1:32 AH-1G Cobra Late

The late production Cobra and the frames of its greenhouse

Stencils for spraying the cockpit framing of the late AH-1G in 1:32 scale. The version is given in the name of the item, so it cannot be confused with the earlier form. On a large helicopter the framing runs across the whole nose.

How the machine changed during production

Combat experience led to a number of changes. The chin turret received two weapons instead of one, equipment for night operations was added and the machines saw changes to the power system. Tactics settled into pairs, with a light scout helicopter finding the targets and the attack machine destroying them. The crew compartment meanwhile stayed just as cramped and just as demanding to mask. Anti-tank guided missiles only arrived with the follow-on types; this machine stuck to machine guns, a grenade launcher and rockets.

A procedure that works

Move the stencils with tweezers, not with your fingers; grease from the skin holds worse than a clean surface. Seat the smallest pieces in the corners first and only then fine-tune the large areas. Apply the paint square to the frame, not at an angle under the edge. Time the lifting according to how your paint dries; on a fully hardened finish the edge tears away less cleanly. Lay the set out on paper beforehand and match the pieces to the individual panes, which saves a lot of searching.

Who it is for

• For builders of the late form of the attack helicopter
• For models with large glazing across the whole front section
• For those who want precise frames without painting them in by hand

Before you start, compare the shape of the glazing of your kit with the shape of the pieces in the set.