This is my 1/35
AH-1W Super Cobra updated to the NTS version using the Cobra Company's upgrade
set. In addition, I combined parts of Eduard's cockpit set and lots of
scratchbuilding to improve the overall accuracy.
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Summary
of improvements:
(i)
Corrected
interior and nose using Cobra Company and Eduard sets
(ii)
Corrected the
landing skids to get the tubular shape
(iii)
Reshaped parts
of the main rotor. (blade tips, main mechanism) and added scratchbuilt details
(iv)
Scratchbuilt
the tail rotor assembly and added details to the rotor
(v)
Combined
scratchbuilding and kit parts to make the empty TOW launcher
(vi)
Added details
to the chaff launchers and wired them to the pylons
(vii)
Added a sheet metal cover to the tail boom
(viii)
Opened up the
bottom of the gun cowling and added scratchbuilt details to the gun
The
plume and laser detectors were left off as they were not evident in the
reference photos of the aircraft I was modeling. I wanted to match the dirty
weathered look of the real chopper. After preshading with Testos Dark Gull Gray,
I created the worn, patchy effect with different shades of Light Ghost Gray and
Medium Gray enamels. The shades were created by adding a couple drops of the
darker gray to the base coat, applying these in areas that would be dirty and
then applying lightened shades in random shots. A thinned coat of the base
colours was then airbrushed to blend things together. Pastels were used to
represent grime and exhaust staining. Everything was sealed with Future to
prepare for decaling.
Decals
from Two Bobs Whiskeys in the Mix were used. One problem with the sheet is that
some of the markings were overscale e.g. the Intake Warning Triangle. I had to
compensate by moving them back toward the intake. The canopy was then detailed
and affixed after a coat of Testors Dullcote. Hope you like the end result.
Fernan
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