Hi Guys,
After a busy weekend I've finally got the mirage finished
I have no real complaints about the kit as any of the problems I had were all the result of me! I have to learn to be more patient.
My grandfather used to tell me 'The longest way to get a job done is to take a short cut.' On this build I've proved him right more than once.
This was the Italeri 1/48 mirage IIIE converted to a RAAF IIIO. The basic kit was ok, but, as this is a model of the aircraft, A3-86, that my Dad had as his own I decided some upgrades were in order.
As Italeri supply this with raised panel lines I decided now was as good a time as any to learn the art of re-scribing.
I cut the flaps and elevons off and set them as they sit when the ac has shut down and the hydraulic pressure has bled off.
I scratch built the exhaust can using some parts from the one supplied, some corrugated plastic card and some thin styrene sheet. I cut the afterburner ring from the exhaust petals and used the IIIC part supplied with the kit as a tube to set it back further. I then sleeved this with the corrugated card and made the inner petals with the thin styrene sheet.
The cockpit tub and seat are fom High Planes. They were not too bad but weren't for this kit and required a lot of work to make them fit. The instrument decals were cut from the kit decal sheet as the resin detail was a little too fine to distinguish the instruments.
The paint is Gunze acrylic and the decals are from High Planes as well. This is the first time I've used post shading and am very happy with the results. The decals needed toning down as they were a little too bright on the weathered aircraft.
This Aircraft was the one and only ac that my dad had his name on during his 20 years in the RAAF. He flew this during the 70's whilst he was flying with 3 Squadron based at Butterworth in Malaya.
As an interesting note, this ac is still flying with the Pakistani Air Force.
