Academy 1/35 AH-1W Super Cobra "NTS update" 

 

By Dean Whitmire

Kit:

Academy 1/35 AH-1W Super Cobra "NTS update"

Decals:

Two Bobs-35-001 AH-1W Whiskeys In the Mix courtesy of Warren aka R1830

Paints used:

Citadel Siver Mithril
Tamiya
X-23 Clear Blue
X-27 Clear Red
X-19 Smoke
X-25 Clear Green
XF-4 Yellow Green
XF-1 Flat Black
XF-19 Sky Grey (primer coat)
XF-66 Light Grey
XF-20 Medium Grey
Vallejo Model Air Black

Detailing supplies:

Evergreen Styrene Various sizes and styles
Bulk wire from craft stores
various wire from stripped computer cables
Brass tubing for gun rebuild and roter stabilizers

Weathering supplies:

Table salt for paint chipping on rotor blades and other areas
Promodellers Dark Dirt, Sand, Black, Mud, Light Dirt, and a little bit of Rust

Misc:

Tamiya thin, CA Glue medium and thin, xtracrylix flat coat, Testors Enamel gloss clear and Future

Hello All,
      Thanks to Marcus Jellyman's scratch building tutorial and along with doing a little scratch building stuff for the couple of hotrods I am building has inspired me to start super detailing my models.  I am going to jump in with both feet and detail the 1/35 Academy Super Cobra NTS kit I picked up over Christmas.  I am sure I will make a few mistakes along the way but that is the fun of this hobby, learning from your mistakes.  Hope you will all follow along with me and maybe we can learn together along the way.

First the box art and sprue shots...







 

Well here we go,
     I got started with doing a bunch of research, thanks to a site Marcus turn us all on to in his pt one tutorial and thanks to Warren aka R1830 had a couple of links that also helped tremendously.  First I sanded off the screen detail off the main body pieces and replaced them with some metal mesh I picked up at a local hobby store.











Next I cut out an access hatch to a storage area in the tail



Next I cut out an access panel that wasn't etched on the model but in a couple of pics I have found there is a removable panel under the left weapons boom  with some electronics so I decided why not
 




I started working on the cockpit detailing.  This is what I have done so far. 
Here is a couple of pics of the rear part of the cockpit i am replicating.







I started making some of the extra details that the kit pit did not have.  The kit pit is not bad but could always be better.  I am almost done with adding the little bits.  next will be the wiring of all these little bits.  also the gauge of some sort that I replicated on the top right of the dash hood isn't done yet.  I need to get a micro hole punch so I can finish that.















 I don't have a lot of time so I am doing a little bit each night.  The one mistake I have made already is my wiring choices.  I got a little over zealous and didn't think things through.  I used twisted wire for pretty much everything and that isn't exactly what was going on inside the real cockpit, but like I said earlier this is a learning experience for me.  I will stop talking and now and enjoy!



For these wires I rapped them with tamiya tape because looking at the reference photos show them wrapped with a material other then the standard seething.





In the next couple photos you can see my attempt at what I guess is a air hose something like you would see on the back of your clothes drier.  It has an accordion style tubing.  I took wire and wrapped it around some stock plastic rod and bent it into shape







In this one you can see to the left a panel that I added.  In the ref photos there was a panel here that wasn't in the kit pit so I added it.



I went to start painting the cockpit and found myself without any flat black so thanks to my loving and understanding wife she picked some up for me and I was able to get started.  I also used some artistic license with the side access panel I cut out.  I found a pic of a panel here removed but no good shots of what was in there so made this up for it.  I also covered the mesh with some card stock so you couldn't see all the way through the model and got the stowage compartment in the tail glued into place.



















I started putting the access area together and didn't like the way it was laying out so I made the access hole bigger.  Just have to had a few rivet holes and she will be done. 



Here is a bunch of pics of the cockpit painted and weathered.  I think it came out pretty well for my first scratch build job...









for the front position dash I removed some of the gauge detail and put in my own screen per the reference photos, and I added some details to the sighting system.



Here are a few pics of the finished cockpit.  I did all the standard weathering stuff that we all use but I also did a little dry brushing with some sand and dirt colors because I plan on weathering this like it is on the front lines, say in the gulf area, being serviced.  (more artistic license)





Here is a couple pics of it with the body but I haven't glued it together yet



The glass was not very good and I have been polishing it so that is way it looks cloudy



Well here is another update for you on my Super Cobra.  Being in the motorcycle business helps when I need some weight,  a few 1/4 oz wheel weights to keep this cobra from being a tail sitter. 



Well I got started with the engine compartment and engine.  I added wire and solder to simulate tubing.  I also added some styrene to make some of the braces.



