Eurocopter EC135 Police Version

[Julien]

Eurocopter EC135 Police Version

1:72 Revell

The EC-135 light twin engined helicopter is a joint French/German development, which originated as a further development of the BO-105 helicopter.

In late 1992, the design was revised with the introduction of the Fenestron tail rotor system, reflecting the creation of Eurocopter that year through the merger of Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) and Aérospatiale. The combination of lower accident potential from the enclosed rotor, and interior space, have made the EC135 popular with Police and aeromedical helicopter operators. The EC135 is the best selling light twin of the past 10 years.

In 2000 the first unit entered service with the German Federal Border Police (BSG-Bundesgrenzschutz) as an observation & liaison helicopter. 25 are now in service with them. In 2005 BSG became the Federal Police.

The Austrian Ministry of the Interior also ordered 8 of these aircraft. 4 are equipped with FLIR equipment as well as an SX searchlight system and digital downlink. The remaining 4 are standard helicopters with the provision to install the FLIR and other systems.

The mouldings are, as one would expect, to Revell’s usual standard with finely engraved panel lines. This copy does have a little flash but nothing that can’t be removed easily.

The fuselage is moulded in two halves with the cabin window openings provided in one large strip with the front door windows included. Options are not given to have any doors open.

A fairly standard seated interior is included with will fill up the insides sufficiently. The instructions recommend 8 grammes of weight in the front, though with all helicopters putting it in so you cant see it will be challenging.

All in all this is a very nice kit which is quite detailed in 1.72 and should look great once made up.

Decals are given for the German Bunespolizei and the Osterreichische Polizei. They are as seems to be normal these days printed in Italy for Revell and look excellent. Although not readily visible from the picture the Bundespolizei decals are actually silver not white.

Instructions are the usual Revell fair and quite detailed with easy to follow steps.

Review sample courtesy of

[Obi-Jiff Kenobi]

Nice review, Julien, and looks like a good kit too.

[Brigbeale]

That’s a great review of this kit.

I’ve just purchased a pre-owned one off EBay to build as a Dorset Police helicopter. 
While I had the parts out of the box, I put the fuselage half next to my Airfix 1/72 Junglie Sea King - it looks tiny!!

[hakkikt]

Adding to a very nice review after 15 years 😄, I would like to note that the Austrian police use the longer-legged skids on their EC135s, so the kit is not quite correct.

Revell have chosen to correct this in an unusual way - they added a sprue to their EC145 kit (04653) that is expressly marked "04647 EC135 accessories" and includes the necessary parts.

That sprue is surplus to the EC145, so you don't end up missing parts for your EC145 that way.

 

Sounds like an expensive way to upgrade a kit, but it isn't - I paid something like € 12 for the EC145, that's easily what any resin upgrade might cost (if it existed), and I get an additional full kit of nice quality in addition to the EC135 upgrade.

 

Here is a photo of that additional sprue:

 

 

...and here it is with the pile of sprues from my EC145 kit.