Firewatch Cobra

[kerick]

I started a build over on Beyond the Sprues for a group build that I didn't get finished in time. I don't know why but I didn't post anything here but now that that build is over I feel I can.

Anyway, in the RW the US Forest Service is using two AH-1 Cobras with an IR turret to spot fires and guide firebomber aircraft and groundcrews. I decided to use an AH-1 Whiskey Cobra in 1/72nd scale. Logic is that twin engines give better performance in hot and high conditions. Actually, the RW Cobras have plenty of power once the weapons and military equipment had been removed. But the Whiskey Cobra was already in the stash so the story was needed to make it plausible. Drawdecals makes lots of options for Forest Service aircraft and other firebombers plus the Firewatch Cobras in various scales.

Here's what it looks like in RW.





A couple of build pics.



This one shows the Epoxie sculpt I used to fill in the area where the turret used to be.



The build was fun and simple. Then came the painting. White sucks! And even after painting the whole fuselage white the orange went on no better. So many coats of paint the nice detail of the kit was long gone. I'm seriously debating getting a new kit and starting over instead of wasting the decals on something I won't be happy with.

So many coats of white........



And more coats of orange.......



I don't think stripping will work. I might try that but I think its a long shot.

I did a little checking. The Whiskey and the AH-1S are not hard to find. I'll just have to get my ____ together and use my airbrush to get it right.

[Tophe]

Thanks for your helping the past killer to become civilian...

[Mossie]

It's a great subject, sorry to here about your paint problems.

Automotive primers should give you a good basis.  Red, or even yellow primer should work well for the orange.

Ive got the same set of decals intending to put them on a real world AH-1F/S.  Unfortunately I've got the Hasegawa AH-1S which is a late machine and has all sorts of extra lumps and bumps.  If you're going real world, the Fujimi kit AH-1S is the one to go for.

I do like the two engine approach though.  This might be a good entry for the Engines more or less GB.

[Dizzyfugu]

If you want to start all over again, give the kit a full bath in oven cleaner foam - a couple of days should work wonders, as long as the paint is still fresh.

[kerick]

Well I'm back to pre paint stage. A soak in brake fluid removed both the enamel and acrylic paint. I'll try Old Wombats primer method. "a couple of coats of Tamiya Fine White Primer over a coat of Tamiya Fine Lt Grey Primer - may cost a bit more but the ease of use & result are worth it."
I'm going to mask off the areas that are white and then mask off the orange. I'm not going to paint orange over white again. I wish the manufacturers would produce models in white plastic like car kits!!

[kerick]

Here's a problem I was hoping someone could help out with. On the real Firewatch Cobras the side windows are outrageously bulged outward to allow the crew to see better towards the ground just below the aircraft.



To recreate this I was hoping someone might have a spare canopy I could use to start making a mold from. The other problem is since I started this 4 years ago I've forgotten what kit the Whiskey Cobra is.
Here's a pic that might help.



If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them!

I'm going to try painting this project and the fire spotter aircraft project at the same time unless this bulged window problem gets complicated.

[Nick]

As it has raised panel lines and a poor fitting canopy I'd say it was the Revell kit - ex-Italeri.