patrol boats and destruction of their off-shore oil drilling platforms used as military observation posts.

    AH-1W Sea Cobra | Aircav.com

     
    Cobra pict

    Second Cobra variant was single-engine Army version, AH-1S with improved targeting optics and chin-mounted M197 3-barrel 20mm cannon.

    Photo shows Cobra with Japan Self-Defense Ground Force (JSDGF) camouflage colors, circa mid-1990s.

    AH-1S JGSDF | Midwaysailor.com

    AH-1S Photo Index | Midwaysailor.com

    Japan postwar military was formed by US occupation forces. Emphasis on "Self Defense" in its title has both political and military implications.

    Japan Self-Defense Forces | Wiki

    "Political" as not to alarm East Asian nations who suffered under Imperial Japan's WW2 conquests of a resurgent Japan military (which would set-off an arms race in region).

    "Military" as to reassured Japanese public who suffered under pre-war and WW2 right-wing totalitarian regimes that this resource will only be used for defense of Japan home islands.

    Japan Ministry of Defense | Globalsecurity.com

    This "self-defense" contention has annoyed US / Japan relations since 1980s, for US desired Japan to take a more active role supporting US military operations in East Asia & Middle East. Fearing home front backlash and alarmist Asian neighbors, Japan in past 20 years only able to : 1) Provide financial support to US initiatives, 2) Dispatch resupply ships for US fleet in Indian Ocean, 3) Sent non-combat medical& logistical personnel to Iraq.

     
    Cobra pict Engine section airbrushed acrylic Flat Black, section ready for fuselage assembly
    Cobra pict

    Fuselage sealed, used Walmart automotive red ceramic putty to fill in gaps. Small screw-driver used as applicator.

    Automotive putty was cheaper and comes in larger squeeze tube than scale-modeling putty.
    Cobra pict Model assembly done, seals filled and sanded, ready for final grey paint prime before camouflage painting
    Cobra pict Tail rotor rod and landing skit replaced with metal clothing pins. Original plastic parts frequently break-off after a time, hence this switch gave them more resiliency
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