Mirage Hobby question...

Hi , MANNY . I have these kits as well as the aforementioned U-boats. They are NOT bad when you consider where they originated . Surprise! I got mine at a flea market (all of them) and lo and behold , don,t ask how but mine had GERMAN instructions . Well , now I have my trusty GERMAN/ENGLISH translators copy of a book I obtained in BERLIN. This has helped me build a lot of models , believe me . Hey , MANNY , would you consider building these ships in 1/250  in paper ?  If so they are available from WILHELMSHAVEN papermodels as well as J.F. SCHREIBER. They used to be available at PAPERMODELS international , (where did those folks get off to ?) in BEAVERTON , OREGON . If you,ve never built papermodels you , MANNY , would appreciate their model in 1/200 of the WILHELM DE GROSSE passenger ship. Maybe ?    had to rattle your chain a little .        tankerbuilder

I did recently pick up 3 of their kits. Just don't kow when they will pop up out of my stash.

Mike T.

I just picked up two of their Type IX U-Boats in 1/350 scale. They are very nice little kits, and they come with PE.  However, I think that the Revell 1/350 Type VII C is more highly detailed.  I have yet to see the AFV Club submarine kits as my LHS doesn't get that company, but I would love to do so!

Bill Morrison

I just finished their HMS Montgomery,1/400th scale (my first ship) I think it came out ok (my part not the kits fault) fit was great I picked up the White Ensign PE kit for it.But it was too much for me to try,I have only worked with PE on one other kit. Got some pretty good comments last week at the monthly IPMS meeting.  I would build another of their kits. Hope that helped

John

PS-The kit was built for Lend-Lease night it was originaly a US ship (USS Wilkes) an old 4 stack Destroyer.When I figure out whats wrong with my digital camera I'll post pics.

They hit the market back in 2007, they were announced as forthcoming in 2003.   See my review of the then new kits here

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edit:

Mirage also showed their USS Stewart in her Japanese gunboat guise at the recent Nuremburg Toy Show.  The Stewart as well as some 1:400 class Flowers were also announced back in 2003.   The Flowers have never made an appearance.

The Steward was in drydock in the Phillipines when they fell and she was captured  intact.   She was modified with Japanese weapons and had a couple of her funnels trunked together - Japanese style.    She survived the war,  was repatriated,  and was subsequently expended as a target.

These Mirage kits, are they old molds or newer? I have the impression they are older.

Mike T.

Good info---does anyone have any more info on their destroyer kits? 

Mirage is coming out with some 1:350 versions of a couple of their sub kits.  They were shown at the recently completed Nuremburg Hobby Show.   Like to see them upscale their photoetched sets to accompany them.

AFV Club already does a couple of Type VII and Type iX U-boats in 1:350 scale.    They're nice, but I'e had problems closing in the pressure hull top on the split hull halves without a step seam where the upper hull mates

Ditto on the U-Boat kits.  They offer almost the entire range of variations of Type II, Type VII, and Type IX boats.  I also wish they were in 1/350th, but they fit nicely into the Heller range of 1/400 Kriegsmarine ships.

Bill Morrison

Their 1/400 flush-deck four piper kits are pretty nice... just wish they were 1/350th!

The Mirage 1/400 U-Boats are very nice,but definately need the PE to finish the job.I'd assume the same for the other kits.

Howdy!

If you have any problems with translation from polish, I'd be glad to help. Good luck with your projects, have a nice day

Paweł

Great info.  Do you have any experience w/ the Airfix line of Brit Destroyers?

I have built ORP Mazur and have the Grom in the stockpile. They are very nice kits. Some details are a little overdone (portholes particularly), but the fit is very good, and parts breakdown nice and logical. They are cheap, and I think they're a perfect introduction to small scale ship models.Only real negative is the instructions are in Polish only (including the painting instructions).

If you can find a soure, Mirage Hobby produce etched sheets for each kit- they are well worth having.I was new to adding p/e to models and found it very easy to use. Not many stockists seem to carry the range and I don't understand why Mirage don't sell them together with the kits!

Indeed, overall the biggest problem I had was finding references/ photos/ colour info for ORP ships!

Will