Enzo the Magnificent Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 As Patrice has pointed out, we only have a month left in this GB. So why not try and squeeze another one in? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted April 27, 2023 Author Share Posted April 27, 2023 The kit was first released in 1976 and, in my opinion, is an absolute classic. I have built a number of these over the years. The kit was re-released in 2021 in the new-style Heller box. I was a little surprised to see everything loose inside the box, rather than being bagged. However, the box was taped securely shut. The parts are as one would expect from a 1976 mould. The panel lines are fine raised lines. The detail in the cockpit and wheel wells is very sparse. The jetpipe is blanked off with no depth. The worst part about this kit is the extremely flimsy undercarriage. The model tends to wobble about like a newborn gazelle and if you put it down with anything less than perfect precision, the undercarriage will collapse. That doesn't bode well for me and my penchant of putting lots of ballast in the nose. It's a problem which is easily fixed, however. While I'm at it, I might as well replace the plain wheels. The new Special Hobby Mirage IIIC has some unused parts which may come in useful for this one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 4 hours ago, Enzo the Magnificent said: we only have a month left in this GB. So why not try and squeeze another one in? Always leading by example! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 So let's get started. Th interior bits are ready to be installed. I was surprised to find that the nice decal sheet didn't have any decals for the cockpit. I think I have a Yahu instrument panel for a Mirage somewhere. The Heller jet exhaust is on the far right of the photo. I knocked up a replacement using parts from an RV Aircraft kit with the afterburner taken from the Special Hobby kit. Fuselage closed up. The nose, intakes and wing are ready for fitment. Like so. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 That escalated quickly! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 (edited) Very nice subject, following with interest! Note that VBA's have some additional bumps & lumps around the back under the rudder, see here. Edit: and some more: https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=1920x400:format=jpg/path/sd18a79ba74ef0800/image/icad087b47a8082c4/version/1500883429/image.jpg https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=1920x400:format=jpg/path/sd18a79ba74ef0800/image/i5b3d11ea0ac29ee8/version/1500883429/image.jpg Cheers, Andre Edited April 29, 2023 by Hook 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted April 29, 2023 Author Share Posted April 29, 2023 31 minutes ago, Hook said: Note that VBA's have some additional bumps & lumps around the back under the rudder, see here. Thanks Andre. That's very helpful. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted May 3, 2023 Author Share Posted May 3, 2023 I've added the details that @Hook recommended. I then sprayed a pre-prime coat of lacquer followed by grey plastic primer from a rattle can. Ready for the paint shop. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 26 minutes ago, Enzo the Magnificent said: I've added the details Looking good! Cheers, Andre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted May 7, 2023 Share Posted May 7, 2023 Nice start! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted May 15, 2023 Author Share Posted May 15, 2023 Although it looks like USAF South East Asia camouflage, the colours are not the same. I used the same colours as I used on my F-104G build last year. The tan is Vallejo 71.112 The disruptive pattern was masked with my usual technique of blutak worms, masking tape squares and Copydex. The medium green is Mr Hobby H340 while the dark green is Xtracrylix XA1110. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 Very nice. The shades are indeed different, many kit instructions notwithstanding, yours look good! Cheers, Andre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted May 19, 2023 Author Share Posted May 19, 2023 Decals applied. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 Very much liking this, one in my future if my stock is any indicator. Must have a chat to the squirrels some time. Steve. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 20 hours ago, Enzo the Magnificent said: Decals applied. Those really made her come alive! Cheers, Andre 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted June 7, 2023 Author Share Posted June 7, 2023 The undercarriage in this kit is very fimsy indeed, so I replaced the legs with an SAC white metal set. The wheels are CMK resin replacements intended for the new Special Hobby kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted June 7, 2023 Author Share Posted June 7, 2023 So... we're finished! As I mentioned, I replaced the undercarriage. Apart from the underwing tanks, this kit does not have any other stores. That's fine for a Belgian aircraft as I rarely saw them carrying any sort of store. The only thing I ever saw was a baggage pod. They did however have pylons, which are not included in this kit. Not to worry... the new Specail Hobby Mirage IIIC has an abundance of pylons, so I took some suitable leftovers from my three builds of that kit. Oh... and the ejection seat is from a SH Mirage F1 kit. This kit is fifty years old! But with a bit of work and some replacement detail parts, I hope you'll agree that it still stands up well today. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted June 8, 2023 Share Posted June 8, 2023 13 hours ago, Enzo the Magnificent said: I hope you'll agree that it still stands up well today. It sure does, under your ministrations anyway. I hope I can manage something akin to it when I come to mine. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted June 8, 2023 Share Posted June 8, 2023 Another pretty thing, Enzo! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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