Cobra Constrictor (Transport Helicopter)

CONSTRUCTION NOTES:
This started as a project for my technical illustration class (bottom left) in the Fall of 2002. I wanted to take the coolness and functionality of the transport helicopters found in the old Marvel series.

Since the parts I chose were from actual production pieces, it made since to attempt to make it. I first began my cutting everything from the NAC that I didn't need. I did, however keep the speaker and rotor action in tact. After cutting it apart I stopped working on it for several months. I didn't start working on it again until I 3D modeled (using Maya 5) it in my Intermediate Product Design Class (middle left) in the Fall of 2003.

T his, along with this joecustoms.com group project, promted me to finish it. The hardest part by far was building up the sides from the front to the tail. I took the piece from the HISS IV that the neck mounted to, ground the sides down and fitted it to the underside of the NAC. I took matboard and completed the section between the HISS part and the tail. I fitted the battery box from the NAC between the piece that holds the neck and glued the speaker on top of it between it and the top of the NAC. I then re-routed the original rope and grapple from the NAC to the middle of the underside of the helicopter (for the transports to hook to). After lots of putty, spackling, and sanding, I smoothed it out as much as possible.

The shocks were made by combining two finger pogo sticks I found at Toy R Us, grinding the tops off and then cutting grooves near the tops. I then cut holes in the underside of the missle launcher and fit the pogo sticks in the holes. The skids were made from cheap tech deck rip-offs. I ground down the wheels and then drilled holes for the pogo sticks to fit.

The troop transport and vehicle transports were the last thing I did before painting. For the troop transport, I cut down part of an APC. I then built the walls up with foam board and matboard. The vehicle transport was made from two pieces of matboard and plexiglass. I added an red overhead projector sheet over the plexiglass and sandwiched it between the matboard. I then cut 1/2" dowells and added half of a 12mm bead to the tops of each one. A hole was drilled and wire was cut and glued into place. Little hooks were glued to the tops of each wire.

Last came the painting. The rotors were painted with Krylon Cherry Red. The dark gray was painted with Rusto-leum Dark Gray Primer. The majority of the helicopter was painted with Rusto-leum Hammered Dark Bronze. The Hammered spray paint was a bit tricky, but gave it the definate desired finish.

Cobra Constrictor

Specialty: Helicopter- Head & Cockpit Neck: Body: Rope & Grapple Rotors: Front Gun: Shocks: Skids: Vehicle Transport- Base: Glass: Posts: Wire: Hooks: Troop Transport- Body: Canopy: Seats: Pilot:	Transport Helicopter HISS IV 02 HISS IV 02 Night Attack Chopper 02 Night Attack Chopper 02 Night Attack Chopper 02 Night Attack Chopper 02 Finger Pogo Sticks Finger Pogo Sticks Matboard Plexglass w/ Overhead Projector Sheet 1/2" Dowel Rods Polymer Coated Clothesline Wire Brass Ceiling Hooks Matboard & Foam Board APC 84 APC 84 Heli-Viper
		BIO: The Cobra Constrictor serves as transport support of cobra troops and vehicles. It carry up to 12 troops or a variety of vehicles ranging from a Stinger jeep, HISS tank, and the Crimson Attack Tank(CAT). With the addition of a front mounted gatling gun and wing mountd missile launchers, the Constrictor promises to replace the aging transport helicopters Cobra has been using since the mid 1980's (see Marvel's GI Joe run). Although testing is still being done, MARS research labs expect final production later this year.

		CONSTRUCTION NOTES: This started as a project for my technical illustration class (bottom left) in the Fall of 2002. I wanted to take the coolness and functionality of the transport helicopters found in the old Marvel series. Since the parts I chose were from actual production pieces, it made since to attempt to make it. I first began my cutting everything from the NAC that I didn't need. I did, however keep the speaker and rotor action in tact. After cutting it apart I stopped working on it for several months. I didn't start working on it again until I 3D modeled (using Maya 5) it in my Intermediate Product Design Class (middle left) in the Fall of 2003. T his, along with this joecustoms.com group project, promted me to finish it. The hardest part by far was building up the sides from the front to the tail. I took the piece from the HISS IV that the neck mounted to, ground the sides down and fitted it to the underside of the NAC. I took matboard and completed the section between the HISS part and the tail. I fitted the battery box from the NAC between the piece that holds the neck and glued the speaker on top of it between it and the top of the NAC. I then re-routed the original rope and grapple from the NAC to the middle of the underside of the helicopter (for the transports to hook to). After lots of putty, spackling, and sanding, I smoothed it out as much as possible. The shocks were made by combining two finger pogo sticks I found at Toy R Us, grinding the tops off and then cutting grooves near the tops. I then cut holes in the underside of the missle launcher and fit the pogo sticks in the holes. The skids were made from cheap tech deck rip-offs. I ground down the wheels and then drilled holes for the pogo sticks to fit. The troop transport and vehicle transports were the last thing I did before painting. For the troop transport, I cut down part of an APC. I then built the walls up with foam board and matboard. The vehicle transport was made from two pieces of matboard and plexiglass. I added an red overhead projector sheet over the plexiglass and sandwiched it between the matboard. I then cut 1/2" dowells and added half of a 12mm bead to the tops of each one. A hole was drilled and wire was cut and glued into place. Little hooks were glued to the tops of each wire. Last came the painting. The rotors were painted with Krylon Cherry Red. The dark gray was painted with Rusto-leum Dark Gray Primer. The majority of the helicopter was painted with Rusto-leum Hammered Dark Bronze. The Hammered spray paint was a bit tricky, but gave it the definate desired finish.