Bell AH-1G Cobra (Early Production)

Inside the rather overlarge box you will find one clear and four medium grey-coloured sprues. Surface detail is a mix of engraved panel lines and rivets with raised rivets on the tail boom. The cockpit interior is built up in a single-piece 'tub' with multi-part seats, control yokes and instrument panels; the latter with decal overlays if you wish, as the mouldings lack any detail for things like the dial faces etc. The transmission is a multi-part unit that can be exposed via the separate access covers on each side, but there is not actual engine itself, just the part visible with the covers off. There are a number of alternative parts for the exterior, dealing with upgrades specific to the decal options, so you really need to decide early on which scheme you are building. You get the single or twin-gun nose turret and two styles of vertical fin tip, all once again dependant on which option you choose. The winglets have nicely detailed pylons for which later you have the option of rocket launchers, gun pods or missiles. The canopy is multi-part and finely moulded with no flaws we could see in our example. The sighting head in the upper port front is a separate item, with a decal for details, so be careful with the cement. The side sections, front and rear, are separate, with the option to have this hinged open to port at the front and to starboard at the rear; these have support stays as per the real thing. Each rotor blade is two-part with the hub another six parts, whilst the pitch linkage and drive shaft are also all separate. The main skids are single parts on each side, but the transit wheels are multi-part sub-assembles with the special bridle to go at the front for towing also included, which is a nice touch. As already mentioned the kit is completed with multi-part rocket launchers, gun pods and missile tubes and the instructions include a payload diagram, so you know which combinations are applicable to each decal option. The final item in the instructions is a set of templates to allow you to cut out paint masks from masking tape for the main canopy sections and the nose cap. 
 
Markings
The kit comes with the following decal options:
• AH-1G, S/No.5728, 47 'Blue Max' of the 2nd Battalion, 20th Artillery Regiment (Aerial Rocket Artillery)
• AH-1G, S/No. 66-15252, '15' presumed to have been operated by the Cobra New Equipment Training Team (NETT)
• AH-1G, S/No. 66-15310, B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 20th Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), originally assigned to the Cobra New Equipment Training Team (NETT)
• AH-1G, S/No.67-15762, 'Executioner', 235th Air Cavalry, flown by Capt. Lou Bouault, Daub Ting, November 1969
The decal sheet is very glossy with excellent colour and register, just remember that ICM decals don't like solvents and movement needs to be kept to a minimum using a lot of water. It included all the unique markings for each option along with the national insignia and an extensive series of stencils. The sheet also has the instrument panel dial decal, but these are rather simple black/white items and the sheet also lacks any seat belts.

Conclusion
If like me you have waited a long time for a big-scale kit of the early Cobra then you are going to love this one. The parts look very well moulded and the kit should, with care, build well from the box. Personal experience with ICM decals means I will probably look elsewhere for alternative markings, plus some seat belts, but overall this is a superb kit that is highly recommended to all Cobra fans and helicopter modellers in general

Our thanks to ICM (www.icm.com.ua) for the review sample, UK modellers can obtain this kit from Hannants here.