[DMC]

I decided to finally tackle the iconic Cobra FANG. This is another vehicle that doesn?t really have a real-life counterpart. It also has some interesting and unique features, like the semi-exposed engine, the spherical mounted nose gun, and the fenestron tail rotor. Looking around for something similar, I came across this:



1/72 scale is way too big, but this old kit was in ?box scale? (not a precise scale) and seemed roughly the right size and shape to work with. I got 3 of them so I could use the FANGs in more than one display.

Here?s the fuselage half:



The first thing to do was to open up the cockpit area to accommodate a 1:72 scale pilot.



Also in that picture, you can see a printout of the blueprints from the toy, scaled down to the size I wanted. This helps to get at least a rough idea of the dimensions to cut to, and you can even trace out particular pieces onto styrene to cut out. For example, here?s the sides of the helicopter cut out of thin styrene and attached.



Here you can see the roughed-out pilot?s seat and engine compartment. I ended cutting the tail boom short because it was way too long for the FANG. I?ll reattach the far end of it later.

[DMC]

I worked a bit on the main rotor blades tonight. I utilized the photocopied blueprints again to try to get the right dimensions.

[DMC]

A little progress with the tails and the engine shelf.

[DMC]

A little more work done. Here?s the distinctive nose gun.

[DMC]

It?s tedious, but I?ve made a little more progress.

First, I got the seats and armrests done:



I worked on the missiles as well. I didn?t have anything that fit the bill in my extras box, so I made them out of styrene rod and strip.



I spent a good amount of time making the engines. I combined a bunch of small bits from some cannibalized armor kits.




Here is the FANG so far. I added the ?roll-cage? around the engine.

[Clockwise]

Mind-blowing work. How many hours so far?

[DMC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clockwise

Mind-blowing work. How many hours so far?

Thanks. I honestly have no idea. I don?t keep track. I just do this for my sanity.

[DMC]

I got a bit of painting done. There’s a lot of work yet to go, but they are looking like FANGs.