Bell AH-1S „Cobra“ – the American/ Japanese combat helicopter

The construction of the Bell AH-1 combat helicopter is closely related to the US military actions in Vietnam. During this war there was a need to have a helicopter in the arsenal, that could support its soldiers with fire, protect them, destroy moving (armored vehicles) and stationary targets, fight enemy helicopters. At the beginning of the Vietnam War this role was performed by specially adapted Bell UH-1 "Iroquois" helicopters, armed with machine guns. The need to have a real attack helicopter was the impetus for the construction of a different machine. The designers of the Bell company very quickly coped with the work of designing a new helicopter, and it was already used for the first time in combat in Vietnam in September 1967. The machine is designated AH-1G and called "Cobra". It was used very successfully in combat operations, especially in the destruction of armored vehicles and other means of fire. During its almost three decades of service, the machine was constantly modernized and improved. In addition to the United States, 10 countries had these helicopters in the arsenal of their armed forces: Greece, Spain, Iran, Israel, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Pakistan, Thailand and Turkey.

From the publication, a model of the Bell AH-1S Cobra helicopter of the Japan Self-Defense Forces can be glued together. The model is not the most complicated, but it will require a lot of care and attention. A well-designed and richly detailed colorful model that, when worked under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, even the advanced beginner modeler will be able to cope with it. Antiquarian publication.