Des Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) Well two Mirage IIIE and a VPA3 to be more accurate with the Agave nose of the latter in my opinion providing the ultimate in Mirage style. The models are based on two slightly different 1/48 Italeri (ex-ESCI) Dassault Mirage IIIE kits. No.2634 which was for a time the standard boxing with decals for four French examples along with one each from, Spain, Switzerland and Australia and No. 2674 a special release marking thirty years in French service with decals for nine options along with an additional sprue with parts for the Martel AS 37 ARM and RP30 1700 Litre drop tanks. Some parts such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder really show their age and others such as the very shallow jet exhausts need some work and spare parts/plastic tubing to deepen them. My aim was to model one in the early form of higher-visibility yellow edged markings and the other in the later toned-down form but to build both as near enough from the box as was possible with some slight changes to aerial fit and the extended jet pipes as mentioned. For the French examples the only after-market addition was the AN-52 Nuclear Weapon from Belcher Bits however for The Pakistani Mirage VPA3 with Agave Radar Nose built for a magazine article the build was a bit more complicated. Contrasting styles of French high and low visibility markings Mirage IIIE from Esc.03/003 'La Fayette' with an AN52 on the centreline was completed in the earlier higher-visibility form of the markings which required a little change to the kit decals to provide a suitable serial and sourcing a second PHIMAT. Mirage IIIE from ESC 02/003 'Champagne' with Martel ARM on the centreline was completed in the later lower visibility form of markings. Pakistan Air Force Mirage VPA3 from No.8 ‘Haider’ Squadron was converted by using an adapted form of Eagle Design’s resin set CK-19 for the Peruvian Mirage 5P4 providing a new nose, cockpit and jet pipe. The Exocet ASM came from the Airfix Super Etendard along with the carrying pylon which was extended and re-shaped to resemble that used on the Mirage and the AIM-9P were from an Esci F-4. National markings came from a Bright Star sheet while the unit tail badge was photo-shopped from an internet image of the squadron crest and home-printed. Edited March 17, 2017 by Des Correct Martel description 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Beautiful Mirages! Just one precision, the AR missile is a Martel. ARMAT, while based on the Martel, was not in service with Armée de l'Air, but reserved for export, used for exemple by IrAF during the Gulf War, under the name Baz AR. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Des Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 Thanks for that Antoine , was not aware of the difference and had always assumed it was just a late service upgrade for the Martel , will amend accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) Very nice Mirage trio with great attention to detail! Very brave tackling the old Esci kit, and even more so 3.... AML resin does very nice exhaust nozzles dedicated to this kit if you plan further builds! The pakistani Sidewinder seem ho represent more a L/M model, but the PAF uses thoses as well Edited March 17, 2017 by exdraken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 47 minutes ago, Des said: Thanks for that Antoine , was not aware of the difference and had always assumed it was just a late service upgrade for the Martel , will amend accordingly. You're not wrong there, kind of a late upgrade. The missile is about the same externaly, but very different inside, mostly for the seeker. Iraq was interested in the Mirage F1 on condition, it has to be sold with the Martel. UK permission was needed, but not given. Matra then took another route, and produced the ARMAT. About the Pak Mirage, agree about the, eeerrrh, AIM-9 what? Neither -9P or -9L, better get some from Eduard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael51 Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Beautiful work. Great aeroplane. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerrardandrews Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Three great kits, made to a brilliant standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 15 hours ago, Antoine said: You're not wrong there, kind of a late upgrade. The missile is about the same externaly, but very different inside, mostly for the seeker. Iraq was interested in the Mirage F1 on condition, it has to be sold with the Martel. UK permission was needed, but not given. Matra then took another route, and produced the ARMAT. About the Pak Mirage, agree about the, eeerrrh, AIM-9 what? Neither -9P or -9L, better get some from Eduard. Interestbg news to me! Was the Armat successfully used by Iraq? Aim-9 Fins look double delta to me, but painted like some J/Ps are.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 About BAZ AR, from French reports, yes. For the AIM-9, if it's said to be an L/M, the double delta is very badly done, and the nose is too long with a wrong shapee. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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