Hello all,

I would like to make an AH1W helicopter in 1:35 scale during Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom. I don't think the model is good from the box.

I have the kit N°2193, unfortunately not the kit with NTS upgrades. Are there any NTS upgrades on Cobra deployed in Afghanistan or in Irak by USMC ?

What kind of aftermarket I have to use to build a right version ?

Thank you for your help.

You would be better served to get the Academy NTS kit. Pretty much all current W's in A'stan are NTS versions. There were non-NTS versions used in both Iraq and A'stan in earlier years as well.

To make a good NTS version, you can get the Cobra Company NTS upgrade set and use the Academy NTS model. As you say, the model by itself isn't fully up to standards. There is also a PE set from Eduard and an upgrade set from Verlinden that has some nice pieces in it. You might also want Warner's Wings Turned Exhaust set to bring it current as well.

Also, check here for a bunch of prior AH-1W posts on Armorama's air sister site, Aeroscale, which has a Rotary Wing Forum which would be a better place to get answers for a helo question..

Thank you Gino. The Academy 2193 is an older version with vertical exhausts so I have decided to change this model with the Academy NTS with oblique exhausts.

Be forwarned that the skids on the kit are terrible. The locating pins are so small that they have a hard time staying attached to the model. I had a lot of trouble with this.

Oh, OK thank you. I hope this is not a too difficult model to build.

I have today changed the Academy model N°2193 for the Academy model N°12702.

Thank you all for your advices.