GMP Factory Bell/Hiller Cricket Prototype?

Despite the fact that in a 2007 interview for this website, John Gorham could not recall ever working on such a project, according to page 14 of the Cricket customer bulletins, In 1981, GMP had built a "really neat, independent blade feathering, 'Bell-Hiller' prototype aerobatic rotor head for the Cricket.

They apparently made at least two prototype, versions both with and without collective pitch. This idea was ultimately scrapped by the company, and was never sold to the public, so any such Cricket "upgrade" remained a non-production, factory engineering prototype.

At a recent trip to an out of town hobby store, we ran across what looks to be one of the prototypes!

This Cricket features a rotor head with Bell-Hiller mixing and collective pitch. The rotor head does not appear to be transplanted off of any other known helicopter, but instead appears to be made up of a combination of production Cricket parts and custom machined components. The high level of custom machined parts denotes use of a well-equipped machine shop rather than an independent hobbyist. Further, we note use of a black Hirobo anti-rotation bracket, another piece consistent with what would have been in GMP's parts inventory in 1981.

There is not enough definitive proof to be sure, but its possible that what you are looking at is indeed a factory prototype. Take a look for yourself (sorry for the poor quality camera-phone photos)