1:32 USMC Bell AH-1W Whiskey Cobra

The Whiskey Cobra in Marine Corps service

The twin engine version of the famous Cobra came about because the Marines needed a machine able to survive the failure of one engine over the sea. From the middle of the eighties it carried antitank guided missiles, unguided rockets and a three barrel cannon, and it went through combat in the Persian Gulf, in Iraq and in Afghanistan. It lasted in service until 2020, when a newer four blade version replaced it.

The sheet covers three specific machines, each from a different light attack helicopter squadron, and for each it gives the fuselage construction number as well. One of them carries a commemorative finish devoted to New York firefighters after the attacks of September 11; the other two carry the national insignia and lettering of their units including their nicknames.

What to keep in mind during the build

• A commemorative finish tends to be more colorful than an ordinary one, so reckon with more careful preparation of the surface.
• Unit markings on helicopters are found on surfaces where a decal has to be folded over an edge as well.
• The fuselage construction numbers make it possible to track down photographs of the specific example.
• The package holds the markings only; the helicopter itself has to be obtained separately.

The procedure with large formats is the same as anywhere else, only mistakes strike the eye more. Polish the base and varnish it over with gloss, lay the decal into a puddle of water and move it to the right with a brush, not with a finger. Once it is settled, draw the excess off with a paper tissue and let the sheet dry undisturbed before you reach for a softener.

The helicopter has a great many rivets, panel lines and drainage strips. It is precisely on those that it shows whether a decal has settled down or is merely lying on the surface. It pays, therefore, to work one piece at a time and to have a sharp scalpel at hand: where the film overhangs an edge, it is better to cut it so that it yields to the shape.