Helicopter replica to boost emergency service appeal

A replica of the Northland Electricty rescue helicopter painstakingly painted by a Filipino artist will be auctioned to raise money for the airborne emergency service.
The 42cm long model of Helimed 1 is made from a single block of mahogany. Doug Gow - a Whangarei St John volunteer who works with the Northland Emergency Services Trust - initiated the fundraising project back in January last year, and it has taken since then for him to be satisfied with the paint job on the replica.
Photographs were emailed to the artist in the Philippines, but there were difficulties because colours sometimes don't match on different computer screens.
"The first time the artist did it, the red was much too bright. And there have since been other little things not quite right," Mr Gow said.
But now the model is a perfect miniature of the trust's Sikorsky S-76A helicopter, right down to the logos on the doors, painted with tiny brushes with only one bristle. Mr Gow is more than happy with the final product, which he is auctioning on the Trade Me website with all proceeds going to the trust's 20th annual appeal.
He's hoping for a good price because no plastic model kits of S-76 helicopters are available.
"If you're into aviation or models or even if you're not, this would be a great model to have on display," Mr Gow said. "And the winner of the auction will have got something back while making a donation to a good cause."
Northland Emergency Services Trust chairman John Bain said the rescue helicopter's two sponsors, Northpower and Top Energy, had this year agreed to match appeal donations dollar-for-dollar.
He hoped the appeal would bring in $150,000, which meant the trust would receive a total of $300,000.
The costs of running the rescue helicopter had more than doubled in the past two years, Mr Bain said.
"We will make over 600 trips this year, for accident rescue, medical emergency and hospital transfers."