Booty003 Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 (edited) A brief history of the aircraft: On August 29, 1961, the DTIA ordered the design and development of two Mirage III V vertical take-off prototypes to be produced conjointly by Dassault Aviation and Sud-Aviation. The Mirage III V, a Mach 2 aircraft heavier than the Balzac, prefigured the operational version. It had eight Rolls-Royce RB 162-1 lift jets and a Snecma TF 106 with afterburner, the French version of the Pratt&Whitney JTF 10 turbofan. Mirage III V 01, equipped with a TF 104 b turbofan (63.7 kN of thrust with reheat) made its first stationary flight at Melun-Villaroche on February 12, 1965, piloted by René Bigand. A new version of the engine, the TF 106 A3, was mounted in December 19685, for the 15th sortie. The authorities realized that the chosen configuration was more complex and cumbersome than they had expected. At the end of 1965, the Air Force general staff drew up operational requirements for a Mirage III V called 1970 as they foresaw the need by 1970 for a nuclear vehicle to replace the tactical air units’ F 100s and Mirage III Es in cas of a hostile first strike. The aircraft’s first transition from stationary to horizontal flight was made by Jean-Marie Saget on March 24, 1966. Disappointingly, the lateral behavior of the aircraft during the transition phase proved more problematic than on the Balzac. On March 28, 1966, for technical and financial reasons, the Defense Ministry halted the production program, though allowing tests to continue. In June of 1966 NATO in turn abandoned its vertical take-off supersonic aircraft program. Mirage III V 02 fitted with a Snecma TF 306 turbofan made its first flight on June 22, 1966 piloted by Jean-Marie Saget. It was equipped with new air intakes over the lift jets. During its 11th sortie on September 12 it reached Mach 2.03 in level flight. It is the only VTOL aircraft in the world to have broken Mach 2. But on November 28, 1966, at Istres, it was accidentally destroyed during crabbing flight tests, and the program was definitely abandoned. WIP Link: This is the 1/72 Modelsvit Mirage IIIV-01. This is the first time that I have attempted a short run kit and experienced the challenges that this brings. It has been the hardest, most complex and difficult kit that I have ever done. The fact that it was a commission build is the only reason that it was even started let alone finished...!! Every part of the build was a challenge with barely any parts fitting properly - I sometime thought whether it would of been easier to whittle the aircraft out out of a solid block of plastic!! Anyway, it's all done and dusted now and will be heading off to its owner this week. The model has been airbrushed using Vallejo paints, aluminium for the fuselage, various shades of grey for the rest. The decals were superb and went down a treat. No weathering as such was applied as this is a test airframe. All sealed in with Alclad Gloss. I want to dedicate this to my best mate who passed away in March, he too was a keen model maker and aviation enthusiast. He was looking forward to seeing this build completed but I wasn't able to finish it in time. Cheers guys, Phil Thanks for looking, Phil Edited July 4, 2017 by Booty003 Update of photo links due to PB stupidity... 46 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Sow's ear to silk purse! John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Now there's something you don't see every day! Great work on a challenging kit - well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avgas Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 That fuselage has a bit of TSR-2 about it. Lovely job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Cool, never seen a model of one of those, really nicely done too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTiger66 Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Very nice Phil, an absolutely beautiful finish you've achieved. TonyT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave N Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Now that looks amazing. Never seen one of these before, can only imagine the teeth gnashing that's gone into this,but what a fine result. cheers, Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booty003 Posted May 24, 2017 Author Share Posted May 24, 2017 Cheers guys, the WIP shows just what a 'challenge' the kit actually was - never again.....!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Excellent result. I'm sure that your best mate would have been very impressed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardiff guy Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Really nice finish looks a good kit. well done Glenn. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolphin38 Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 That is a work of art, fantastic build 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 Very interesting, looks great! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain goat Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Marvellous and stunning in no particular order. Your mate would've been happy. Thanks for including so many pictures - almost seems as if one really gets to see all the angles of this aircraft, interesting. With all those lift engines the aircraft looks quite fat viewed from above. Jay 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 thats a great looking model. the intakes for the lift engines are really nice but they ruin the lines of the aircraft. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Firstly can I say how sorry I am to hear about your friend. Secondly, It's hard to believe you had any trouble with this kit as it looks an absolute jaffa. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Right up my street and something you don't see every day, for a limited run kit you have done a superb job, both on build and paint finish. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booty003 Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 I have just updated the images in this thread using Microsoft OneDrive - I find it much easier to use than PhotoBucket (idiots). Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngstROM Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 What I love about this hobby is that you never run out of things to be gobsmacked by...! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Hello Phil, Pristine rendition of an unusual Aircraft... If I remember, the original can be seen at Le Bourget, in the "Cocarde" hall You did great with a short run. One more not so easy kit tamed into submission... and beautifully !! Sincerely. Corsaircorp 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisTheBear Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Superb! I love experimental aircraft from the late 1940s through to the late 1960s, and you've built a stunner! DennisTheBear 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now