Mirage GB (September 2006 to April 2007)

rwscull wrote:

I'm in with a Academy - Mirage III-C Israel - 1/48 Scale. This will be my first GB and first Aircraft Kit. I can't wait till October.

Welcome aboard rwscull!    I'm building the sister kit, the Mirage III R, although I might switch to the III C instead.  The Academy kit should go together quite nicely, regardless of other comments I've made on it here.

I wouldn't mind joining in with a Revell 1:32 Mirage IIIO and/or a 1:72 Mirage IIIO (either Revell or FROG ... or as an outside chance, maybe both).

Bruce

Hi Brews,

The revell III/0 could take a fair amount of work, I built one last year and the kit was identical to the one my dad had in the cupboard 20 years ago. The fit was pretty poor and the cockpit detail was non existant. It did make up a pretty good model in the end, gear up etc. I think I spent about twice the kit price on squadron putty though.

If you're up for a challenge I think you'll enjoy it. Just don't expect too much.

Hi Guys,

Not a lot of progress as I've spent the last week moving house.

We've got most of the place un packed but my wife seem to think that things like the bedroom, kitchen and living room take priority over the garage.?????

It's not all bad though as I should have all my stuff back on the bench by the end of the week.

I can't wait.

Welcome aboard Brews!  I'd love to see that Revell 1/32 beast built!  It's one of Revell's dinosaurs, but interesting to see if it's a bargain, or just for the bin.

I'm going for another Revell product, at least at first, the 1/144 Mirage F1.  Pity the decals are out of register, a hassle for the roundels, and I don't fancy freehanding circles!!!

rudy_102 wrote:

Alrighty, count me in with Eduard's 1/48 scale Profipack IIIC. I can't WAIT to get my hands on that!!!!!!

Guys,

I'd like  be involved in this, I have two 1/48 Mirages on the go.

First is the Eduard IIIc in French markings which I'm going to finish in a silver scheme - even the non-profipac kit  has etched seatbelts and masks - and great decal options, very high class kit. I've started on the seat, and looked at all the other bits.

Second is the Heller kit plus the Red Roo conversion to make an Aussie IIIO. I intend to do a 77 sqn machine from 1980, A3-75 which crashed near RAAF East Sale (I lived in Sale) in 1980, the wreckage is still at the bottom of the swamp, under about 60 feet of mud apparently ! Haven't even opened the lid on this one.

I'll ask for some advice on this one , as I'm unsure of the scheme, I think it would have been the green/grey camo at that time, also I think 77 sqn decals may be hard to come by for the required period.

Cheers

Sime

Hi Simon,

Try    http://www.hiplanes.dragnet.com.au

They should have your 77 Sqn Markings.

I'm doing a 3 Sqn mirage from the same era and have purchased their seat, cockpit tub and markings.

The decals seem very good, they come with a detailed colour paint scheme complete with paint codes.

I'll post some pics tonight.

Hi osher,

I have started, I've got as far scratch building my burner can and re-scribing the Italeri kit.

My cockpit has also been painted and then had all the paint removed as I wasn't happy with the result.

I will post some pics. I hope to make some decent progress now that our house move is complete.

I have opened the box of the Revell 1:32 Mirage IIIE/R/O.

I guess I'll have another look at it later. The best thing about it at first glance was the enormous decal sheet.

I have another couple of things to finish before I truly start on this, though.

Reference pics:

Static Display , Afterburner Rear-View , Another Static , Yet Another , Flight , A3-76 , 75 Sqn Flight , A3-51 , A3-2 , A3-2 (again) , Bicentennial Airshow ,  A3-2 Edinburgh 2002 , A3-12 at Bicentennial , A3-2 , A3-72 , A3-2 1971 , Schwarm 1971 , A3-2 1988 , A3-105 Bingle

Build of Mirage IIIO in 1:48 on Hyperscale

Walkaround on ARC

Mirage (IIIE?) Cockpit

Mirage IIIB/D Front Cockpit

Milavia Special Feature on Brazillian Mirages

Milavia Walkaround

Mirage IIIEX

Edited 6.9.06 to add the following link:

Mirage IIIO Seat MB Mk 4B

Here are some progress pics of my IIIO.

I've been in the progress of moving house and have got to a point where it's cool to start playing with plastic again.

The kit

My Burner can and inner exhaust petals

My first go at re-scribing

High planes decals, seat and cockpit tub

The seat and cockpit are both work in progress, just had to include them as it makes me feel like I've made some progress.

I'm seeing conflicting evidence regarding the right seat - MB Mk IV and MB MkVI. Unfortunately, I can't correlate these with actual photos. If High Planes (and Neomega, by the way) say it's Mk IV, then that's good enough for me.

The MB MK IV was used pre 1986. The Mk VI was part of an upgrade program the RAAF mirages went through.

High Planes do both in 48th but you're building in 32nd aren't you?

Hope this helps Brews.

Here's another  reference site.

http://www.adf-serials.com/gallery/Mirage-III?page=1

Yes ... I'm building one in 1:32.

I got as far last night as cutting the sprue off the fuselage halves, and separated the wing pieces as well. One half of one wing had a bit of flash on it, that was quite thick, near the leading edge wing root, so that it was difficult to see what was part and what was flash - luckily the thing has straight edges! On the minus side, I cut off a locating lug, but that's no big deal.

The wheel bays are like Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, but at least they're boxed-in.

The pilot figure, I'm afraid, is beyond redemption. the seat is horrible, and generally, a lot of work is needed in the office.

I'm not going to measure this kit and compare it to plans. It has the appearance of a Mirage IIIE/O, and that's good enough for me.

The engine is something, though. I'm guessing it's close on 200mm long. Again, it needs some finesse, but it's a good start. It's certainly about the same standard as the J-79 in Hasegawa's F-104.

As this is a big-enough scale to scratch build details in, that's what I'll be doing, rather than AM stuff. That, and there doesn't appear to be much available.

Edit: Photos below added.

I haven't looked at plans, just photos, and I'm using the kit tub as a guide. Shoot me if that's unreasonable.

I have made a start on the seat, using the plastic from a 1litre yoghurt container (sans yoghurt, post-wash). The lower seat sides have been cut out, and glued using tamiya liquid cement to a spacer. It might look like the kit seat bottom, but it will have cushions on top of it when complete.

The seat adjustment lever will be located on the port (lhs) of the seat. There is room to see it, and place it.

Edit: Final pic for the night (perhaps for the week)

The next parts: the seat lower back side frame, and the front, including a switch box for something - I don't know what (or should that be je ne sais quois?)

So, tonight, I made some milliputty cushions, sufficient to absorb the force of a 70kg pilot at 9g (ie about 630kg force). Original seat used for comparison:

I photographed the brighter ones with flash, the duller ones with little light. I thought there was merit in including both sets.

Uh, it's not really.

I haven't touched it since the other night. It doesn't take long to roll up some milliput.

I finished up the milliput I'd made last night at this stage ... and made a 1:72 bedroll and sandbag with the remainder.

The pictures are not deliberately out of focus, by the way.