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7

  • Cobra engine detail viewable via access panel, left in either open or close position like cockpit canopy. AH-1G engine was 1,400shp Avco Lycoming T-53-13 Turboshaft, giving it max speed 172 mph, rate of climb 1,230 feet/min, max range 357 miles. Turboshaft engine is derived from gas turbine, but designed to generate shaft power ( aka propeller hub ) rather than jet thrust. This engine type combines small size & light weight with high-power output and reliability. Besides use in helicopters, Turboshaft also installed in ship, tank, hovercraft, and auxiliary power unit. Turboshaft engine - www.freebase.com/view/en/turboshaft

  • Rollover : ( Rollover JPG link ) Cobra underside, showing landing struts and area behind chin turret where its belt-fed ammunition is stowed. Initial Cobra prototype had retractable landing struts, but proved too heavy and cumbersome to operate, thus static struts installed giving freed-up space for more ammunition and electronics.

  • Delicate machinery requires due diligence, small mishap can lead to catastrophic consequences. For example, Cobra pilot Capt. Cordon once remarked during state-side Cobra training as he was about to take-off, he noticed maintenance crew forgot to secure engine lynch pin to chopper fuselage. This meant upon take-off, engine would literally tear itself asunder from chopper housing, dropping crew - fuselage - fuel - weapon payload earthbound. Needless to state, oversight was quickly corrected by supervisory officer after lengthy red-faced tongue-lashing upon maintenance crew. But to be fair, crew were more or less fresh out of highschool, thus everyone was a trainee be it pilot - gunner - mechanic. History of the AH-1G Cobra - 238awc.org/history/UH-1/cobra.htm

  • Cobra pict Armament personnel loading Cobra Hydra 70 rockets, their rocket stowage are used M19/20 rocket launcher tubes, same ones used on the Cobra
    Cobra pict Maintenance personnel checking Cobra propeller shaft, giving relative size comparison of its blades.
    Cobra pict

    View of engine compartment with maintenance hatches opened on both sides.

    Basically, Cobra was a striped down version of Huey troop transport chopper.

    UH-1 Huey Chopper | YouTube

    Without Huey's extra weight and fuselage space, Cobra engine power vested into increased speed, agility, weapons payload.

    Cobra pict

    Elected to use "low technology" technique and by-pass purchasing expensive model-specific paint mask or masking tapes.

    Canopy masked with Walmart Blue Paint Trim Masking tape. They were cut into stripes via X-ACTO knife with metal ruler on ceramic tile base (these tiles purchased in single square sections from LOWES home improvement store).

    Cobra pict

    To reduce clear plastic transparency, inscribed Sharpie permanent black marker onto exposed areas.

    This was repeated 2 to 3 times for a solid coating.
    Cobra pict

    Tamiya acrylic Flat Black airbrushed on top of permanent black marker ink.

    Once canopy dried, section sprayed with layer of Testor Dullcoat via aerosol can for matt finish.

    Prefer to airbrush with acrylic colors than enamel paint since former only required cleaning with soapy water before airbrush re-usage. Airbrush turn-around time is about 1 minute.

    Both acrylic and enamel paints are effective for hand painting.
    Cobra pict Masking end product, solid horizontal canopy frame lines. This procedure repeated for vertical canopy frame lines.
    Cobra pict

    Canopy fitted onto Cobra, but not glued. Canopy can be removed on-demand, thus enable better viewing access into cockpit details.
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