Bell AH-1CZ Cobra, '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Sq., Czech Air Force, 2004

[Dizzyfugu]

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Some background:
The Bell AH-1 Cobra (company designation: Model 209) is a two-blade, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It was developed using the engine, transmission and rotor system of the Bell's UH-1 Iroquois. The AH-1 is also referred to as the HueyCobra or Snake.

The AH-1 was the backbone of the United States Army's attack helicopter fleet, but has been replaced by the AH-64 Apache in Army service. Upgraded versions continue to fly with the militaries of several other nations. The latest user in a long row of international operators is the Czech Republic, which partially replaced its Mi-24/35 fleet with the smaller and less costly AH-1.

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


These new aircraft were actually bought in Japan and technically represent the single-engined AH-1S, which is roughly the equivalent to the United States Army's AH-1Fs and still in use with the JGSDF, but was outfitted with different armament and avionics, tailored to the Czech needs in order to minimize the maintenance and equipment cost for the mixed type helicopter fleet. Fuji Heavy Industries built the Bell Cobra under license from 1984 to 2000, and 89 were delivered to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, while 15 more were produced for the Czech Republic in 1999 and 2000. The engine is the T53-K-703 turboshaft, which Kawasaki Heavy Industries produced under license.

The Czech Air Force (CZAF; Czech: Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky) introduced the type in 2002, and they were grouped in a separate helicopter squadron. The Czech Cobras received a major change of armament and mission avionics, though. Main weapon is the Russian 9K121 'Vikhr' (Вихрь, English: Whirlwind) missile complex which replaces the former Western TOW equipment. The Vikhr is a Russian laser guided anti-tank missile system that is believed to have entered service around 1990, having been first shown publicly at the 1992 Farnborough Airshow. Furthermore, the General Dynamics 20 mm (0.787 in) M197 3-barreled Gatling cannon in the chin turret was replaced by a flexible twin-barrel GSh-23L, with 300 rounds of ammunition.

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The Vikhr remains the main armement, though. The compact missile is designed to engage vital ground targets, including armoured targets fitted out with built-in and add-on explosive reactive armor, at a range of up to 8 km when fired from a helicopter, up to 5 km at night, as well as air targets in conditions of air defense assets activity.
The Czech Cobras (which received the designation AH-1CZ) are primarily used in the latter role, serving as escorts and support for the Mi-24/35 and are intended for fighting against low speed/low altitude airborne targets like other helicopters. The heavier Mi-24/35 are primariliy intended for the ground attack/CAS role.

The Vikhr missile is part of the Vikhr-M system, which also includes an automatic sight. The automatic sight is provided with TV and IR channels for target sighting, a laser beam channel for missile control, a laser rangefinder, an automatic target tracking unit, a digital computer and a system for stabilization and aiming the sighting and beam channels.

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The automatic sight provides for target detection and identification both by day and night, automatic target tracking and missile guidance, and generates exact information for gun and rocket firing. The guided missile consists of a HEAT fragmentation warhead fitted with a contact and a proximity fuze, an air-dynamic control actuator, control electronics, a motor and laser detector. It is kept in a sealed launching transporting container, and the Czech AH-1CZ can carry up to sixteen of these on it four hardpoints, even though a mix of these guided with unguided missiles or gun pods is more frequent.

The multi-purpose warhead (two-stage HEAT and an additional fragmentation sleeve) allows the missile to be used against armoured, airborne and area targets alike. The use of the proximity fuze allows a near miss of up to 5 m and makes it possible to engage an air target at speeds of 500 m/s.

The Vikhr missile laser beam control system provides for its precise guidance owing to data transmission to the missile in the course of its launch, which is excluded in homing systems. A series of non-imaging detectors face backwards from the missile toward the launch platform and guide the missile toward the centre of the laser beam (unlike semi-active laser seekers, which aim for a laser reflected off the target). This is much cheaper and also more resistant to countermeasures.

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The missiles can be fired singly or in pairs (at the same target to increase lethality). The high flight speed allows it to engage targets rapidly. The system is capable of launching Vikhr missiles against two to four targets during a 30-second period and starting at a range of 10 km, which increases its lethality to three to four times that of earlier systems.

The independence of the Czech Air Force was terminated on 1 December 2003 when the force became a part of newly established Joint Forces of the Czech Army with the command post located at Olomouc. Within the new structure the Air Force Commander in Chief was in a position of one of Joint Forces Chief Commander Deputy.

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Since 1 July 2013, the Czech Air Force is independent again, with headquarters located in Prague and with new Commander in Chief Brigadier General Libor Štefánik.

At the moment it is uncertain if more AH-1CZ will be bought, or if these as well as the Mi-35 fleet will be replaced by a more modern, single helicopter type - the Czech Mi-35 will definitively be retired in 2018.

