Canadian CH-113 Labrador in 1/48

  Nick,

Mike's decals and KV107 kit are definitly a good start! You are on the right track!

The only thing you will have to modify is the APU exhaust on KV kit. It is not the right one. I do not remember clearly what exactly is wrong with it, but Mike knows for sure cuz I recall him saying something about it.  Best way to find out - would be to contact him via e-mail. Or I can ask him if you want but I won't see him untill next week probably.

Andy

Thanks Andy.

From browsing other forums, it seems the APU is the only really serious modification needed to make a Lab. I have heard rumour that Mike Belcher may be producing a resin replacement. I have emailed him to ask, so hopefully this is the case! 

Thanks again for your reply.

   No problem!

And Yes! I've heared the same thing - he will add the resin part to the Lab decal sheet.

Andy

Some of the birds had no APU, I think the original Army birds had it, I don't think the RCAF version did, but were later modified to have one.

Also of note are the nose windows on the Voyagers, this was to allow the pilots to see what they were doing when thy did Deck landings on Frigates and the like.

As to the sponsors, the KV kit is for the big tanks.  I don't think all the Labs/Voyagers had big tanks.

The Lab is a nice little bird, compared to the CH-47's I use to drive

Bryan

Denver

Cheers Bryan.

I'm after a late model bird, so it looks like I'll need that APU. Of the many pics I have looked at, most of the recent examples have big round tanks. Are you saying the KV ones are too big?

As for the windows.. dunno what the KV kit has in it but I take it they arent corrrect?

Cheers.

Nick 

The KV-107's had, I believe, 600 gal tanks.  They are appreciably bigger than the original BVC-107 tanks.

The windows are an interesting issue.  The original military version had round windows.  The KV-107 in military garb also had round windows.  Because the Japanese constitution strictly forbids export of military equipment, the "Civil" KV-107's had square windows, and the present JASDF/JMSDF aircraft will likely never be surpluses outside the country.

I think the "Giveaway" on the tank will be the larger tanks have the dorsal spine on them.  The smaller tanks don't.  I have a fairly extensive collection of Canadian 107 shots from a book I was researching.  I'll see if I can find them.  What is the serial of the bird yoru doing? 

Tank shots

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00716684

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00227033

http://www.vaq136.com/atsugi/atsugi-064b.jpg

Bryan

Denver

Brian.

The pics I had assempled from the usual online walkaround sources show round windows and tanks with spines. The spines look exactly like the KV pic you included in your last link, including the fuel dump nozzle (?) aft - which is missing on the Swedish example you used.

As far as a specific machine, I hadnt settled on one as my references are limited to about two walkarounds of different birds which appear to be in museums or simular.  Actually, I'd be open to any suggestions regarding specific Labs.

Love to see any more pics Brian, you cant have enough reference! Thanks very much for your advice so far.

Nick.