BELL 206B JET RANGER II - from the TV series ‘Chopper Squad’ Produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation
Chopper Squad is an Australian TV show from 1978/79, from the prolific Reg Grundy Organisation. The show followed the day to day adventures and dramas of the ‘Surf Life Saving Association’s’ coastal patrol unit. The Bell Jet Ranger II starred alongside Dennis Grosvenor (Jebbie), Robert Coleby (Barry) and Eric Oldfield (Phil). the stories seemsd to range from surfaers stranded in the middle of the oceaan, to mountain climbers stranded on a mountainside. Any situation that required the assistance of the ‘chopper squad’.
The Surf Life Saving Australia is a real, non-profit organisation. The Bell Jet Ranger looked great – there’s something about helicopters with floats that just looks cool. I had a small corgi toy and they did a larger one and a speedboat and jeep.
I remember watching it on Saturday mornings here in London - LWT- in the late 70s, or early 80s. It was an enjoyable, but not thrilling TV show, with the easy going appeal common to the Australian TV shows we got here.
I thought it would be fun to imagine this as a Matchbox 2 colour it. The chopper has a distinct livery if blue and white, which could be served well by a blue sprue and a white sprue.