Cobra Company Resin Conversion Releases

By Michael Benolkin

Cobra Company started out specializing in conversion parts for helicopter subjects (which is where their name comes from - the first release was a 1/32 AH-1G Cobra cockpit). Fortunately for all of us, they are no longer limiting themselves to rotary-winged subjects! In this latest set of releases, builders in 1/144, 1/72 and 1/48 all benefit:

B-24D Liberator Set
1/144 scale
Set 44002

This is the second conversion in Cobra's lineup for 1/144. Both conversions are for the Minicraft 1/144 B-24J, this set backdates the kit to the B-24D. The conversion includes a new nose (the photo shows the beautiful detail inside the bombardierís station), pilots seats and instrument panel, new engine nacelles, and vacuform cockpit and nose transparencies.

F7F-3N Tigercat Set
1/72 scale
Set 72007

This welcome set converts the venerable Monogram 1/72 F7F Tigercat into the menacing F7F-3N Nightfighter. The set includes a new nose, complete with detailed nose gear well, radome, front and aft cockpit tubs and seats, cockpit side panels, vacuformed fore and aft canopies and other details.

F-8A/D Crusader Set
1/48 Scale
Set 48013

This detail set is another one of Cobra's works of art. Building upon the Monogram 1/48 F-8E Crusader, this set provides the parts necessary to backdate the Crusader to the F-8A through F-8D versions (F8U-1 through F8U-4). Included in the kit is a new wing section that sports the earlier fuselage/wing fairing, separate leading and trailing edge flaps, a fuselage plug for the engine ductwork so the wing can be displayed in the elevated position, the earlier style radome and ejection seat, and a new innovation - white metal landing gear. The Monogram kit's landing gear is not quite right - the completed model does not sit like the real Crusader. Cobra provides new main and nose gear struts which replicate the correct sit of the aircraft. Also included in the set is the earlier style nose wheel.

F-8E Crusader Set
1/48 Scale
Set 48014

As described in the detail set above, Monogram kit's landing gear is not quite right - the completed model does not sit like the real Crusader. This set provides new white metal main and nose gear struts which replicate the correct sit of the aircraft. Also included in the set is an optional early style nose wheel.

F-8 Crusader Zuni Rocket Pod Set
1/48 Scale
Set 48017

This set rounds out the updates to the Crusader - these provide the unique dual-round Zuni rocket pods that were mounted on the dual Sidewinder pylons on the nose. This provided eight shots when the Crusader was performing the air-to-ground mission. Also included in the set is your choice of two different warheads for the Zunis, so you can tailor your specific mission loadout accordingly.

Mi-24 Hind Exterior Detail Set
1/48 Scale
Set 48018

Last, but definitely not least in this set of releases is the long-awaited (at least by me) Mi-24 Hind Exterior Detail Set. As you will recall, their first offering in 1/48 was a new Mi-24 cockpit set for the Monogram kit. The set is still a show-stopper. With this new release, you can now update the Monogram kit to the current Hind D or E combat standards. The set includes the unique exhaust heat suppressors, infrared jammer, and chaff/flare dispensers. If you take the interior and exterior detail sets to the current (and still very nice) Monogram stock Mi-24 Hind kit, you can build a combat veteran from Afghanistan, or any other front area operations bird. Combine the Cobra sets with MPDís Tigermeet Mi-24 or Aztec's Mi-25 Hind decal sheets, and you will have a contest winner!

My sincere thanks to the Cobra Company for these review samples.