[Page 4]
Fouga Magister in 1/72 scale: kit modelling report of various kits
page 2
page 3
page 4
... continued from page 3...
On an IPMS Nederland club meet, another few 1/72 Airfix Magister kits were purchased. Though there is a better 1/72 Special Hobby kit, it was decided to build a few other Airfix kits as it can be made into a nice little jet model in a similar fashion as described on page 1....
LEBANON
Another Magister kit was made in a scheme of the LEBANON Air Force; Some 4 were French and 5 ex-West German Magisters were probably flown from 1972. Lebanese Magisters had a high speed silver scheme but a jet was also seen in a camouflage scheme.
The overall metallic scheme was applied and Revell Aqua 11 "silber" acrylic paint was airbrushed. The red details were brush painted Revell aqua 330 red.
The decals came mostly from a Special Hobby kit #SH72284 kit but I also used some decals from the Max decals set #7223.
The cockpit hoods were set closed (the Airfix kit is one part) and any small gaps filled with White Glue. Paint when dried. Landing gears were installed and the kit doors retained (though a bit simplified).
Two tiny machine gun barrells were set on the nose made from plastic rod and the ADF nose antennas also installed. The anti-collision lights on the outsides of the tips are missing in the kit, these were suggested with red and green paint.
The model got a gloss varnish coat by airbrushing Future/ Pledge (thinned 20% with Gunze Sangyo levelling thinner). Shield off the clear parts.
LEBANON
[area: 10,450 sq.km | population: 7 million | capital: Beirut | GDP: < 2,000 USD nominal per capita ]
The Lebanese air force ("Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnaniya") was founded in 1949 assisted by RAF advisors and got British aircraft like Vampires. But also quite some French aircraft, like Mirage III. Some 9 Magisters were acquired in the 1970s. At the time Lebanon was a prosperous country.
For more details about the Lebanon Air Force look at my Mirage page here...
Lebanon, serial 505, coded L602 (also had code L-442 and L-402)
* credit Fouga.be website
Another Airfix Magister was made in a scheme of the African Cameroon Air Force. Some 9 Magisters were acquired from France in the 1960s and it seems an additional 6 ordered were never delivered.
The decals are from the Max decals set #7223.
The colours airbrushed were these acrylic paints:
- lower surfaces light-grey/ blue through a mix of: 90% Gunze Sangyo H314 (FS35622) + 10% Gunze Sangyo H323 light blue.
Mask the lower areas and than...
- brown Revell Aqua 381 braun
- dark green with Gunze Sangyo H302 (FS34092)
The model was completed as described earlier. ADF antennas were fitted on the nose.
Finally, the model got a semi-dull varnish coat over the camouflage. Airbrush Future/ Pledge (thinned 20% with Gunze Sangyo levelling thinner) but mix in some 5% Tamiya X-21 Flat Base. This gives an even semi-dull sheen and also protects the decals.
CAMEROON
[ area: 475,442 sq.km | population: 30 million | capital: Yaounde | GDP 1,600 USD per capita nominal]
Cameroon was a French colony but previously a German colony before 1915 and became independent in 1960. It is situated on the mid African West Coast. The Cameroon Armed Forces, ("Forces armées camerounaises, FAC") consists of the army, a small navy, and the Cameroonian Air Force ("Armée de l'Air du Cameroun", AAC). The Air Force was set up with France assistance with Broussard utility aircraft in 1961, a C-47 in 1965. Alouette helicopters and a Puma were used and Flamant transports. Later on probably 9 Magister jets arrived as well as Do-28 and HS.748 and DHC Caribou. Other jet aircraft used are Alpha Jet MS2 and MB-326 jets. For utility and transport Do-128 and Mi-17, Mi-24, Gazelle, Chinese Z-9 helicopters as are a few CASA CN235 and C-130. Ultralights used are J300 Joker and Humbert Tetras. A Gulfstream GIII is used for VIP transport. The main base is at Douala and Garoua.
CM.170 Magister, "EL" with serial 330. It later turned out this jet was of a second batch of 6 that never got delivered in 2008 to Cameroon. Few "real" photos show these Magisters still at the SOGERMA plant in France.
Note that some 9 Magisters were delivered earlier to Cameroon.
Back to 1/72 Models
(c) Copyright Meindert "designer"/ All rights reserved. Your comments are welcomed by webmaster
Created this page May 9, 2024