Offshore Rescue/Service Helicopter - Upgrading 6997

Lego's "second generation" helicopters developed a new design language using aircraft parts/windows starting in the mid-1980s.  These looked far more realistic than earlier helicopters, but I think a lot more can be done to this Rescue Helicopter 6697 set to modernize it without compromising classic design. Click through for more and a video review:

First of all, here's the video -- it will explain a lot more about my revisions to this 1985 set, then I'll give you the greater context for why I added it (though the video has some big clues!). 

My main goal in modifying this helicopter was to get rid of what I considered a "trucky" nose. The original design was just too close to vehicle design and needed to look more distinctive.  It was also a bit too blunt (compared to the helicopter included in the Airport set 6392 released the same year) and I was looking for a way to elongate it while adding some equipment useful to it's purpose as a rescue helicopter. 

While I was at it, I added some more details and gave it a little more aggressive appearance overall.

This helicopter (as you may have guessed from the vide) is intended to work as a service helicopter for the (under construction) oil rig.  It will also be a rescue helicopter when needed for any vessel that is far from shore-- given its large size and faster speeds thanks to the large jet engines. There is a smaller helicopter that can serve around the island itself, which I will feature in another post/video at a later date.

The oil rig has progressed quite significantly since this video was taken, but it's not anywhere near finished yet.  

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