Dassault Mirage III in 1/32 scale
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Dassault Mirage III models in 1/32 scale 
 
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Mirage III Model [2] would be made in "traditional" old style French markings. The red intake markings were used as provided by the excellent Revell decals. 

The EC 2/13 ALPES  scheme as shown in the book of Breffort & Jouineau was selected as it has a nice colour scheme and tail markings. This meant that a number of kit decals could be used, but also I had to make the "Alpes"  markings. This was done with a combination of coloured sheet, white Bare Metal decalsheet for the inktjet printer; After printing and drying, the decals were given a coat of special  Microscale Decal Film to protect them.  For the Escadre unit markings various decals were retrieved from the decal spares box and trim coloured decalsheet used from Xtradecal.

The overall model had obtained several coats of the ALCLAD II and this is very gloss after polishing it with a piece of cloth. Take care to avoid fingerprints, so handle the model at the dark nose cone and rear tail pipe only.

Decalling in progress.... 
The decals came mainly from the Revell kit. I always apply a bit of JOHNSON FUTURE (later called PLEDGE) on the back of the decal after it is removed from its backing paper, and apply than; this will prevent silvering.

..
Details of the nose and main gear seen above. With pieces of card and stretched sprue, details were added such as braking wires, actuators and also the anti-swivel braces were made from some card. The tyres needed a bit of putty and sanding but are otherwise OK. 

Tyres were painted "tyre black", hubs metallic. Some washing done with a mix of Johnson FUTURE and black acrylic paint, this provided some depth on the legs and bays. 

The canopy looked OK at first but was not very clear (mould errors inside the plastic). There is not much that can be done about this: I dipped the whole canopy into FUTURE and carefully let the canopy dry. 

The canopy got a couple of mirrors and a handle cut from spare thin etched metal. 


Also the Alpes squadron unit markings on the tail can be seen.

Upper view. After applying the stencilling and roundels (mostly from the kit), these were given a light "overspray" of ALCLAD metallic aluminium (same colour as the overall colour). This gives a very convincing effect. 

The flap edges were given a bit of a darker wash with acrylic. The navigation lights as supplied in the kit need some extra work as they do not fit well. Use a fine file and a bit of Micro Kristal Klear to get a better flush fit and Tamiya transparant colours. 

The ALCLAD II metallics were polished for a last time with a piece of cloth.  Than the overall model got a light coat of FUTURE to protect shine and decals. 

The pitot tubes came as last items. The nose pitot tube has a particular shape on the Mirage III. I used the front end of the kit part but also a piece of metal rod to get a better appearance. The two small pitot tubes (although in the kit)  in front of the wind screen were made from a piece of card and rod. 

As I had no good missiles in this scale, these were not (yet) fitted on the model.

The Mirage III of the "Alpes" ... a nice result I think.

French AF of EC 2/13 ALPES as based on Colmar in 1965... Note the alps mountains in the background.  Just joking.. this is the model




Model [1] of the Australian Mirage III O of the ARDU  meant that a number of kit decals could be used, but the ARDU tail markings had to be made myself. 

The scheme is seen in the book of Breffort & Jouineau drawings (although it has some small errors). With a search with Google on the internet you will find real photos of the ARDU planes. 

The ARDU symbol was also found on the internet; it was scaled in the photo editor program to the correct size in 1/32 and 4 copies printed on white decal sheet for inktjet printers from Bare Metal foil. 
After printing and drying, the decals were given a coat of Microscale Decal Film to protect them. I used 2 copies for each side over eachother after applying the black and yellow striping in the tail. 

[ NOTE DECEMBER 10, 2006:   Flying High Decals released the ARDU decals in their set: - RAAF Mirages Parts 1-9 ;
Obviously I already had finished my model... ]

Some decals such as the serials were found in the spare decal box.

The resin seat of High Planes is seen installed here. The seat got green and blue cushions and para packs, the straps a mix of brown and grey. Seat buckles came from an etched metal set and the seat got a black wash. 

The overall plane of the ARDU is in reality obviously kept in very good condition and has almost no weathering. Only the flap panels and gear legs got a little black wash. 

Note the rear panel with emergency rescue arrow and panel. It was drilled open, painted and got a little Micro kristal clear. The opened up camera windows in the nose were closed using Microscale Kristal Clear as well. They got a protective coat of Future after drying. 

Here you can see the instrument cover panel and seat. The canopy was hinged by using very tiny metal rods that keep it into position. A small hole was drilled in the fuselage spine and the model canopy is transportable.


The nose gear also got some details, similar as the other Mirage III model. 


    also note the added detail onto the insides of the nose gear door. 

Here you will see some extra work done on the tailpipe with metal rod and thin pieces of plastic. The whole was given a metal look. 

 


AUSTRALIA

map  falg  RAAF  

[ area: 7,700,000 km2 | population: 26 million | capital: Canberra | GDP per capita nominal  68,000 USD ]

In the British Commonwealth in Australia the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was set up in 1912 with at Point Cook Victoria a flying school. The AFC was involved in the First World War with detachments to the RFC in Mesopotamia (Iraq), Egypt and England flying aircraft like the SE.5. Later, in 1921 the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was established. Some of the types flown were Bulldogs, Demon fighters and Ansons. In 1936 the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) was set up and manufactured many aircraft in license like the Wirraway. During the Second World War Australia offered training to air crews under the Empire Air Training Scheme. After the bombing by Japan of Darwin in 1943, during the war many missions were flown using types like the Buffalo, Hudson and P-40s. The first Australian fighter, the Boomerang was produced by CAC along with Mosquitos and Beaufighters. A number of RAAF units flew from Britain against Nazi Germany with Lancasters and also aircraft were flying from the desert in North Africa and operating over the Mediterranean.

After the war, De Havilland Vampire jets were ordered with some delivered but particularly most of some 80 Vampire F.30 and FB.31 license manufactured by CAC. And at the island of Malta, Vampires were stationed during the Cold War. Missions were flown during the Berlin Airlift with the Avro York and during the Korean War with types like the Gloster Meteors and P-51 Mustangs. Later RAAF obtained F-86 Sabres and in the early 1960s, Dassault Mirage III O were acquired with over 100 aircraft operated and locally manufactured. Canberras were flown from 1964 in the Vietnam War and including Caribou transport aircraft as well as Neptune. The RAAF acquired starting from 1967 Macchi MB-326 H jet trainers. The demonstration team "the Roulettes" flew with the MB-326 from 1970-1989.

F-111 strike aircraft were ordered but the 24 aircraft delivered not earlier than 1973. Meanwhile in 1971 a defense treaty was signed with Malaysia and Singapore and small detachments with Mirages at Butterworth Malaysia and Tengpah in Singapore. Some 75 modern F/A-18 Hornets were acquired with first deliveries in 1984 and the Mirage III O aircraft were retired in 1988 (with some 50 sold to Pakistan). Lockheed Martin F-35A aircraft are currently put in to service at Williamstown with a planned fleet of 72.


    

 

  A special plane from a special unit.


  

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[ click for large image ]

So... a couple of 1/32 scale Mirage III kits. Hope you like them. 


 model "put onto" the tarmac....

 

NOTE: a 1/32 Revell Mirage 5J kit was also used for a Kfir C7 conversion seen here...  

 

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Created this page October 1, 2006