AH-1W Desert Scheme?

Modeling Subjects Helicopters
1

Hi all

I’m looking for the FS colours used in the desert scheme that the cobras wore during ODS(i think). Anyone know what they are?

Does anyone by any chance have an illustration or painting instruction image of how the pattern must look ?

Thanks
John

2

For pictures and drawings try Squadron’s “AH-1 In Action”

3

There were a few variations. One was sand and dark brown. Another was taking the standard Med scheme of Gunship Gray, Dark Green and Black and overspraying the green and black with sand so you had a gray and sand bird. Stenciling was not repainted on the sand areas,so you had half stencils in many areas. The sand and brown paints used were not a FS # paint, it was a field expedient latex that was sprayed on them.

4

Was it Gunship Gray? I thought it was FS35237 Medium Blue.

5

Thx for the responses.

According to the following site, the grey was FS35237

Gino, are you saying that the green/black can be replace with any brown/sand or must the green/black areas be replaced with sand?

Don’t suppose anyone has the twobobs whiskeys in the mix decal sheet, think there was a sand bird on that?

John

6

Here are a couple of photos of the desert scheme – I believe supercobra has posted these before, I saved them and want to give him props.

Also, I have the Twobobs Whiskey sheet:

The decal sheet does not list any model paint colors, but does list FS33711 (or sub FS33531) for the light sand, and FS30257 for the dark sand.

Also from the decal sheet:
“All USMC AH-1W initially had the tri-color (green, black, and gray) camo paint scheme. HML/A-269 chose to keep this paint scheme. HML/A-369 painted their Cobras all sand or sand over the black and green with only the gray showing and a portion of the original markings showing. HML/A-367 initially painted their aircraft with a light coat of gray (giving a two-tone appearance with the black showing through from underneath). The aircraft were later painted sand and brown. The only markings reapplied were the bureau number (BuNo) and side number (modex).”
– from Twobobs via Randy Smith

7

O.K., Guess it was not Gunship Gray, that would be too dark. Here is a link to the Two Bob’s Whiskey sheets.
http://www.twobobs.net/en-us/p_114.html

Basically the green and black was covered with sand, not brown. The sand/brown snake is on the Two Bob’s sheet. I have more data on the Sand/Grey version at home, I’ll give more info later.

EDIT: Guss AH1Wsnake beat me to it. Good data.

8

Thanks all

9

The Two Bobs sheet has decals for all of the sand and tan aircraft but none of the sand and gray. If you want to do that scheme I might have pictures that would give you a buno/modex combo and you could get the LongBeach font off the net and print your own.

BTW - the pilot on the right in that picture above sure is a handsome devil!

10

Any reference material would be appreciated.

What materials would I need to print my own decals/markings?

11

Testors and others make computer printer decal paper, available at most good hobby shops and online suppliers. They are quite easy to use, especially for simple numbers and letters. All you need to do is design your decals in your favorite program, I like to use Power Point, and print them onto the paper. Next seal them with a spray acrylic clear coat. Once dry, cut out each decal and apply like any other water slide decal.

Good luck.