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Reviewed by Felix
Bustelo
March 2025
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| HISTORY |
| The Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin is a
twin-engine helicopter operated by the United States Coast Guard since
1979. It is used by the USGC for a variety of missions, such as medevac-capable
search and rescue (SAR), short range recovery (SRR), homeland security
patrols, cargo and drug interdiction among others. The HH-65 is a variant
of the French-built Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin. The Dolphin was manufactured
by Aerospatiale Helicopter Corporation (later Airbus Helicopters), but
the 99 acquired by the USCG were assembled in Grand Prairie, Texas. The
helicopters are powered by LTS101-750B-2 turboshaft engines manufactured
by Lycoming Engines in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The avionics were manufactured
by Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A distinctive feature of the
HH-65 is its fenestron ducted-fan anti-torque device. The fenestron consists
of 11 blades spinning inside a circular housing at the base of the helicopter's
tail fin. The HH-65 normally carries a crew of four, comprised of a pilot,
copilot, flight mechanic and rescue swimmer |
| Black Cat Models
Dolphin |
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| The Black Cat Models HH-65 Dolphin is a 3D printed
helicopter with a photoetch main rotor blade. The clamshell package comes
with two airframes and a photoetch fret. The helicopters come of a print
raft with numerous thin attachment points. The level of detail on the 3D
printed airframes is quite remarkable, with windows, doors, landing gear,
exhausts and fenestron beautifully reproduced. All you have to do is remove
the helicopter from the print raft, a little clean up where the attachment
points are and paint. The landing gear is in a deployed position, so if
you wish to display it in flight you will have to perform some light surgery.
On the print raft, two spare landing wheels are provided, I guess as replacements
in case of damage. |
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| PHOTOETCH |
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| The photo-etch fret contains a lot
of parts, however only the main rotors are needed. Ben Druel explained
that the photoetch fret design is from an earlier version of the set that
had a resin cast helicopters and needed the brass parts to complete assembly.
With the newer 3D printed versions, the parts other than the main rotors
are surplus. |
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| INSTRUCTIONS |
| No assembly instructions
are provided online and really none are needed, as this is a very straightforward
build. Likewise, there are no painting instructions or decals provided.
There are plenty of photos online to help with painting but decals will
need to be sourced elsewhere. |
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| CONCLUSIONS |
| The Black Cat Models Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin
is highly recommended. My thanks to
Black
Cat Models for the review sample. |
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