review Two Bobs 48005 AH-1S Foreign User Cobras decal sheet

AH-1S Foreign User Cobras decal sheet

1/48 scale product #48005

Review by Steve Bamford

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This decal sheet from The Two Bobs covers 3 different foreign AH-1 Cobras from Japan, Bahrain and Jordan. There was an incorrect Japanese character on the Japanese markings, but the proper replacement decals are included. There was no way to get close-up detailed reference photos of the stenciling data on the Japanese Cobra, so the Two Bobs have included english stenciling if you want to dress up your Japanese Cobra with stenciling. There is also a misprint on the instruction sheets for the Jordanian Cobra, but I explain all this in great detail further along in this review.

The first Cobra included on this decal sheet is from the Japanese GSDF and features a 4 colour paint scheme. Included in the paint scheme are Brown (FS 30219), Dark Green (FS 34096), Dark Green (FS 34097) and a tiny bit of Black (FS 37038). The colour instructions are tricky on this one because the two green colours are only one FS # different from each other. In the image directly below I have digitally darkened the panels that should be painted the darker of the two greens used on this Japanese Cobra. This is the only place on the Japanese Cobra featured on this instruction sheet where this Darker Green is used. When you do paint your Japanese Cobra, the contrast between the Two Greens will be very subtle.

Click on image below to see larger image

These are the only areas on the Japanese Cobra that should be the darker of the two Greens mentioned on the instruction sheet with regards to the Japanese Cobra. I have digitally darken the panels in the above picture to better show them....in reality the panels are only one FS # different from the other green used on this Japanese Cobra, so the colour contrast will be very slight.

The second Cobra on the instruction sheet is the Royal Jordanian Cobra. This chopper is painted Sand (FS 30400), Dark Green (FS 34096), Dark Green (FS 34097), Brown (FS 30140) and Black. The coloured instruction sheets on this Jordainian Cobra are quite confusing, so I've taken the instruction sheet and blown up the areas causing the confusion and labeled them for you. In the side views it is easy to make out the darker of the two greens used on this instruction sheet. But the top and bottom views in the instruction are quite hard to figure out and the wingtips are actually misprinted and shown in the lighter of the 2 greens.....the wingtips should be in the darker of the two Greens used on this chopper. The dark green on the wingtips wraps around the wingtips and is on the bottom and top of the wingtips.

The side views show the darker of the 2 greens very well, but the top and bottom views are harder to figure out. I've outlined the areas that should be the darker of the 2 greens used on the Jordanian Cobra. On the top and bottom views the wingtips are shown in the lighter green...this is a misprint on the instruction sheet.

The third Cobra is from Bahrain and is a straight forward light sand paint scheme.

The instruction sheets include several pictures that the modeler can use as reference photos while building his model. More reference photos can also be found in the ARC walkaround section. The decals were clearly printed and of the usual high quality expected from the Two Bobs. I found the variety of paint schemes to be quite pleasing. You may also check out some of the upcoming planned releases at www.twobobs.net.

Steve