paul-muc Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 (edited) The Matchbox kit dates from 1986. There are some scratches on the clear part, but the decals look like new. I will build the Swiss version in aluminium finish and I will show her in flight, i.e., undercarriage in. Edited January 27, 2022 by paul-muc title 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 Hi Paul Delighted to see the Mirage here, the Swiss one looks like polished NMF so it will be stunning, Best of luck Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 Greeting from Down Under Paul and great to see PK-44 represented here within this GB. There's something about Matchbox's Mirage that really makes me want one and those decals do look superb indeed. The Mirage looks best in flight, so this will be a stunning build. Cheers, welcome aboard and best of luck.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 16 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said: There's something about Matchbox's Mirage that really makes me want one ... Until you put this “B” up against a set of plans. From memory Matchbox didn’t lengthen the fuselage either at all or not enough from the “C” kit so it looks rather stunted. I tried to fix one up in 1986 and despite hours of work then it didn’t get finished. Must dig it out again when back in Brisvegas CoVid Central and see if it’s worth restarting/finishing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul-muc Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 I've spent some time on the cockpit interior. One seat was missing, so I have scratch built the second one, using the seat of the kit as template. Additional there are two instrument panels, a cover for the seam of the aft cockpit bulkhead and of course the pilots. I have found two in the spares box. They are identical to those of the Lynx kit, so I think they are generic types. I was also preparing the display stand, as the aircraft will be shown in flight over the Alps. The base is a cap of a glass, that got a hole for the aluminium rod and will get a filling with plaster for a solid stand. For a better grip of the needle in the fuselage I have glued pieces of gauze bandage opposite the hole. Next step will be putting all parts together so the construction will be complete. The base will get another spray. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul-muc Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 The construction is done. I have used Mr. Base White as filler. The advantage is, that you can wipe off the surplus with Mr. Color Thinner. So no sanding is needed. The disadvantage is, that the filler shrinks when drying. You mostly have to do the filling a second time. In this case it doesn't matter. I have to take care of some spots anyway. Next step is completing the cockpit. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Thats looking very neat and tidy… nice update. Cheers.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul-muc Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 The pilot and navigator are ready for take off. Then I have sanded the edges of the canopy to prevent reflections later on the finished model, painted them in matt black and glued the canopy to the fueselage. For clear parts I normally use gloss varnish, but in this case it is matt because of the interior in matt black. The varnish is also a good filler for gaps between canopy and fuselage. The display stand gives an impression how she would look in flight. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Looks very purposeful in that stance. The Mirage is such a beautiful aircraft and I think in flight models really show up it's sleek and sharp lines. Cheers.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 This looks good and gone together very well. I like the idea for your stand too, I might have to ahem, steal that too. Great work Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul-muc Posted January 20, 2022 Author Share Posted January 20, 2022 Now it was filling an sanding and priming and filling and ... Ich have used Tamiya grey primer in spray can, which made clearly visible where to spend some more time with filling. My trial of preshading was useless, because when I use the airbrush it is always full blast. I have used Revell 90. It is still not perfect now, but I will go on with painting. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 Nice progress shots again Paul and don’t worry too much about the pre-shading issues, I’ve seen plenty of good models built that avoid these modern techniques…. and I’ve never bothered with it either. Cheers.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul-muc Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 Thanks! Unfortunately a closer inspection showed, that I hadn't done the work properly. Especially the wing roots needed some more attention. So I have filled and sanded again and this morning she got another coat of silver. I will let her dry some days and in the meantime I shall start with the Westland Lynx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul-muc Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 I had another session with filler and airbrush. Then I painted the small areas on the stabilizer that were supposed to bei beige, but my mixture of light grey and tan resulted in a somewhat greenish grey. The decals had a very wide border. I cut them out as precise as possible and they went on smoothly. But the red decal on the right air intake reacted badly on Micro Sol. I don't know why, perhaps I was too genereous. But now, after a while when busy with foto editing, the wrincles are gone. So I would say she is finished. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 Very nice work. Inspires me to maybe dig out my 36 year stalled build of this kit (except it’ll be finished as a “D” given the lengthening I did to it) that is if it’s under 25 percent complete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 Excellent work Paul, she honestly has turned out stunning and with a flawless paint job. That's is very impressive work indeed and the final gallery photos are just fabulous. Cheers and well modelled.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 Absolutely superb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul-muc Posted January 27, 2022 Author Share Posted January 27, 2022 Thank you for your kind comments. I like this one: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 Another fine addition to this GB Paul,lovely finish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Norman Posted February 9, 2022 Share Posted February 9, 2022 Wow that turned out really well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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