AH-1G Cobra with American helicopter pilots from the Vietnam War 1:32 ICM 32062

Plastic model helicopter to assemble: AH-1G Cobra with American helicopter pilots from the Vietnam War 1:32 ICM 32062

The plastic model to assemble: AH-1G Cobra with American helicopter pilots from the Vietnam War in 1:32 scale by ICM (catalog number 32062) is an excellent proposition for model enthusiasts and military aviation history lovers. This kit allows you to build a detailed model of one of the most iconic combat helicopters that played a key role during the Vietnam War.

Model features:

• Scale: 1:32
• Manufacturer: ICM
• Catalog number: 32062
• Contents of the kit: AH-1G Cobra helicopter and 3 pilot figures

Markings:

• AH-1G 68-17074 “the GLADIATOR”, С Troop, 16th Cav, CanTho, January 1972
• AH-1G 68-15031 “Pandora's Box”, 238th AWC, Vietnam, 1971
• AH-1G 68-15012 “1 Du Me Mi”, F Troop, 4th Cav, Phu Bai, 1972

History and significance of the AH-1G Cobra: The AH-1G Cobra, also known as HueyCobra or Snake, is a single-engine attack helicopter developed by the American manufacturer Bell Helicopter. This helicopter was quickly developed as a temporary attack helicopter in response to the needs of the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Utilizing the same engine, transmission, and rotor system as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, the Cobra was equipped with a narrow fuselage, wings for mounting weapons, a chin turret with a cannon, and an armored tandem cockpit for the pilot and gunner.

During the Vietnam War, the AH-1G Cobra was an invaluable support for ground troops, providing fire support, escorting transport helicopters, and operating in "hunter-killer" teams with the Hughes OH-6A Cayuse. In Vietnam alone, the Cobra fleet accumulated over a million operational hours, although about 300 units were lost in combat. Besides the United States Army, other branches of the American armed forces, including the Marine Corps, also acquired this type of helicopter. The AH-1 Cobra was also exported to many countries, including Israel, Japan, and Turkey.

For several decades, the AH-1 formed the backbone of the United States Army's attack helicopter fleet, participating in conflicts in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, and the Gulf War. In the 1990s, the Cobra was gradually replaced by newer and more advanced helicopters like the Boeing AH-64 Apache, with the last units being retired in 2001. The Israeli Air Force extensively used Cobras during the Lebanon War in 1982, and Turkish AH-1s regularly participated in battles against Kurdish guerrillas on Turkey's southern borders.

Kit for self-assembly and painting. Does not include paints or glue. For assembly, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.