Airbus Helicopters EC145 DRF Luftrettung - Revell 1:32

[Julien]

Airbus Helicopters EC145 DRF Luftrettung - Revell 1:32

1:32 Revell

Well it seems the first thing I was able to learn when sitting down to do this review is that Eurocopter is no more, it has been renamed Airbus Helicopters! No one tells me anything!

The EC145 is a twin engine helicopter in the "light utility" category. It was originally called the BK117 C2, and was based on the MBB/Kawasaki BK117 C1, which in turn became part of the Europcopter line following a merger of MBB and Matra. The helicopter can carry upto 9 passengers and two crew. Airbus market the helicopter as a passenger/corporate transport, but it more readily seen in its Emergency Medical configuration. It is also used in the SAR role. One of the largest single users is the US military where it is designated the UH-72 Lakota.

The EC145 features a larger cabin than its predecessor, an increased take off weight and a hinge less rotor system. The new rotor system also delivers a 25% increase in range and less vibration (not a bad thing for medical transports!). There is an all glass cockpit which can be operated by only on pilot of needed. Safety is of paramount concern and many of the helos systems are independently redundant. in 2008 an EC145 performed the first medical transport flight under instrument flying rules in Europe. As well as being able to fly entirely under GPS navigation it is the first civilian helo to be fitted with a night vision compatible cockpit. With a high tail and large clamshell rear doors the helo is very well suited to medical roles. It can carry up to two stretcher patients with three medical staff.

The Kit
The Revell kit of the EC145 is a relatively new tool, in that it dates back to 2005. The kit arrives on nine sprues of light grey and white plastic, and two sprues of clear plastic. All the parts are well formed and there is no evidence of flash.

Construction starts with the interior cabin. Right from the start the modeller will need to decide which decal option they are doing. The internal configuration is different and the appropriate holes will need to be opened up in the floor. Once this has done attention is directed to the front office. Pedals, control columns and cyclics are supplied for both sides. The centre console is built up with decals being provided for the instruments. Following this the main centre console is made up, again with decals being provided for the instruments. Two five part pilots seats are them assembled and added.

Once the cockpit parts have been finished its time to move to the main cabin. As mentioned there are two different configurations that can be modelled. Both have a main stretcher down the right hand side with a seat at the head of this. D-HDPP has a bank of what look to be oxygen cylinders to the right side, and a row of three seats. D-HDDN has pair of seats on the right side. All the seats and the stretcher are made up and added at this time.

Next the interior panel sides are added along with the interior roof. The modeller then ends up with a complete interior capsule to add into the main fuselage halves. Next the cabin windows are added to both fuselage halves along with some framing around the front pilot doors. Once these parts are in the fuselage can be closed up around the interior capsule. The underside panel can then be added. This then completes the main fuselage part.

Once the main cabin is completed attention moves to engine compartment and rotorhead. The complex rotorhead is made up from 6 parts. It can be made to be free turning and either as an integral part or one the modeller can remove (handy for transporting to shows). This is then attached to the two part engine housing after it is constructed. The next step is to construct the tailboom, taking car to make the correct cut outs for each aircraft as they differ. Once made it and the engine casing can be attached to the main cabin.

The next step is to make the main cabin doors. These are a two part construct which sandwiches the glass in the middle. The front glazing is then added. The winglets are constructed and added to the tailboom. Care must be taken to get them the right way around so they sit correctly. Once these are on the rear clamshell doors are constructed and added, these can be left open or closed as needed; though it would be a shame not to show off that interior. The exhaust and landing skids are now added. D-HDPP has the addition of some forward snow shoes.

Now we are into the final straight the tail rotor is added along with various antennas on the tailboom. A plethora of other external fixtures are then added. The final item is to attach the rotor blades to the head. These seem to have a fairly solid attachment point so this should pose no problems.

Canopy
For a helicopter the clear sprue is important as there is quite a lot of it. All the parts on both sprues are well moulded and clear.

Decals
Decals are provided for two helicopters with the same striking red and white colour scheme operated by DRF Luftrettung. They are a non profit organisation operating in Germany & Austria who supply Air Ambulance services. They pride themselves with being able to be at the scene with 15mins of being called, operating 50 helicopters at 28 locations in Germany and Austria. They also supply medical transport between hospital and operate Lear jets for international transports. They are the launch customer for the EC145 T2.

• D-HDPP, Christoph Niedersachsen, DRF Luftrettung, Hanover, Germany
• D-HDDN, Christoph München, DRF Luftrettung, Munich, Germany

Conclusion
This is an excellent kit with enough interior detail for a kit this size. It would have been nice to be able to position the front doors in the open position. Its worth noting that the instructions for the kit are not the best I have seen. They are cluttered and not very clear, they will need to be looked at carefully. Overall it should make up to be a striking model. Highly recommended.

Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers.

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