So I’m bidding on this Cobra at eBay right now:
I built this one about 18 years ago, but it’s since gone bye-bye. Anyway, on this time around, I’m trying to decide if I want to use the decal for the big orange spot on the side, or if I should paint it. I’m leaning towards paint, but I was just curious what you guys thought (to be corny…what would you do?). [:D]
Paint it! That’s what I did.
Just my [2c]
Randie [C):-)]
Thanks Randie!
The next question is…what color? It looks sorta like insignia red, but it’s kinda orangish. What did you use?
Ditto, paint it.
The color appears to be a flourescent red-orange (FS number escapes me at the moment), used to 'prolly denote a trainer bird. Model Master has that color in their line. Keep in mind that if you use a flourescent color, you’ll need to apply flat white first as a base color. Most flourescent paints are translucent and need the white for a primer base (gives the neon paint it’s “glow”).
EDIT: The color is FS 28913.
Could also be International Orange.
HTH,
Albert
Hmmm…not sure I want a trainer. Two Bobs has a decal sheet for the AH-1S that I’m looking at, have to see about that. Thanks for all the input!
Never liked fluorescent colors on aircraft anyway. [:D]
Does look a bit odd with that Dark Helo Drab green. [xx(]
The Twobobs sheet is really neat, has some interesting markings on it. I have two Cobras in my stash, one of which is going to have Jordanian markings from that sheet. The other will be an Israeli Cobra with new snake motif that has been applied to Nothern Cobra Squadron Tzefas (Hebrew nickname for the AH-1).
Well ratspit…the decal sheet TwoBobs was offering is out of stock/out of print. Nuts. Guess I’m back to fluorescent red orange. sigh
Anybody know what the SuperScale decals 480159 and 480160 look like? Squadron displays their image as broken, and I can’t seem to find them anywhere else on the internet.
Alby, you don’t happen to have the Japanese Self Defense portion of that decal sheet still floating around, do you? 
Yep, I do. Your welcome to them if you want them. As I said, I’m using the Jordanian markings on mine (or the Bahraini markings-either way I won’t need the JSDGF markings).
Cheers,
Sent you an email.
Testor’s Italian Red. That’s what it looks like to me.
Well, after much browsing on the web to find more pics of Army helicopters with the orange panels, I found a picture of an OH-58 Kiowa (looks like in test configuration-note the long boom on the nose). I would not use flourescent red (as I had suggested earlier). International Orange would be a better choice, IMHO. it is also available in Model Master’s line of enamels.
Cheers,
Albert
This particular kit was of the evalution bird. The red panels were for photography purposes.
It is closer to International orange. Like the color used on aircraft that work over snow and over jungles. Easier to see if they go down.
Randie [C):-)]
The color scheme is for a Ft. Rucker AH-1 Trainer. They stopped using them at Rucker in 97 I believe. If you want a tactical U S Army AH-1 you will also have to replace the tail number markings and any red DANGER arrows pointing towards the tail rotor. The best bet for a non trainer would be to get a 1/48 scale Apache or UH-60 for the decals.
Good luck!
Thanks for the information, Randie. I have a neat pic of a British Longbow with some really bright orange test panels. They were conducting cold/winter testing, looks really wild in that scheme.[8D]
Regards,
Albert
Anytime, Albert.
I don’t have a lot of information. But, if I have it I always try to share it.
Randie [C):-)]
The hi-viz markings on Army Cobras are from the transition training unit at Ft. Rucker AL. (AKA Cobra Hall). The aircraft were finished in Helo Drab with a Day glow orange hi-viz panel appliede to the area below the rear crew position.
The hi-viz paint was translucent and did not cover well. To get a realistic finish, I would paint the base color and apply any pre/post-shading you might prefer.
I would then paint a thin mixture of light grey over the panel lines. Several applications of the day glo orange over the area should do the trick. All markings were black with the exception of the last four digits of the serial appliede to the fin and a large white “buzz” number composed of the last two digits of the serial followed by a letter. (example; last four 5963, buzz 63 C;
5627, 27 E) . Good photos are in the Osprey Colour series by Mike Verier, titled “Cobra” (Tank Killer Supreme). Great tactical scheme photos are in Verlinden’s Lock On #6, AH-1S Cobra. For the training version, you will need to cut the IR suppression “disco light” off just above the mounting fairing. The screens in the exhaust area were also removed on many training s models.
Hope some of this helps.