[DMC]

In my ongoing quest to build the COBRA Air Force in 1:72, I have decided to tackle the CLAW next. The CLAW is a favorite of mine. I had this toy when I was young and it provided countless hours of imaginary adventures.

Since the CLAW is a unique vehicle, I have to build it from scratch. I ended up printing out the blueprint that came with the toy (I got this from the 3dJoes website) and resized it to the appropriate scale. I used this as a template to cut the parts out of sheet styrene.



I ended up breaking the CLAW down into several pieces, not unlike the original toy. I did a top and bottom plate, with separate wingtips, flaps, and vertical stabilizers. This allowed me to scribe the panel lines onto the pieces more easily.

I then added another layer for the thickened central section, followed by the gun housing. I added some plastic and PE odds and ends from my spares box to simulate the equipment molded onto the surface of the original.



Flipping it over, I started the underside by placing the two main vertical panels. These form the inner extent of the engines. and extend past the wing to protect the pilot?s legs. I made them out of a thicker styrene.



Next I made the engines, which are just outboard of the two pylons. These were a lot trickier than I thought they would be. The shape is something like a quarter section of a cone. I ended up making this by trial and error out of paper, and then using that as a pattern for some very thin sheet styrene. This allowed me to bend it to the appropriate shape. They?re not prefect, but close enough to get the basic shape.

[280-CUSTOMS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMC

In my ongoing quest to build the COBRA Air Force in 1:72, I have decided to tackle the CLAW next. The CLAW is a favorite of mine. I had this toy when I was young and it provided countless hours of imaginary adventures.

Since the CLAW is a unique vehicle, I have to build it from scratch. I ended up printing out the blueprint that came with the toy (I got this from the 3dJoes website) and resized it to the appropriate scale. I used this as a template to cut the parts out of sheet styrene.



I ended up breaking the CLAW down into several pieces, not unlike the original toy. I did a top and bottom plate, with separate wingtips, flaps, and vertical stabilizers. This allowed me to scribe the panel lines onto the pieces more easily.

I then added another layer for the thickened central section, followed by the gun housing. I added some plastic and PE odds and ends from my spares box to simulate the equipment molded onto the surface of the original.



Flipping it over, I started the underside by placing the two main vertical panels. These form the inner extent of the engines. and extend past the wing to protect the pilot?s legs. I made them out of a thicker styrene.



Next I made the engines, which are just outboard of the two pylons. These were a lot trickier than I thought they would be. The shape is something like a quarter section of a cone. I ended up making this by trial and error out of paper, and then using that as a pattern for some very thin sheet styrene. This allowed me to bend it to the appropriate shape. They?re not prefect, but close enough to get the basic shape.

I personally like it a lot that?s a big small project to tackle just because of the detail the og had the slide out wings the wheels so much involved in such a little craft i, like myself I know a lot of people that love that thing when we were kids the 25th version just didn?t cut it , the classified version is a bit better than the 25 th was but im excited to see yours when it?s finished ..

[DMC]

I?ve gotten the CLAWS basically built at this point. I haven?t attached the main landing gear yet at it will be a lot easier to paint separately and then attach. Next I will prime and paint them.

[DMC]

I painted the CLAWs an off-white color, and then did a weathering wash. Next step in the decals.

[DMC]

I got some decals on the CLAWs.