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr




General characteristics:
   Crew: 2: one pilot, one co-pilot/gunner (CPG)
   Length: 53 ft (16.1 m) (with both rotors turning)
   Fuselage length: 44 ft 7 in (13.6 m)
   Stub wing span: 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
   Rotor diameter: 44 ft (13.6 m)
   Height: 13 ft 6 in (4.12 m)
   Empty weight: 6,600 lb (2,993 kg)
   Max. takeoff weight: 10,000 lb (4,500 kg)
   
Powerplant:
   1× Lycoming T53-L-703 turboshaft, 1,800 shp (1,300 kW)
   Rotor system: 2 blades on main rotor, 2 blades on tail rotor

Performance:
   Never exceed speed: 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h)
   Maximum speed: 149 knots (172 mph, 277 km/h)
   Range: 274 nmi (315 mi, 510 km)
   Service ceiling: 12,200 ft (3,720 m)
   Rate of climb: 1,620 ft/min (8.2 m/s)

Armament:
    Chin barbette with a stabilized, flexible twin-barrel GSh-23L cannon, with 300 RPG
    Four stub wing hardpoints for up to sixteen 9K121 'Vikhr' laser-guided missiles,
    or a mix of unguided missiles (various pods) and GSh-23L gun pods.



The kit and its assembly:
Like some other whiffy projects this kit conversion was inspired by fellow user PantherG at whatifmodelers.com who posted a set of AH-1 profiles in fictional CZAF markings. These looked intereresting, to say the least, and I decided to take this idea to the hardware stage, and add a personal twist. Another factor was the recent introduction of A Model's CZAF Whif AH-1G as an OOB offer - time to put together some creativity against "mass-market stuff".

The kit is the nice AH-1S from Hobby Boss - I had it in the pile for some time and decided to 'sacrifice' it for this project. Basically the kit was built OOB, I just changed the ordnance and the respective sensors to the new background story.

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The Vikhr launch tubes were scratched from styrene strips - they are actually just slender, round tubes with ropunded tips and as goos as no features. The gun pods come from a KP Iskra model and received hollow muzzles. The gun turret was modified, too, with two hollow injection steel needles as gun barrels, and on the Cobra's nose a guidance antenna was added. Onn thze stub wings a pair of chaff/flare dispensers (left over from an Italeri AH-1) complete the ordnance load.

Inside, I added a pair of Matchbox pilots, but otherwise the detailed interior was taken OOB.

All just subtle changes that will not immediately be recognized.

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Painting and markings:
Even though PantherG provided a lot of potential liveries for a Czech AH-1 I actually settled for the real world livery of CZAF Mi-24/35 - a three-tone scheme consisting of a pale gray, medium gray and olive drab, coupled with an even more pale gray for the lower surfaces. This looks pretty unique and reminds a bit of the USMCs SuperCobras?

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


I used Humbrol 129 (Gull Grey, FS 36640), Humbrol 126 (FS 36231) and 155 (FS 34087) as basic upper colors, while the lower surfaces were painted with Humbrol 166 (Light RAF aircraft Grey), all pretty good matches to the real CZAF colors.

The interior surfaces were painted in a very dark gray - I used Humbrol 67. The kit received a light black ink wash in order to emphasize the finely engraved panel lines, and also some light dry-brushing as additional contrast - even though the machine was not supposed to look worn.

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Bell AH-1CZ 'Cobra', aircraft '1508' of 223rd Helicopter Squadron, Czech Air Force (CZAF; Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky); Náměšť nad Oslavou Helicopter AB, 2004 (Whif/Hobby Boss Kit Conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The CZAF markings come from a Hungarian Aero Decals (a. k. a. HAD Models) aftermarket sheet for various Mi-24s, and I settled for the more subtle low-viz insignia and markings.

Finally, the kit was sealed with a coat of matte acrylic varnish - the CZAF Mi-24s look almost glossy, but I refrained from a semi-matt varnish because this might look a bit odd at the small 1:72 scale?



In the end, about a week of work and a nice result - the Czech Cobra looks odd but appears natural in the vicinity of its real Mi-24 brethren?

[PR19_Kit]

Brilliant job there Thomas. 

The photos, especially the 'formation' ones are SUPERB! 

[Dizzyfugu]

Brilliant job there Thomas. 

The photos, especially the 'formation' ones are SUPERB! 

Thank you, Kit - bold experiments with background prints and perspective. Not 100% perfect (sometimes the Mi-24 looks a bit large...), but the added "action" on the pic compensates these flaws. 

[NARSES2]

Tremendous stuff again

[Weaver]

Nice one! That's very believable.

[sandiego89]

Very nice, indeed some subtle changes that could be missed at first glance, like the twin barrel gun, sensors etc.  Like the big exhaust stack. 

Did you have to add weight to the nose to get her to sit flat on the skids? 

[Dizzyfugu]

The exhaust is OOB! 

Fortunately, the Cobra sits down naturally, even theough there's little CG margin. Without the canopy it would tip over, but the clear part plus the two crewmen are enough. There's little space inside, though, you'd have to add some serious weight just behind the cockpit rear wall.

Thanks a lot, gentlemen! 

[comrade harps]

Nice model and enjoyed the drama of the pic. 

[DogfighterZen]

Great work once again!!   
Love what you did with the whole paint job, pilots are excellent! 

[zenrat]

  Excellent.

[Dizzyfugu]

Again, many thanks! 

[Captain Canada]

Another beauty ! One of the best sets of pics yet as well. Looks like the real thing to me. Nice work as always.

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you, too! 

[The Chaos]

A very good job my friend.