1:72 AH-1G Huey Cobra „International“

AH-1G Huey Cobra International 1:72 (Kovozavody Prostejov)

A plastic kit of the Bell AH-1G Huey Cobra attack helicopter in 1:72 scale from the Czech maker Kovozavody Prostejov. The International epithet refers to machines outside the home users of the type, that is to foreign operators. Which particular countries and units the decal sheet offers differs between individual releases. Check it against the information on the box.

The real subject

The AH-1G was the first series-built helicopter designed directly for combat support. It used the proven powerplant and rotor system of the UH-1 type, but received a new, very narrow fuselage with a tandem two-seat cockpit — gunner at the front, pilot behind and above him. It carried racks on short stub wings and a movable gun armament in a nose turret. The type also reached foreign users, where it flew in finishes different from those in its country of origin, and that is exactly what makes this boxing interesting.

Building and painting tips

Prepare and paint the cockpit interior before you glue the fuselage up. Mask the extensive glazing carefully and clean up the frames. Spray over a primer so that you can see the joints. Foreign schemes tend to be more colorful than uniform military green, so it pays to work from the lighter shades to the darker ones and to do the transitions at lower pressure. Put gloss varnish under the decals, matte the finish once it has dried, and only then build up the weathering. Fit the rotor blades at the very end.

Who the model is for

• Modelers who collect foreign operators of well-known American types.
• Builders of helicopters in 1:72 scale.
• Collectors of models from Czech makers.
• Modelers who want several color forms of one machine side by side.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.