What's that old saw, "something old, something new"? Yesterday I posted something new for me, a finished model. Today, I post something old, also from yesterday's hot morning at the airport.
The model is the Monogram 1/48 Mirage 2000, the instructions are dated 1986. I built the kit somewhere between '93 and '95. It had never been photographed at all untill yesterday. When it was done, I had very little experience with weathering and wear on aircraft and most attempts were not that good. As my meager skills in that part of the art grew, I felt better about newer builds and sort of looked down on my old efforts. Maybe, even after I started using digital cameras to record my planes, some older builds never got any consideration. I'm trying to change that attitude now.
The paint was Model Master camouflage gray and a custom-mixed blue (tried to match a blue I'd seen in pics somewhere), both enamels, done with my Paasche H and an ancient, pulsing ol' compressor that made an horrendous noise. Originally it carried two Exocets but I robbed one for my CSAF Mirage F-1 and used the kit-supplied drop tank in it's place. I did add some gee-gaws to the cockpit that look okay still. I notice a lot of staining around the decals, a result of their age now I guess. That's happened in the last 6 or 7 years, but hey, they were laid down a long time ago. All in all, she turned out better in pics than in person. Thanks for having a look! Gary
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