Subject: Re: submission for Thai National Day (5 Dec 2013)
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "NAT KRAIROJANANAN" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2013 12:16:29 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NAT KRAIROJANANAN 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 6:38 AM
  Subject: submission for Thai National Day (5 Dec 2013)

  Gallery Article Template

  Royal Thai Army AH-1F COBRA

  Fujimi 1/72 scale model kit

  by "Nat Krairojananan"
  --------------------

  AH-1F Cobra has entered into the Royal Thai Army (RTA) service since 1990. It reached the RTA requirement for light attack helicopter that be able to destroy enemy tanks or strongholds. RTA has only four Cobras in Attack Rotating Wing Unit, 3rd Rotating Wing Squadron, Army Aviation Center in Lopburi Province. Six more ex-US Army Cobras will be refurbished and sent to Thailand within 2013.

  This AH-1F model was from Fujimi, Japan. The initial production of this kit was in 1983. The details was not as good as Hasegawa or Hobby Boss models. The panel lines were raise. The cockpit details were limited. But fitting was superb. I used minimal amount of putty around engine compartment. Canopy fitting was quite poor.

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here

  This model was built almost out-of-the box. I added some extras include PE cable cutter from True Details (long out of production, hope it comes into the market again), scratch-built IR lamp at left ski, tie down rings, blade antennae, canopy opening handles and seat belts. I replaced all loop antennae with small gauge wire. An IR jammer was also added into the top of the engine. Weapon systems included in this box consisted of 8 TOW missiles (‘heavy’ TOW configuration) and two 19-tube M-261 rocket launchers.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpghere.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpghere.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpghere.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpghere.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg

  I painted my Cobra with GSI Mr. Color 304 olive drab with a little drop of black. Post shading was done by various green colors. I keep the weathering quite subtle by using enamel wash and pastel here and there. Fluid leakage and panel fading by heat were reproduced from free-hand airbrushing of gray and brown. I was satisfied for the results.

       

  RTA Cobra decal was from Siam Scale, one and only Thai decal company now. This sheet provided roundel, serial numbers and essential Thai language stencils for an RTA AH-1F and an UH-60. I chose Ser.No. 9997 for my model because my friend who pilot this particular aircraft.

  "Nat Krairojananan"