Silly question about AH-1 fuselages

[Mizar]

Since I still have to scavenge the web for specific scale profiles/blueprints, I'm wondering if the early Ah-1 base fuselage were the same or else

 

I mean AH-1G then TOW Cobras had the same length, width, seat and skid placement and all the changes that were made were from the cockpit floor and upwards due new engine, blades, weapon station and so on with the Ah-1J being the only one kimera with two engines?

 

Or I'm wrong?

 

Luigi

[HeavyArty]

You are correct.  The basic fuselage shape/size didn't change.

[Mizar]

that's great, are there any good books about early Cobra variants?

 

Luigi

[BWDenver]

Aerofax did a booklet on the AH-1, Aerofax Datagraph 4 Bell AH-1 Cobra Variant.  I gave Jay shots of all the models, but for some reason he didn't use all of them and some of the AH-1S models photos got left out of the book.

 

US Army AH-1 Cobras

They went from the AH-1G

AH-1Q, first TOW Cobra with TSU on the nose.  Original turret reattained.

AH-1R (a one off)

AH-1S (Mod, curved canopy),

AH-1S (Prod flat panel canopy).  This really screwed up the aerodynamics of the Cobra a impacted the speed,

AH-1S (EWCAS) Avionics changes, I think it stood for "Enhanced Weapons and Cobra Armament System"

AH-1S (FMC "Fully Modernized Cobra") These are the designations from the late 70's early 80's.

 

While the basic fuselage stayed the same there were changes in scoops around the engines, exhaust stack, Doghouse fairings around the tranny and access panels on the tail booms.

 

Bryan

[Mizar]

On 8/28/2025 at 1:38 AM, BWDenver said:

Aerofax did a booklet on the AH-1, Aerofax Datagraph 4 Bell AH-1 Cobra Variant.  I gave Jay shots of all the models, but for some reason he didn't use all of them and some of the AH-1S models photos got left out of the book.

 

US Army AH-1 Cobras

They went from the AH-1G

AH-1Q, first TOW Cobra with TSU on the nose.  Original turret reattained.

AH-1R (a one off)

AH-1S (Mod, curved canopy),

AH-1S (Prod flat panel canopy).  This really screwed up the aerodynamics of the Cobra a impacted the speed,

AH-1S (EWCAS) Avionics changes, I think it stood for "Enhanced Weapons and Cobra Armament System"

AH-1S (FMC "Fully Modernized Cobra") These are the designations from the late 70's early 80's.

 

While the basic fuselage stayed the same there were changes in scoops around the engines, exhaust stack, Doghouse fairings around the tranny and access panels on the tail booms.

 

Bryan

 

thanks Bryan, in the meantime I went hunting for Fujimi and AZ kits, I'm trying to make at least 1 model for each variation, I think I saw the Aerofax publication on YJA in the past, problem is hunting down books there is kinda an hassle, some sellers don't allow foreign biddings and some others usually get rid of their entire stock through smaller lots and buying 10+ more magazine at once will make shipment charges go boom 😕

 

Luigi

[usmcski6502]

Hi Luigi!
 

You’re correct in that the initial dimensions of the early Cobras were consistent. However, starting with the AH-1T, you saw an 18 inch extension (or “plug”) between the canopy and transmission housing (or, “doghouse”). Later, the Whiskey variant had the requisite black boxes for the TOW system moved forward, hence the noticeable cheek bulges on the AH-1W. Also, starting with the AH-1T, a truncated tail was incorporated vice the tall tail consistent with the early Cobras.

 

Semper,

 

Ski

Edited November 1, 2025 by usmcski6502

[andyf117]

10 hours ago, Mizar said:

 

thanks Bryan, in the meantime I went hunting for Fujimi and AZ kits, I'm trying to make at least 1 model for each variation, I think I saw the Aerofax publication on YJA in the past, problem is hunting down books there is kinda an hassle, some sellers don't allow foreign biddings and some others usually get rid of their entire stock through smaller lots and buying 10+ more magazine at once will make shipment charges go boom 😕

 

Luigi

Downloadable in various formats here: 

https://archive.org/details/aerofax-datagraph-004-bell-ah-1-cobra-variants.

[Floyd S. Werner, Jr.]

On 5/18/2025 at 4:11 PM, Mizar said:

that's great, are there any good books about early Cobra variants?

 

Luigi

Check the pinned posts.  I explain the differences there.

Floyd

 

[BWDenver]

18 hours ago, Mizar said:

 

thanks Bryan, in the meantime I went hunting for Fujimi and AZ kits, I'm trying to make at least 1 model for each variation, I think I saw the Aerofax publication on YJA in the past, problem is hunting down books there is kinda an hassle, some sellers don't allow foreign biddings and some others usually get rid of their entire stock through smaller lots and buying 10+ more magazine at once will make shipment charges go boom 😕

 

Luigi

A suggestion for the JAH-1F, tested at Yuma in 1982 along with an OH-58A in sand IR paint.  JAH-1F 66-15339 Fresh Paint via USA.

 

15339 after a bit more flight time and a few more lumps and bumps, shot in the mid 80's at "Mother Rucker".  One of the few with the installed Electro-optical unit in the Sail.

 

 

As to an AH-1G, 67-15725 shot at Ft Hood, LZ Phantom.  7/17 1St Cav 1975

The rest of the Army birds are pretty boring by comparison...

 

These are scans from original docs I got from HQ MASTER, in 1974 for the MERDC test patterns.  7/17th 1St CAV, and 2/1 CAV 2nd AD had birds painted in this fashion.  At least 1 CH-47C (Baby C) was painted up with the paint, that I photographed at at Bergstrom AFB in Austin Tx.

 

What was not generally known is this was a first pass at "Stealth" paint.  The paint was loaded with silver particles and on a freshly painted bird would do a good job "hiding" it from RADAR.  In 1973 $$ it was around $400 a Gal.

 

I was flying a freshly painted UH-1H when I was with 3/507th Lifesavers, on a run to San Antonio.  The bird was a loaner from 34th Support, as one of our birds was in for Maint.  The rotor blades still had the paint on them.  I switched off the Transponder and Austin RAPCON called about 20 seconds later asking if we were OK.  We dropped off both Primary and Secondary RADAR displays.  The Rotor blades, or the leading edge of the rotor blade gives off the largest return on RADAR as dusty and dirt sand blast the paint off it after just a few hours.

 

One of the 2/1 CAV 2nd AD pilots painted his Porche Carrea on the paint.  He never to a speeding ticket..

 

Bryan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then there is the NASA bird...

 

 

Edited November 1, 2025 by BWDenver