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Mirage IIICJ (72062) 1:72 ModelSvit Sacré bleu! If you have not heard of the Mirage III where have you been? The Mirage III is one of the most recognisable aircraft to emerge from the Dassault Aviation stable in post war France. The Mirage III grew out of French government studies for a light weight all weather interceptor able to reach 18,000 meter in altitude in Six minutes and able to reach mach 1.3 in level flight. The tail less delta combined the wing with an area ruled fuselage to achieve its speed. The Mirage IIIC would remain in French service from 1961 until 1988. The largest export customer for the Mirage III was Israel. This version being the Mirage IIICJ. Israel found these aircraft more than a match for anything her neighbours we able to field with the aircraft being a success in combat with Syrian, Jordanian and Egyptian aircraft. Israel then sold some of these aircraft to Argentina. Kit This is the eagerly awaited new kit from Modelsvit. The kit resembles a high quality shorter run kit with fine surface details. While the parts resemble some more main stream manufactures in appearance they will no doubt need more care in the assembly. In the box we get 7 sprues of grey plastic, a clear sprue, a PE fret, masks(not shown) , and a decal sheet.. Construction starts in the conventional way with the cockpit. The seat is built up from 7 parts with PE belts and handles. The tub is made up from the base, rear bulkhead, two sidewalls and the area behind the cockpit. The instrument panel with its PE faces goes in, and PE is supplied for the side consoles. The cockpit then goes into the fuselage. The coaming then goes on in front of the instrument panel. Next up the engine exhaust is made up. This is a three part tube with the engine end and burner ring at the front and the inner nozzle at the rear. Once the engine and cockpit are in the fuselage can be closed up. Construction then moves onto the wing, first up the wheel wells need to be fully boxed in. Holes need to be opened up for the underwing stores. The main fuselage can then be joined to the lower wing with the upper wings following as well as the vertical fin. At the rear of the main wing the separate flaps and flap tracks are fitted. Here there are parts for dropped or straight flaps. The intakes are then fitted to the main fuselage, and at the rear underside the ventral strake is fitted. Moving on to the landing gear, the legs are made up and the main wheels can be fitted to their gear legs, and these can be fitted, along with the noise wheel at the front. For under wing/fuselage stores a single Matra R530, 2 Shafrir-2, 2 AIM-9D sidewinders, 2 RP-62 1300L tanks, and 2 RP-18R 500L tanks are supplied. These and the appropriate pylons can be fitted. Finishing touches are fitting the gear doors, canopy (both a one part closed, and multi part open options are provided), lastly some aerials (where appropriate). Decals There are 5 schemes provided in the kit; the decals are well printed by Decograf with no obvious flaws. From the box you can build; Mirage IIICJ No. 103, 253 Sqn, Eitham Air Base, Israel 1981 (2 tone grey scheme) Mirage IIICJ No. 758, 101 Sqn, Harzor Air Base, Israel, 1974 (Brown, Green, Tan scheme) Mirage IIICJ No. 107, 117 Sqnm Ramat David Air Base, Israel, 1973 (Brown, Green, Tan scheme with large yellow recognition markings) Mirage IIICJ No. 159, Argentinian Air Force, seen at the IAF Museum 2004 (Green, Blue Scheme) Mirage IIICJ No. C-704 Argentinian Air Force, Base Aerea de Rio Gallegous, 1986 (Dark Earth, Sand scheme) Conclusion It is good to see a decent model of the Mirage IICJ available in 1.72, this should build up to make an eye catching model if care is taken with the build. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of