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1/72 Heller Mirage IV A


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Hi All,

 

In between (still) continual pattern making, I have decided to have a go at making a smaller model and attempt to try and have it completed for the IPMS Newark and Lincoln Expo competition in October (something I last did 16 years ago!). I am not confident that I will achieve my target as I have got a lot of other things coming up to stop me, but I will give it a try.

 

I have selected the Heller 1/72 AMD Mirage IV A kit as my first attempt at 'rehabilitation' back into normal modelling again (whatever 'normal' is measured as!).

 

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The first thing to tackle is the cockpit. As can be seen, it is pretty basic at best (and inaccurate as well).

 

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This is the re-worked and detailed rear cockpit weapons operator's instrument panel (I am amazed that I can still even see any details in this scale let alone make them!).

 

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Kit landing lights installed and sanded.

 

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If I get the kit completed in time, I will foil it, as the last time that I did this (2004), it seemed to come out pretty well.

 

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And hopefully, it will turn out something a little like this!

 

100_9662_zpseojr5s33.jpgIf I do get the Mirage completed in time, and there is any time left, I will also try and complete one (or both) of these in a similar foiled NMF finish - I have elected to make the Sk 37 Viggen and S 29C Tunnan from these kits (the old Matchbox J 29F Tunnan has been assembled purely as a test airframe for foiling technique practice).

 

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Navigator/weapons operator's instrument panel completed.

 

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Rear bulkhead installed and ejection seat plastic card backing added. I have made a seat support column here to fill the gap between the seat and bulkhead. More rear cockpit work to follow.

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Derek

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Impressive job in the cockpit.:worthy:

I have this kit still in box and I must confess that I will use Pavla interior set as I don't think I can achieve the same level of details as you do.

Will follow your progress with great interest.

 

Antoine

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Mirage IVA ,3/AB diverted into Lossiemouth with an engine issue in the late sixties and I was very impressed when I saw it.

Your build will be followed with interest (and felonious intent :wicked:) and the kit may surface from a very long storage period.

Richard

 

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Really nice to see. Very impressed with your cockpit detailing! I started this kit a couple of years ago. But after having rescribed the wings and given the Pavla resin cockpit and seats the first coat of "light black" paint, the build stalled. Plan is to do an early NM aircraft using the Model Art decals. Have a second kit in my stash with plans to do a camouflaged later aircraft. Unfortunately missed getting the Model Art decals for this before thay sold out which annoyes me since the kit decals are useless.

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17 hours ago, Sten Ekedahl said:

Really nice to see. Very impressed with your cockpit detailing! I started this kit a couple of years ago. But after having rescribed the wings and given the Pavla resin cockpit and seats the first coat of "light black" paint, the build stalled. Plan is to do an early NM aircraft using the Model Art decals. Have a second kit in my stash with plans to do a camouflaged later aircraft. Unfortunately missed getting the Model Art decals for this before thay sold out which annoyes me since the kit decals are useless.

 

Hello Sten,

 

Like yours, mine will also be NMF using Model Art decals. I would love to have made the 1/48 Heller kit of this aircraft, but have been unable to obtain one (or the appropriate Model Art decals for one). I do not know if I have the Model Art decals for the 1/72 camouflaged aircraft or not - I'll have to look?

 

Many thanks

 

Derek

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13 hours ago, Antoine said:

Very nice scratch cockpit!

may I ask what do you use as documentation?

 

You never know, it could help a bit.

 

Thank you Antoine. All of my references are taken from the internet (and yes, I do have several of the images from your link as reference) - I type in 'Mirage IV cockpit' and 'Mirage IV A' and search the images.

 

The NMF Mirage IV A in its original nuclear deterrent role has a significantly different cockpit layout to the later tactical nuclear and reconnaissance roles (and the cockpit was black with quite extensive crinkle finish).

 

Primarily, I used the early Mirage IV cockpit reference images from places like this (plus whatever others I can find):

http://m.blog.naver.com/pwrangshion/110114288694

http://aviateurs.e-monsite.com/pages/1946-et-annees-suivantes/un-vol-comme-les-autres-x.html

https://maquettes-missiles.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/le-mirage-iv.html

 

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Nav m iv droit

 

Nav m iv face

 

Nav m iv gauche

 

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Derek

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  • 1 month later...

Brilliant thread Derek,I'm really looking forward to seeing how this one progresses particularly with the Mirage GB coming up in 2017, I hope it will be a source of inspiration to others with the Heller Mirage IV in the stash.

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On 29/11/2016 at 4:09 AM, haroldk said:

Hi Derek,

 

Awesome work on the Mirage IV.

 

May I ask why you have built up the nose wheel well? Does the model sit too level?

 

Cheers, Harold

 

Hi Harold - thanks for the comments.

 

I think that the model sits about right with the kit supplied wheel bay, but the real aircraft has a boxed-in wheel bay and the combined kit cockpit floor/nose wheel bay has some unsightly moulding depressions on the underside which I deemed better to cover in plastic card rather than attempt to fill and sand (I actually opened out and modified the nose leg mountings to enable the kit undercarrigae to remain at the original height and position).

 

Regards

 

Derek

 

 

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21 hours ago, SmashedGlass said:

Following this one with interest.....references for the IV seem pretty scarce, at least from what I've found so far.

 

You are right, there is not a great deal out there in terms of pure technical information, but there are plenty of external shots of the aircraft throughout ts caraeer.

 

Derek

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21 hours ago, Wez said:

Brilliant thread Derek,I'm really looking forward to seeing how this one progresses particularly with the Mirage GB coming up in 2017, I hope it will be a source of inspiration to others with the Heller Mirage IV in the stash.

 

Thank you Wez.

 

You'll have to guide to the up-coming Mirage GB, as I may enter it? The build is on hold at present due to work, but I hope to pick it up again soon.

 

Derek

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3 hours ago, Derek B said:

 

Thank you Wez.

 

You'll have to guide to the up-coming Mirage GB, as I may enter it? The build is on hold at present due to work, but I hope to pick it up again soon.

 

Derek

 

Derek,

 

You'd be more than welcome although the GB doesn't start until June, you can find it here

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