I have been wanting to build one of these for a while in 1/35 scale. Which is the best kit out there right now..and are there any AM accessories for this kit? Thanks for the help!

The best 1/35 Cobra would be either Academy's/MRC or Italeri's There both the same kit. I have built many and I'll have to say that I had no problems with either kit. Cobra Company and Verlinden both have cockpit up-date sets. Cobra Company the better of the two. TwoBobs decals has a wonderful set of Cobra decals, 'Whiskey in the Mix". There's enough decals in this set to make up to 6 Cobras. There maybe one or two other sets out there, but these are what I have only used. Heavyarty may know what else is out there.

http://www.twobobs.net/

http://www.cobracompany.com/

http://www.verlinden-productions.com/

Sorry I forgot to add the links.....Here they are

The only 1/35 AH-1W kit is the MRC/Academy kit, also reboxed by Italeri. It is a great kit and will build up nicely to a Operation Desert Storm and after ('90-95) AH-1W straight out of the box.. To get the latest version flying in Iraq and Afghanistan, Cobra Company has an NTS (Night Targeting System) upgrade that includes a whole new cockpit and nose targeting section, along with some other bits and pieces. Two Bobs Aviation graphics has a great decal sheet for them as well, called Whiskeys in the Mix, that covers snakes from ODS to present with markings for 6 aircraft. Eduard also makes a couple PE sets for the model as well. Lastly, there was a guy selling on Ebay a resin conversion set to build the yet to be fielded AH-1Z Cobra. Looked pretty good, but have't seen it in a while.

Edit: Looks like Joe and I were posting at the same time. Between the two of us, we pretty much covered it. Good Luck.

Thanks for setting me straight guys! I have another question...I am wanting to paint my Cobra a solid desert sand color...are there Cobras in OEF or OIF painted in a solid desert sand scheme or do I have to go with that marine gray? Links with pics maybe?...I have been looking but have not found any.

I have yet to see a Cobras in OIF or in Afgan in any other colors other than their two-tone grays, I maybe wrong. I know they where painted in desert colors in the first Gulf War, the two tone comouflage was applied in the field during the conflict. There were minor variations and colors from A/C to A/C. Here are a few links for you.

http://www.popasmoke.com/visions-iraq/index.php?page=view&category=19

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Fea1/701-800/Fea784_Cobra_Taylor/fea784.htm

http://www.aircav.com/cobra/ahgal13/ah1w-027.html

Have a look here, go to the seach section and type in AH-1W and you'll get all sorts of modeling reviews.
http://aircraftresourcecenter.com/

Here are some color markings from 1990-91

AH-1W Sea Cobra, HMLA-367, US Marine Corps deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm 1990-91. The paint scheme is USMC brown FS 30117 and USMC Sand FS 33711.

AH-1W Sea Cobra, HMLA-269, US Marine Corps in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm 1990-91. The paint scheme is medium grey FS 35237 and USMC Sand FS 33711.

AH-1W Sea Cobra, HMLA-369, US Marine Corps in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm 1990-91. The paint scheme is Ghost Grey FS 36375 and Dark Ghost Grey FS 36320.

AH-1W Sea Cobra, HMLA-367, US Marine Corps in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm 1990-91. The paint scheme is USMC Sand FS 33711.

Have you tryed google.com (images) "AH-1W" ton of pics and articles

Agree with Mother. All current aircraft are in two-tone gray scheme. Some were in overall sand, sand and gray, and sand and brown in ODS. Shortly after ODS, the two-tone gray scheme became standard for all USMC Helos.

Again thanks for the help...I also saw some paint schemes on the TwoBob's decals. Now I have to save up cuz with accessories my AH-1W has gone from $20.00 to about $100.00...and I have other projects in the pipeline! Oh well at least I have all the intel I need for a fine-assed dio!

Just to add my two cents, if you want to do a OD Green Whiskey Cobra then check out AFV Club's model. Its the same mold as the MRC but it has a couple extras thrown in. I did a review on it so look it up in the a/c section if you'd like to. Have fun.

great info guys.