Now to the engine itself.  I looked all over for some good reference photos but couldn't really find any without an obstructed view.  I did find another modelers take on the engine so I used them for reference.  With a little artistic license this is what I came up with...





Here it is installed in the engine bay.  Still have a little work to do with installing the intake and exhaust channels.





She is starting to come together now and look like an attack helicopter.  I can't begin to tell you how fun, stressful and fulfilling scratch building is all at the same time.  I didn't like the look of the cannon that the kit provides so I thought I will build one of my own.  I ordered some various brass tubing and gave it a go

When I said stressful I meant it, building this cannon.  I tried it once and failed miserably but walked away and the next night tried a new approach and the fun and fulfilling feelings came back.
Here is a couple of side by side shots...





I got the right side engine intake and exhaust pieces glued in



I got to detailing the main rotor head.  Using several ref pics and books I added detail with some various styrene and some brass tubing







Got things painted up and started assembling so i can get the 2 halves together





well even with some sanding and dry fitting the fit wasn't the best hence all the clamps



Well here is the progress I have made on the fun build.  I got the body all glued together and cleaned up all the seams and at my surprise I had very little filler to use.  next I started to add a little detail to the rear rotor hub







I added a little more detail to the engine bay.





I painted up the engine.  I sprayed it flat black then used citadel to spray silver base.  I them used olive drab and dry brushed the whole engine.  then I used copper to dry brushed as well.  After that I dry brushed with some flat black.  I then painted up the hoses, wiring, and various bits.  Added a little black and burnt umber oil wash.  Here is the results 











The kit came with a pretty nice detailed piece for the whatever these boxes are below the cockpit but as you look at it closer you can see through the bay and I thought I want mine to look the same so here is my attempt at scratch building this.
here are a couple of reference photos.













Next I got to painting and weathering the engine bay.  Remember I am really making this one dirty and used like it is being serviced in a combat zone if you will so she is going to be dirty and grimy. The other thing is I forgot to glue into place the back half of the engine bay were the exhaust would exit and now I have to paint that separately and try and get the weathering to match 









I also painted and weathered the small storage compartment in the tail section



and here is one overall shot



Last but not least, I got the glass all masked up and ready to install.  I added two small gauges for the front gunner position.  I also added some wire spiraled up and painted black to simulate what I guess to be hookups for the crews helmets.




  
Trying to get back into the swing of things with this one.  I got the canopy fixed and did a little more rescribing and was getting it ready for primer.  Then I thought disaster struck.  When I was masking things up I pressed to hard on my access panel and it broke and fell inside the body.  I was able to get it and re-glue it back into position.  I then painted black on the canopy and then primer.  I found a few little things I need to fix then it is on to paint











Finally I get back to doing what I want to do instead of what I need to do.  Very small update here.  I got my pre-shading done even though I am still having moisture problems with my compressor so I need to figure it out but here is where I am at











Well what do I say this has been a fun build so far and I think I got ahead of myself.  I am really happy with the look I have achieved with airbrushing the PM washes but I think I should have waited till I got the decals on
Anyway, I airbrushed the sand wash for the desert weathered look and I used the dark dirt and the black washes for the exhaust.  she is in clear coat, so now it is time for decals















Got all the decals on and as I expected because of my weathering I did before the decals they stick out like a sore thumb.  I will have to do a little work to correct that.









I also got time to work on this one again as well.  As you all know I was worried how to get the decals to blend in but I think I did pretty good, maybe a little over the top but I said this would be heavily weathered like it has been in heavy use in the middle east.  there is only one thing I can say is I love the promodeller weathering wash.  it has almost all the wash sprayed on it in various amounts.  The sand one was also purposely sprayed have to give it some runs and stains.

















Got this one back on the bench and with no other project going I should be able to stay focused on it to finish her.  I got all the doors and panels off so I can start painting the inside of them and installed the engine.  I also built the step that is in the lower engine bay door.  I got all the little bits and the rotor blades and landing skids ready for paint.











Here is the next update. Thanks everyone for the kind comments.   In my quest to heavily weather this one I decided to try salt weathering (a new one for me).  First I sprayed the parts silver, added the salt and sprayed the yellow chromite color.  I cleared off the salt and applied a new layer and sprayed black on the rotor blades.  I think they came out great, maybe a little over done but still good.  I also sprayed the exhaust nozzles and weathered up the doors for the open compartments.  I also painted the "disco ball" (not sure of the proper name but that is what the pilot I talked to at an airshow called it).  I painted it silver and then painted it with clear yellow, orange and a little red.  Now to do some weathering with that awesome promoddeller wash























Finally finished this one.  It sure was a fun one.  Thanks to Marcus for help and the inspiration to attempt scratch building and detailing.  I will definitely be attempting more super detailing in the future.  I also wanna thank Warren for the great Decals and the help.


Here are the pics...









































Thanks, Dean