Werner's Wings

1/48 AH-1F "Last of the Army Cobras" decal sheet

 product # 48-01 for Monogram kit

Product article by Steve Bamford on Oct 29 2009

 

This 1/48 decal sheet from Werner's Wings features14 different AH-1 Cobras in paint schemes from US Army Helo Drab FS 34031 to a variety of monotone and multi tone desert camo schemes and even a gray/green/brown camo scheme.  These decals are sized for the Monogram kit and possibly the Testors/Fujimi kit.....but you could have fit issues if you use these on the Testors/Fujimi kit.

Floyd Werner is well known and respected by the helicopter modelling crowd and when you see him releasing a helicopter product, you know you you are in for first class quality.  He is a Cobra Pilot with the US Army and a darn fine and likeable guy.

This decal sheet (which is also available in 1/72 scale) has the following Cobra's on it;

  • AH-1F "Vivacious Vonnie" Ser # 79-23221 C Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.  Pilot Cw2 Floyd S. Werner Jr., Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Overall US Army Helo Drab FS 34031 with sharks mouth on nose and script that reads  "Vivacious Vonnie". 

  • AH-1F "Betsy" Ser # 78-23113 C Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.  Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Overall US Army Helo Drab FS 34031 with sharks mouth on nose and script that reads "Betsy". 

  • AH-1F "Sand Shark" Ser # 67-15643 2nd Aviation Brigade, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.  Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Overall sand color FS 33711 with sharks mouth on nose and script that reads "Sand Shark" on side of motor housing. 

  • AH-1F "Wild Thing" Ser # 68-17082 N Troop, 2nd Aviation Brigade, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.  Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Overall 2 tone desert camo FS 33711 and FS33613 with below canopy that reads "Wild Thing".

  • AH-1F "Jack Daniels Old No 7" Ser # 67-15497 2nd Aviation Brigade, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.  Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm 1991.  Overall sand color FS 33711 and script that reads "Jack Daniels Old No 7" on side of motor housing.  

  • AH-1F "IFOR" Ser # 79-23445 IFOR (International Force) E Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Bosnia 1995-1996.  Overall US Army Helo Drab FS 34031 with white script that reads  "IFOR". 

  • AH-1F Ser # 79-23245 E Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division.  Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Overall US Army Helo Drab FS 34031 with sharks mouth on nose and yellow civil war swords painted on the side of the motor housing. 

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  • AH-1F "Venom" Ser # 78-23213 C Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.  Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Overall US Army Helo Drab FS 34031 with white sharks mouth on nose with white script that reads  "Venom".  

  • AH-1F Ser # 78-23213 C Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.  Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Overall US Army Helo Drab FS 34031 with white sharks mouth on nose with white sharks tail painted on the side of the motor housing.  

  • AH-1F Ser # 68-17079 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division in Germany upon return from Operation Desert Storm.  Overall US Army Helo Drab FS 34031 with sharks mouth on nose and yellow Cavalry swords painted on the side of the motor housing. 

  • AH-1F "The Road Warrior" Ser # 68-15535 B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division.  Somalia January 1991.  Overall US Army Helo Drab FS 34031 with sharks mouth on nose with white script that reads  "The Road Warrior" plus white playing cards painted on the side of the motor housing.  

  • AH-1F Ser # 79-23224 C Troop, 2/17 Cavalry 101st Airborne Division, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.  Overall 2 tone desert camo with white sharks mouth on nose.  The darker part of this camo was only on this chopper for about a week.  

  • JAH-1F Ser # 71-21012 C Troop, used by the Aviation Technical Test Center (ATTC) at fort Rucker, Al., the home of Army Aviation.  Overall 3 tone dark camo.  J at front of JAH-1F indicates this was a test aircraft.

  • AH-1F Ser # 67-15497 2nd Aviation Brigade, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.  Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm 1991.  Overall sand color FS 33711 with black sharks mouth on nose. 

You get one full set of stencils, plus line drawings showing the placement of each stencil.....and there are plenty of them.  Also included is a CD with reference photos for the Cobra.  

This is a very complete decal sheet and captures a wide variety of markings and camo worn by the Cobra.  If you're planning on building a Cobra, then this sheet is well worth picking up.  This sheet is also available in 1/72 scale.

Special thanks goes to William Beasley for his great artwork and Ray Wilhite, Tom Ward, Brock Golson, Jon Bernstein and Reggie Rohrbeck for providing reference material for the walk around and the references for the decals themselves.

You can purchase this and fine resin Cobra detail items directly from Werner's Wings website.  

Steve

I would like to thank Werner's Wings for providing me with this review sample.

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Photos and text © by Steve Bamford