Cobra Company 1/48 AH-1G Cobra Conversion/Detail Set

By Michael Benolkin

Review

What is the difference between an AH-1J and an AH-1G? Simple - the number of engines. The US Marine AH-1J is a twin-engined attack helicopter whereas the AH-1G is the same aircraft for the US Army only with one engine. The Marines operate out over water and need multi-engine reliability to land safely while the Army Cobras can usually autorotate into any field.

Fujimi released the twin-engined AH-1J Sea Cobra many times over the years, but never got around to the Army version. Cobra Company to the rescue. This conversion and detail set for the Fujimi kit will make the transformation to a late-model AH-1G Cobra.

What's in the set? A completely new engine and transmission cowling, which is the main difference between the two aircraft. This set provides the mast mounts to make the kit compatible with the Fujimi rotor mast.

Once very nice touch is the engine exhaust 'Strella' duct that redirects the engine exhaust into the rotor downwash to reduce the heat signature of the aircraft against the shoulder-launched SA-7 missiles that were appearing in Vietnam toward the end of the conflict. I'd love to see this duct in 1/32 scale for the Revell AH-1G kit!

The set also includes a completely new cockpit with a whole new two-place tub, crew seats, instrument panels, and other essential details to give the viewer something nice to see through that huge canopy.

The set is rounded out with a new chin turret in the compulsory Army configuration of minigun and grenade launcher.

This set is definitely recommended for the Cobra lover and will fill in a major hole on your rotary-wing flightline. This detail set is available directly from Cobra Company (www.cobracompany.com).

My sincere thanks to Cobra Company (www.cobracompany.com) for this review sample!