Sorry to join in so late but I just found your inquiry and the comments. In 1/35 I prefer the "new' Panda model for a "slick" or troop carrying Huey UH-1H (same appearance of 1D). I believe it's an upscaled copy of the 1/72 ESCI/Italeri kit. (which I liked best of the 1/72 kits) The only other one is the 1969 Revell kit.
Pick up detailing sets from Cobra Company. None of the model kits (in any scale) come with the side crewchief and doorgunner's M-60 aviator grip, pintle mounted mg's. Some Panda kits included the DML helicopter crew set which included ONE pintle mounted M60. You can get the mg's from Cobra or get 2 DML crew sets...
note that many Hueys flew w/o the huge side cargo doors - check your references. Fireballmodels is coming out with a Huey decal sheet soon - should be well worth waiting for. Good luck and enjoy!!
BTW, anyone know if anyone is coming out with a new 1/35 AH-1G Vietnam era Cobra? The venerable old Revell it is/was the only game in town - and with Cobra Co - and now, Fireballmodels you can make a decent kit. But where oh where are the state of the art kits? In fact, I think the old Monogram and Matchbox kits are the only 1/72 kits...
Howie
doorgunner C Co 227 AHB, 1st Air Cav 1969-70