Academy's CH-46 series was well received by model makers when it was released around 2005. External details are nicely done with finely-scribed panel lines and the interior is complete with 2 walls, a ceiling and a floor plus optional seating or stretchers.
Notable Kit Features:
Large sponsons provided in this boxing
Decent cockpit with raised detail plus additional decal for instruments
Nice clear glass parts (and nose is all glass, of which some parts will be painted, creating a much better fit of nose-glass parts)
Full 4-wall interior with nice detail and options for troop seats, medevac stretchers or cargo space
Nicely done scribed panel lines and external details
Blown glass as well as flat glass cargo area windows provided
Optional Open /Closed rear cargo hatch and side door
Guns, rescue winch assembly, searchlight housings and parts from other versions included ...of which the CPI unit was later donated to my CH-124 Sea King
Extensive decals for KV-107 type (both interior and exterior)
Build Inspiration: I believe the motto goes something like: "Without Regard For My Personal Comfort or Self Advancement, To The Best Of My Ability And To The Limitations Of My Physical And Psychological Endurance, I Solemnly Pledge To Make Every Effort To Return To Safety, Those Victims Of Disaster Entrusted To My Care By The Assignment Of The Mission To Which I Have Consented. Those Things I Shall Do - "That Others May Live"
Unfortunately on 02 October, 1998 413 Squadron lost this CH-113 on route from CFB Greenwood. The Labrador went down on Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula (near Marsoui) while returning from a SAR mission. The crash resulted in the deaths of all crewmembers on board. Wreckage examination showed a fuel leak in the #2 engine compartment of 11305 resulted in an in-flight fire. In the process of responding to the fire, the crew shut down the engine, activated the fire extinguishing system using the T-handle and commenced fuel dump procedures. The right hand dump tube did not extend during the fuel dump sequence; this increased the possibility of fuel to fuselage contact. The #2 fire T-handle was reset prior to the in-flight break-up; re-introducing fuel and oil into the engine compartment after the fire extinguishing system had been activated, likely re-igniting the fire or causing a small explosion in the # 2 engine compartment. (JP8 fuel was being used due to remote operating location). During these actions the dumped fuel was ignited and this set off a catastrophic series of events causing rear rotor blade to fuselage contact and the break-up of the aircraft.
Dedicated to SAR crews everywhere past, present and future. 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S. lost six good men on the afternoon of October, 2nd 1998 - "That Others May Live"
Capt Peter Musselman, 33 years old, native of Edmonton, Alberta, was a pilot with 413 Search and Rescue Squadron. Capt Musselman was married and had 1 child.
Capt Darrin Vandenbilche, 33 years old, native of Invermere, British Columbia, was also a pilot with 413 Search and Rescue Squadron. Capt Vandenbilche was engaged to be married.
MCpl David Gaetz, 37 years old, native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was a flight engineer with 413 Search and Rescue Squadron. MCpl Gaetz was married and had three children.
MCpl Glen Sinclair, 36 years old, native of native of Rastatt, Germany, was training as a flight engineer with 413 Search and Rescue Squadron. MCpl Sinclair was married and had three children.
Sgt Jean Roy, 34 years old, native of Montréal, Québec, was a Search and Rescue Technician with 413 Search and Rescue Squadron. Sgt Roy was married and had three children.
MCpl Darrell Cronin, 32 years old, native of St-John’s, Newfoundland, was a Search and Rescue Technician with 413 Search and Rescue Squadron. MCpl Cronin was married and had two children.
In memory of the Labrador crew "TUSKER 27"
Heads-Up Report:
Interior walls do have some ejector pin marks although most are not visible post build
Rear cargo door area at top requires some plastic card to cover seam
Rotor blades could use some "droop"
Kit Additions / Modifications:
Added seat belts for pilot seats
Built up rear cargo area at top with card-stock and spar details to cover seam and blend with interior
Scratch-built interior cargo net shelving, storage lockers plus some SAR equipment
Substituted flat-bar sponson supports for round kit supplied ones
Added scratch-built CH-113 antennas accordingly
Used RCAF decals
Should have ordered Belcher Bits BB25: APU Tail for CH-113 Labrador 1/48 (my bad.)
Crap! I just noticed I forgot to scratch-build & add the rectangle rear view mirrors :o
End Result:
The paint scheme used for this aircraft was the standard RCAF Yellow and Red Rescue scheme. I typically leave a 24 hour period in between any paint colours that require masking to let the paint cure. I also leave at least 24 hours before applying the gloss-coat (Future / Pledge) as well as a similar pause before applying the matt-coat over the decals. Note: the RCAF "zap" decal ran overtop of the sponson supports and the decals had an issue adhering (later repaired and resealed to prevent decals from "decomposing" .)
The After-Build Report:
There are no major challenges presented in the kit build, so I recommend this (CH-46 series) model to builders of intermediate or better skill levels (unless you plan on buttoning up the interior and painting a basic one-colour scheme, in which case a beginner should still be able to tackle it).
Feel free to comment or ask any questions - Keep on building, gain experience, challenge yourself if you like, but try not to stress yourself out over the build - it is suppose to be an enjoyable hobby after all - Cheers