Australian Cobra

[Nick]

During the Vietnam War the Australian Army watched the US Army in envy as they fought using the latest helicopters, the UH-1 Huey and the AH-1 Cobra. In 1970 the decision was made in Canberra to order a large batch of US military hardware to bring Australia's Army and Air Force up to date.

The order included 84 Light Observation Helicopters (LOH), 42 Utility Helicopters (UH), 11 Helicopter Gunships and 12 Medium Lift helicopters. As the Vietnam War came to an end the order was drastically reduced by 1972.

The Australian Army eventually got 56 Kiowa, 14 UH-1H Iroquois and 12 CH-47C Chinooks. The 11 gunships were selected to be the AH-1G Cobra in 1971 and given the designation A16. http://adf-serials.com.au/3a16.htm  As it was the RAAF had to make do with putting rockets and guns on their UH-1H Bushrangers.


Using the venerable Matchbox kit I have built my AH-1G as it could have looked in Australian Army service. They were initially assigned to the RAAF but I think the larger fleet would have been moved to the Australian Army Aviation Corps a lot earlier. The markings are from Southern Sky Models and random spares from my stash.

I chose the tan and khaki scheme as used on the UH-1H fleet from 1976 because it looks far more interesting and operationally appropriate. Turns out it was designed by children 
https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/441477-iroquois-camouflage.html#post6226740

[NARSES2]

Come out well Nick 

[Old Wombat]

Nicely done, Nick!

Certainly one of those "shouldabeens"!

[Mossie]

The Matchbox kit looks surprisingly good, pretty threads too Nick.

[Dizzyfugu]

The paint scheme looks very good (and appropriate), suits the Cobra well. 

[DogfighterZen]

Looks very good! 

[Firefox]

Very nicely done 

[Captain Canada]

I like it ! Cobra's are always cool, and it looks great with that camo. Cheers !