Mirage IIIRS

[Enzo the Magnificent]

This one is for @Sam

 

This is the PJ Productions kit.  As you can tell from the battered box, it has been in The Stash for some time. 

 

 

The kit does not have any Swiss decals, but Matterhorn Circus sheet 72014 does.   However therein lies a problem.  Why are there so many interesting schemes for Swiss Mirages?   It would be so easy to fall down a rabbit hole.  Roll on the Special Hobby IIIE so I can build a Swiss IIIS in the nice air defence scheme. 

[Sam]

Hey @Enzo the Magnificent, that‘s greeeeaat!
 

Any questions about our Mirages, just ask me. I will put everything I know upside down to find the answer. 

Edited February 19, 2023 by Sam

[Sam]

Check this out @Enzo the Magnificent

 

 

 

Kinetic has the 1/48 IIIRS as well. I may do a double build with the black/white AMIRs from 2003. 

 

Does your Matterhorn circle sheet include the „Mata Hari“ noseart?

[Enzo the Magnificent]

6 hours ago, Sam said:

Does your Matterhorn circle sheet include the „Mata Hari“ noseart?

 

It does!  That's the scheme that I am considering. 

[Col.]

On 2/19/2023 at 8:34 PM, Enzo the Magnificent said:

The kit does not have any Swiss decals, but Matterhorn Circus sheet 72014 does.   However therein lies a problem.  Why are there so many interesting schemes for Swiss Mirages?   It would be so easy to fall down a rabbit hole.  Roll on the Special Hobby IIIE so I can build a Swiss IIIS in the nice air defence scheme. 

It's best you get more Mirage III kits to ensure decent value from that decal sheet boss. Otherwise it's simply a waste  

[Enzo the Magnificent]

3 minutes ago, Col. said:

It's best you get more Mirage III kits to ensure decent value from that decal sheet boss. Otherwise it's simply a waste  

 

I agree.  There are at least two IIIS aircraft that I have my eye on.  Roll on the Special Hobby IIIE release! 

[RidgeRunner]

I am going to be interested to see how this progresses, Enzo @Enzo the Magnificent. I had my eye on one of these in the absence of a SH or Modelsvit kit.

 

Martin

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Here are the parts.

 

 

 

 

The panel lines are quite deep and wide - not Matchbox-style, but sort of what Airfix were being criticised for a few years ago.  I believe that PJ adapted the moulds to make the panel lines finer.    I don't believe they will be an issue as I tend to use a lot of primer...   They have never been an issue before.

[Col.]

That this is a mainly injection molded kit came as a surprise to me; always thought PJ were purely a resin producer.

[Jabba]

I am building one of these (well the 5RAD) in the Dassault GB, the parts look the same as what is in mine and is so far a very good build.

 

On 25/02/2023 at 19:06, Enzo the Magnificent said:

The panel lines are quite deep and wide - not Matchbox-style, but sort of what Airfix were being criticised for a few years ago.  I believe that PJ adapted the moulds to make the panel lines finer.    I don't believe they will be an issue as I tend to use a lot of primer...   They have never been an issue before.

 

Although produced by PJ is not the plastic by High Planes as stated on the box top? I think PJ just made the resin, etch metal and decals.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

As @Jabba correctly pointed out, the plastic parts are by High Planes.

 

PJ/HP produced a range of Mirages, including T-birds.  This meant that the parts breakdown was quite complex to accommodate the different noses and spines.  It is quite similar to the RV Aircraft kit in this respect with one important difference. The PJ/HP kit has a wide tab at the front of the main fuselage which provides a lot of structural integrity.     The fin for the IIIR is provided as a resin part.  This requires the parabrake housing to be carved off the plastic fuselage.  In this photo I haven't yet completed that process on the rear fuselage parts.

 

 

Main fuselage and wing assembled. 

 

 

The forward fuselage parts illustrated with some atrociously bad photography skills...

 

 

Main assembly complete.  There is a fair amount of filling and cleaning up required, mostly around the wing root.  I've noticed this is a common theme with Mirage III kits - the new Special Hobby kit being a wonderful exception.

 

 

 

[MickE]

Good progress.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Main assembly completed.  The clear resin nose has a slightly wider diameter than the fuselage so it needs to be carefully filed down

 

 

 

Pre-primed with a coat of lacquer and then primed with grey plastic primer from a rattle can.  The next step was to spray overall with Lifecolor UA-073.

 

 

The disruptive pattern was masked with my usual technique of Blutak worms, masking tape squares and Copydex.  The pattern is totally different to the French Mirage IIIE that I am building in the Dassault GB.

 

 

The green was sprayed with Lifecolor UA-238.

 

[Col.]

Nice progress on your Mirage menagerie boss.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Detail painting complete.  Decals tomorrow.

 

[Col.]

The paintwork looks good on these boss. Nicely done.

[Sam]

Looking good there @Enzo the Magnificent!

Interesting that the kit came with a clear nose. Was that intended to use masking tape to the camera windows? Would be tricky to place them in the correct locations. 
 

looking forward to Mata Hari!

 

[Hook]

On 2/19/2023 at 9:34 PM, Enzo the Magnificent said:

Roll on the Special Hobby IIIE so I can build a Swiss IIIS in the nice air defence scheme. 

SH will do a IIIS specific kit as well. 

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

[MickE]

Looking more like a Mirage now. Well done

[Sam]

35 minutes ago, Hook said:

SH will do a IIIS specific kit as well. 

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

Count me in 😎

[Hook]

1 hour ago, Sam said:

Count me in 😎

As well as an RS. 😎

[Sam]

1 hour ago, Hook said:

As well as an RS. 😎

Count me in 😎

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Decals applied and greeblies ready for fitment.  Who doesn't love a Mirage with canards?   

 

[Col.]

This one is looking rather smart boss. Those large Swiss roundels do add a nice burst of colour to the model even if at the same time they make the camouflage somewhat redundant

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Finished!