Best HH-65

Briefly:

None of the models by Trumpeter will make a totally accurate HH65A/B. The engine cowling is all wrong for the Aco Lycoming LTS101 engines used.

Note: I just realized the nose of the HH65C is different than the A/B models also,a bit longer, not much, just enough to tell there is something different about it. I am in the process of getting all my pictures together for my HH65C. Good news is the engine cowling is correct for the TurboMecca engines used on the C model.

Don

Sal,

 I just started working on mine and there are definitely some issues.  The cockpit, of course, is non existent, but the Eduard PE set definitely spices that up.  The biggest issue I've seen is the rotor blades, which are just flat slabs of plastic which will take a LOT of sanding to get them to even resemble an airfoil. 

Don,

 I've just started researching my Dolphin, but I didn't realize the issue with the cowlings.  What needs to be fixed for an A/B model?

Thanks!

Jon

Sal and Jon,

Emails sent. . .

Don

dkmacin wrote:

Sal and Jon, Emails sent. . .   Don

Anything worth sharing? I got one in the stash too

Send me a 'real' email address and I'll send some stuff along. ( I cannot for the life of me post pictures either on FSM or through the FSMmail system, I'm a hopeless idiot)

Disclaimer: Most of my pictures are of A models, both white and orange. Purists notice the cowling difference on the Trumpeter kits, to be honest, I did not.

I'll be back to my back dating the Trumpeter kit to a 1985 A model pretty soon. . .I hope!

Don

Sal,

If you look in the Gallery section of Aircraft Resource Center, Lloyd Curtis' build has a bunch of the fixes necessary to accurize the Trump Dolphin kit to make a more accurate HH-65A.  It doesn't deal with the cowlings, but focuses on the interior fixes, which there are many.

HTH,

Jon

Not to brag. . .oh what the h-e-double toothpicks, I'm bragging: I set the layout for the interior of the HH65A's SAR equipment. . .still have my original hand drawings and such!

Don

You have to remember the USCG didn't buy the SA365N, They bought 96 airframes of the SA366G.

Different airframes altogether.

Don

Too bad Trumpeter didn't realize that. They could have had a great kit instead of something that turned out average at best.

AH1Wsnake wrote:

Too bad Trumpeter didn't realize that. They could have had a great kit instead of something that turned out average at best.

Trumpeter most likely chose the SA365N version since it is the same one that China operates as the Z9.  They probably threw USCG decals at it as an afterthough since it was close enough.

At least they put the hoist in, unlike Matchbox/Revell with the 1/72 kit.

I can live with the cowling, fenestron and other bits being wrong for the A model I flew in. Perhaps some company will make the proper parts to back date the kit or make it an accurate C model, maybe some day I will even start slapping putty on and trimming plastic, but until then This is what I have to work with so, much like the real USCG, you make the best of what they give you.

Don

Don,

Amen brutha. and thanks much for the data in the e-mail.  Might even ask for more:-)

Yeah, I think for the time being I'm gonna have to do the same and deal with the inaccuracies.

Jon,

I looked at the build on ARC...thanks for the heads up bro.  When you getting outa woca woca land?  Ya know, given where your home turf and how easy it is for me to get down there on one of our HC-130 cross countries down to McChord, we may have to hook up brutha.  I'm sure you already knew this but we spent a week down there recently supporting 160th West now based outa Ft Lewis.  Their MH-47Gs even smelled new.  Can't wait to get hours...but I'll have to.