Eduard 1/48 Mirage IIIC

[Dads203]

Next project lined up and ready to start. 

 

Box is a bit battered but the contents are all good, one I've had in the stash for years so I might as well build it. 

 

 

 

[Dads203]

This is certainly going to be an interesting build, fuselage is pretty much like the first release of the Airfix Bucc, like a banana. 

 

Anyway some preliminary stuff, nose gear bay and the cockpit primed in black Mr Surfacer.

Seat and rear cockpit bulkhead are the resin parts from the kit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers

[Hamden]

 

Interesting subject Dan and a good start, looking forward to watching this one come together

 

          Roger

[Dads203]

I reckon this is going to fight me all the way, the fuselage is warped and bowed allez uber de platz,

wings are not much better, I've had to the sand the top of the bottom of the main wings near to the wing tips 

so that they fit better. 

Started out on painting up of the cockpit with some basic blocking in colours, seat is the same, just blocked in at this point. 

 

Reskit Exhaust has been cleaned up and the first pass of metallic's done. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy 

[Dads203]

What an interesting kit to build - Eduard should mention that you might require a set of mole grips and a hammer to aid in 

construction with this one. 

 

I used alot of CA glue to get this thing together - better not drop it as some parts are under so much tension it would be like a 25 lb  practice bomb going off 

in the workshop. The IP, I used the decals so the pix below shows it in gloss at the moment, it will get a matt varnish and the dials picked out with some glass like finish.

I've cut the HUD off as I'll add that from something more suitable. 

 

Anyway its together, some issues but I doubt that anyone will know unless I tell. I have a bucket load of sanding joins and polishing up to do later. 

Reskit exhaust fits like a dream and the cockpit is painted up, I have weathered it up to look well used. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy 

[Biggles87]

Coming along very nicely.

You seem to have conquered the most difficult bits (IMHO), the undersides of the intakes and the wing/fuselage joins.

Nearly time for paint?

 

John

 

[Dads203]

Cheers John, it's an interesting build to put it mildly 

 

So the control surfaces are now on, some of the seams have been cleaned up and sanded, I've given it a quick blast of black primer just to check 

how close I am with final prep. More work on the intakes !! 

 

HUD and combing has had a few more details added and I've started the clean up of the landing gear. lots of mould slippage here which is pretty common with this kit,

Part clean up has taken ages with this build. The Brassin wheels are lovely though. 

 

A quick ask - anyone got a Brassin Matra R-530 missile and Mirage pylon that they are not using? - The kit supplied is terrible and also OOP typically 

Did look at the PJ productions version and again hard to get plus the kit will need some modification as I've glued the ventral fin on. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy

[Dads203]

Anyone got any close up pix of the sidewinder launch rails and pylons for the Mirage? 
Plus the Matra pylon would be handy to have. 😉

[Flyingdutchman]

Always good to see a Mirage being build! Like the addons for it.

 

 

[TeaWeasel]

Lovely work on those exhausts, and I've never heard of Eduard's "Royal Edition", is that a limited run or something? 

[Dads203]

27 minutes ago, TeaWeasel said:

Lovely work on those exhausts, and I've never heard of Eduard's "Royal Edition", is that a limited run or something? 

I think this was the first ever release of the Royal boxings for Eduard, you get a few extra bits in the box and loads more decal options. This one is limited to 1000 issued. 

[Dads203]

Any of you crazy kids know if the IIIC in French service used the cranked pylons for either the Sidewinder or the Magic missiles? Planning ahead for a load out. 
The kit pylons and launch rails are pants. 

[Hook]

7 hours ago, Dads203 said:

Any of you crazy kids know if the IIIC in French service used the cranked pylons for either the Sidewinder or the Magic missiles? Planning ahead for a load out. 
The kit pylons and launch rails are pants. 

The cranked pylons are for the Magic only AFAIK, and only a few of the Djibouti machines used for them. All other French units appear to have been AIM-9B only. 

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

[Biggles87]

PJ productions do a Sidewinder pylon/launch rail set, but from what I can see they look pretty plain.

 

John

Edit: Sorry, didn’t read the above post properly, you’ve obviously already looked at PJ.

[Dads203]

Cheers chaps, 

@Biggles87 I did look at them but they are getting quite hard to get hold of and as you say they are a bit basic.

Eduard do a set of Magic missies with the pylons but they are cranked - I reckon I can modify the resin pylons as it looks like the cranked part is just a type of adapter.

The plus side is you get a decent launch rail so if it all goes wrong I can graft the resin rail onto the kit pylon. 

 

Small update as I've been sanding and polishing a lot, still some seams to sort yet and I've been playing with the canopy. Another fun bit of the kit. the front section is slightly too narrow and the main canopy is wide - very wide so some careful gluing is in order. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy 

[corsaircorp]

Most excellent on the Mirage Dan !!

Well, mine are back on the shelf for today.....

Is this the Kinetic one ?

Sincerely.

CC

 

 

[Dads203]

34 minutes ago, corsaircorp said:

Most excellent on the Mirage Dan !!

Well, mine are back on the shelf for today.....

Is this the Kinetic one ?

Sincerely.

CC

 

 

 

It's the Eduard Kit CC - Just out of interest, how's the Kinetic kit in terms of fit? 

[Ray_W]

12 minutes ago, Dads203 said:

Just out of interest, how's the Kinetic kit in terms of fit? 

 

I have seen some fit issues but these can be avoided. See my WIP here for clues to avoid filler ...

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the build and would do another.

 

Ray

[Dads203]

24 minutes ago, Ray_W said:

 

I have seen some fit issues but these can be avoided. See my WIP here for clues to avoid filler ...

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the build and would do another.

 

Ray

 

That's a lovely build Ray, really nice mate. 

[Dads203]

Getting the seat ready, Eduard Resin seat as supplied with the kit with the PE belts going on, Its not finished at this point 

so the hovering belts will get sorted once the glue dries. It will get hit with a flat varnish and then some washes to help blend in the seat belts -

after of course i glue them down into a more natural position. 

 

Wheel hubs get some paint, these are the Brassin and are amazing in detail. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy

[Dads203]

Almost completed - the seat that is 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers

[corsaircorp]

12 hours ago, Dads203 said:

 

It's the Eduard Kit CC - Just out of interest, how's the Kinetic kit in terms of fit? 

Thanks Dan,

I'll have a look at the Kinetic...

He is still in its box beside an Heller and an Eduard ones...

I keep you in touch.

CC

[Gondor44]

A solution to the canopy not being a perfect fit would be to pose it in the open position.

 

Gondor

[Dads203]

Not much done today, just the landing gear. 

 

Black Mr Surfacer 1500 primer, main gear leg colour is Tamiya LP-11, oleo's are Chrome Bare Metal Foil. 

Light weathering is Ammo Mig Starship Filth Streaking Brusher thinned with mineral spirits. I have some decals to add to these 

once the oils have dried. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers for looking in 

 

[Hamden]

 

Coming together nicely Dan, looking forward to the next update now.

 

          Roger