Monogram 1/48 UH1D Huey Gunship USMC I Corps, RVN

Looks pretty good for a totally inaccurate, mix of UH-1B/C versions (its not a long-bodied D at all) kit.  Be advised though, the markings are fictitious as well as the USMC never used B or C model Hueys.  They did use the Navalized UH-1E and UH-1K, but both had roof-mounted rescue hoists on them.

Looks good! I am building the same kit. HeavyArty is right about the kit being inaccurate though. I had to order the UH-1C correction kit from cobra resins to bring it to a more accurate C model. I am currently looking for army decals for this kit. But your build looks good for an OOB build !

Very nice!

B_one fixer

Looks good! I am building the same kit. HeavyArty is right about the kit being inaccurate though. I had to order the UH-1C correction kit from cobra resins to bring it to a more accurate C model. I am currently looking for army decals for this kit. But your build looks good for an OOB build !

Well aside from the ordnance setup (not a USMC system) and the inaccuracies/inconsistencies of the kit itself, the subject line is probably more inaccurate then the kit.  The markings are not fictitious - that is a scheme from an actual UH-1E squadron (although they never deployed to Vietnam and the USMC never flew UH-1Ds (as you noted)).  However, early UH-1Es were very visually similar to UH-1Bs while later build UH-1Es looked liked UH-1Cs and in between it was not uncommon to see a UH-1E with a mix of B/C parts.  In fact I read one story where the guy noted two different sized horizontal stabilizers on the same bird.

As you noted the hoist set the UH-E off visually from the B and C but it was often removed and the only trace of it was the small dimple in the cabin roof.  In scale, assuming an accurate kit and without ordnance it would be hard to tell the difference between a UH-1E and the equivalent UH-1B or C as the main difference was what the structure was made of (aluminum vs magnesium), a rotor brake, and some avionics.

Oh, and the USMC did fly UH-Bs.  They got some from the Army while they were waiting for UH-1E production to catch up - 20 of them if I recall correctly - VMO-1 1966-68 - but those birds did not deploy to Vietnam (at least while they were still with the USMC).  For what it is worth they also had a couple of VH-1Ds at HMX-1 in the early 70s.