Hello all. New to the Helo forum here, I’m normally building motorcycles. Anyway, I’m looking at doing an AH-1W, and wondering which is the better kit- Academy or Italeri? I did Italeri’s 1/48 V-22 (unusal subject for me, built it for my Dad), and was pretty happy. Any thoughts?
Academy and Italeri 1/35 AH-1Ws are the same kit. Italeri reboxed it and sells it under their name, some type of wierd marketing and partnership agreement for sales in Europe or something. Same with 1/35 UH-60A/L kit.
The AH-W is a great kit though. I highly recommend it. To update it to the latest Snake currently flying, Cobra Company has a NTS (Night Targeting System) upgrade for it which includes an all new cockpit.
CC set: http://www.cobracompany.com/35009.htm
Two Bobs Aviation Graphics does a great set of decals for it as well that has markings for 12 aircraft from ODS to present.
Two Bobs sheet: http://www.twobobs.net/en-us/p_114.html
Wow, I am looking at this topic, with HeavyArty, Cobrahistorian, and myself all signed into it at once, and we are all probably typing the same things, lol. Can’t say you won’t get a quick response in the helicopter forum!!!
The Academy and Italeri kits are the same bird, just boxed differently. The Academy kit comes with decals for the training squadron, HMT-303, while the Italeri box includes markings for two fleet squadrons, HML/A-169 and -369. Usually, the Italeri kit is a few dollars more expensive. Either way, the model itself is pretty darned accurate and a good build. Good luck.
Yep, I saw that too… figured I’d let you guys handle it, since I’m working on a paper on Operation Torch right now. [:)]
Thanks for the info and quick response, Gents. Hopefully, I can get this project going and maybe post pics sometime in the future. AH1Wsnake, are/were you with 269? I deployed with 169 twice, one on the Saipan, then on Wasp. Just curious.
I was an avionicsman with 269 for about 4 years. Deployed to Iraq in 2003 on the Ponce, returned on the Saipan. Also went to Haiti in 2004 with MAGTF-8. Keep us posted with your progress and let us know if you have any other questions.
I just picked up an Academy AH-IT + gold kit at my lhs that is closing down i was wondering how good is this kit and where can i get any updates and other things to make it like more like the one being used now?
The AH-1T+ was the concept a/c for the Whiskey Cobra(bet it’s the same kit}. If it is then those updates lsied by Gino would work
AH-1T+ is the same kit as the AH-1W kit, just differnrt decals. All from my original post aplies to it as well.