USN SH-65D

[anthonyp]

Here's a Matchbox 1/72 Dauphin 2 modified to become a USN LAMPS IV helicopter.  It was literally a $2 model that was a pain in the butt to build.  All the clear parts did not want to stay in place even after the glue had dried.

I had a beat up old Hasegawa SH-60B sitting around that had seen better days.  I clipped peices off of it (the weapons pylons, the MAD) and performed surgery on it to get the sonobouy dispenser out of it, as well as removed the radome.  The radome is going to another project, but everything else managed to get placed onto this thing.  After a bit of fidgeting, the sonobouy dispenser got squeezed in.  I also imagine a dinky little dipping sonor in the helo as well.

I figure this would fly off of littoral combat ships, the short hull Perry class in place of the LAMPS II's, and USCG ships on maneuvers or serving with the USN in times of war.

[anthonyp]

Another view

[Hobbes]

Excellent. I've always liked the look of the Dauphin. The sonobuoy panel seems a natural addition.  

[Gary]

It just looks right don't it. I can clearly imaging seeing one like this on a ramp during an airshow.

Way to go dude.

[John Howling Mouse]

Cooooool!  How many times have I looked at my unbuilt kit of this but never started it?  Glad to see you've turned it into something unique!

 

[Ollie]

Awesome dude!

LAMPS IV it is?

   

[NARSES2]

It does look right, dosn't it - might fool a few people

[Captain Canada]

Agreed....looks very real ! Love the Dolphin as well....always see the USCG bird from Selfridge flying up the river. Love to see and hear it pass....what a sound ! And then when they turn towards you, and you hear that sweet four-bladed rotor sound for a second or two....and then you hear that swet sound of the turbine and fan-thingy.............

[anthonyp]

The Selfridge birds fly over my house every-so-often (and I'm like 8 miles inland).  I can always tell when it's a Dolphin from the sound, very distinct.

Like I said in the "Tanker" thread, there's gonna be an airshow at Selfridge on May 21-22, where you can at least see a USCGAS Detroit HH-65 up close, along with probably one of the HH-65's from Traverse City (I miss the HH-60J's from Traverse City.  The Black Hawk in USCG colors is a pretty site).