AIRCRAFT
Bell AH-1Z “Viper”
SCALE & KIT
1/48 Kitty Hawk Model Kit
MODELER
HISTORY
The Bell AH-1Z Viper is an American twin-engine attack helicopter, based on the AH-1W Super Cobra, that was developed for the United States Marine Corps as part of the H-1 upgrade program. The AH-1Z features a four-blade, bearing-less, composite main rotor system, uprated transmission, and a new target sighting system. The AH-1Z, one of the latest members of the prolific Huey family, is also called “Zulu Cobra”, based on the military phonetic alphabet pronunciation of its variant letter.
Aspects of the AH-1Z date back to the Bell 249 in 1979, which was basically an AH-1S equipped with the four-blade main rotor system from the Bell 412. This helicopter demonstrated Bell’s Cobra II design at the Farnborough Airshow in 1980. The Cobra II was to be equipped with Hellfire missiles, a new targeting system and improved engines. Later came the Cobra 2000 proposal which included General Electric T700 engines and a four-blade rotor. This design drew interest from the US Marine Corps, but funding was not available. In 1993, Bell proposed an AH-1W-based version for the UK’s new attack helicopter program. The derivative design, named Cobra Venom, featured a modern digital cockpit and could carry TOWs, Hellfire or Brimstone missiles. The Cobra Venom design was altered in 1995 by changing to a four-blade rotor system. The design lost to the AH-64D later that year however.
PHOTO GALLERY
MODEL KIT REVIEW
Kitty Hawk AH-1Z Viper: 1/48 Scale Model
MODEL KIT
Buy the Kitty Hawk 1:48 AH-1Z Viper Helicopter Model Kit at Amazon
Hello,
That’s a marvelous build.
Can I have a question about the blade holders?
How did you do the folded blades and the blade holders?
By any chance do you have any drawing/schematics about it?
Thanks in advance.
Laszlo
Hello I’d really like to know where the blade racks came from I’m needing about 2-3 sets for a couple kits I’m doing please if you could share where they were purchased or made. Thank you