Company Profile: Cobra Company

By Michael Benolkin

This is the first installment of a new series where wešll look at some of the different manufacturers and cottage industries that contribute to our hobby. In this edition, I'd like to introduce you to the Cobra Company.

Chris Miller and Sherman Collings are the brains and craftsmen behind Cobra. They started out producing aftermarket conversion masters and molds for other well-known companies. If you have ever used a resin detail set for a helicopter, regardless of the brand name, there is a good chance it was one of their creations. After producing quite a few products for other companies, Chris and Sherman decided to go into business for themselves. The Cobra Company was born. Their original intent was to continue with their rotary wing niche because there was precious little available in the aftermarket to support the helicopter builder.

Among their first offerings was a new cockpit for the venerable Revell 1/32 Bell AH-1G Cobra kit (see the article in this issue by Steve Filak using this set) and a new cockpit for the Monogram (now Revell-Monogram) 1/48 Mi-24 Hind kit. While these sets were nothing less than impressive, what has followed has been nothing less than breathtaking. They have since released an extensive conversion for the Academy or Revell 1/48 UH-60 Blackhawk kit to create the special operations MH-60K aircraft. Most recently, they released a multimedia superdetail set to transform the Testors (Hawk) 1/32 HH-43 Huskie kit from a toy to an eye-catching scale replica.

Modelers (like myself) were immediately hooked on Cobra's product line and waited anxiously to see what would come next. We werenšt disappointed! Cobra has produced a variety of aftermarket items for helicopters in 1/32, 1/35, 1/48 and 1/72. And fortunately for us, Chris and Sherman were not content to remain exclusive to the rotary-winged world. They expanded their horizons and have issued detail sets for several previously ignored fixed-wing subjects. Nor were they content to produce only detail sets.

Their first complete kit was the 1/144 Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer. The airframe is produced in resin with photo-etched details and white metal landing gear. Cockpit and window transparencies are very clear vacuforms. The decal sheet is also impressive, providing markings for USN, French and Taiwanese examples.

Their website shows that there are some new items coming for the Monogram 1/48 F-8 Crusader kit. Other projects that have shown up at hobby shows that may make it into production include full kits of the 1/48 Lockheed AH-54 Cheyenne and 1/48 Boeing/Vertol CH-46 Skyknight. Keep an eye on these folks!

Here is a look at their current line-up:

AH-1 Cobra

UH-1 Huey

A-1 Skyraider

SH-2 Seasprite

A-6 Intruder

F-8 Crusader

H-13 Sioux

H-34 Choctaw

HH-43 Huskie

H-60 Blackhawk

Mi-24 Hind

Miscellaneous