AH-1G Cobra Vietnam
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Source of the kit
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First attempt at using 3d decals
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The dash decals require a flat surface
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Needing a flat surface for the dash decals I found a kit supplied an additional blank one for the weapons officer but not the pilot so I cut one from evergreen card.
Had I looked hard I’d found a blank pilots dash too ?
Had I looked hard I’d found a blank pilots dash too ?
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/4/1/3/1764413-49481-25-720.jpg)
Kit supplied dash and decal, they look like they’d produce a good look but no match for the 3d ones
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/4/1/8/1764418-49481-82-720.jpg)
Apologies for focus it’s very close but does show the level of detail of the Quinta Studio 3D decals
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Attempt to push side at bottom out to get better fit of the base section
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/4/5/6/1765456-49481-94-720.jpg)
Extra wait added to the chin turret just in case
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/4/5/5/1765455-49481-68-720.jpg)
The carpet monsters cousin wooden floor paid visit and claimed the kit part, copied other side in plastic card
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/2/2/6/1766226-49481-94-720.jpg)
Once the canopy is attached the unmistakable Cobra appears
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/3/0/3/1768303-49481-39-720.jpg)
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As I added a nut to help weight nose down thought I’d add magnet so can potion turret
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/1/7/3/1771173-49481-93-720.jpg)
Decals on and glossed over ready for panel-lining
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/1/7/4/1771174-49481-50-720.jpg)
Shark mouth was trickier than I thought it would be
Commenti
17 7 July, 21:41
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A builds of firsts, my first Helicopter and first use of 3D decals. Turns out the kit was originally a HobbyBoss kit and looks great nice details and combination of fine panel lines and rivets where need, I have high hopes for this build. 🤞
7 July, 21:47
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Cheers #Villiers, the 3d decals are fantastic and really elevate the tubs to a new level.
First real issue with the kit is the fit of the main body, it does not want to join easily and I can find a cause but most can be fixed by gluing a small section at a time and working down the body.
However the bottom section is far too narrow for the kit bottom part, creating large hangovers. This may suggest the bandy has a warp in it but this is modelling not assembly.
I've added a stretcher of sprue to force the side apart hopefully this will help and not cause more issues later.
10 July, 08:48
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Another sort of issue although a little troublesome rather than true issue.
The instruction contain a couple of templates for both inner and outer glass masks (a great idea I wish more kits had). However they are way under scale, I resorted to old skool and used Tamiya tape and fresh blade with bright light behind (phone light 😁) and cut my own.
While right this it occurs to me they may be 1/72 scale and were not rescaled to 1/48 will check later.
10 July, 20:06
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Great spot #Jens J it is indeed Special Hobby plastic, my apologies to both Special Hobby and HobbyBoss for the confusion.
Just completed a HobbyBoss and had them on my mind, this would be an excuse if the sprues where not so well labeled and on the Quinta 3D decals 🤪
11 July, 06:29
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The decals have been interesting. The look great and are nice and thin. I normally apply a gloss coat then decals but reading/watching so much about how this is not necessary I tested this out on an un-required decal and it appeared to be true so I pressed on without a gloss coat. They went down fine however for the first time ever I got some silvering and I'm not sure if I did something to cause it or not. So I glossed coated them and the rear tail half then applied the remainder and not issue of silvering, guess I'll be continuing with a gloss coat 🙄
The hardest decal was the shark mouth very tricky but going slowly I just about made it
21 July, 17:09
Album info
First part of the forward airbase US Vietnam boxing