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Italeri 1:48 Dassault F.1C


Tiger331

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Got my hands on a copy of the new Italeri re-release of the Esci Dassault Mirage F.1C....one of my all time favourite aircraft. The original kit was one of Esci's better efforts although some work is needed in certain areas including the undercarriage, air brakes and cockpit, all of which are a bit basic. Panel lines are, however, engraved.

This is, to my knowledge, the third re-release of the kit by Italeri....The last combined paints, brush etc and, for some reason, was not widely distributed hence the often ridiculous prices reached on EBay. All that is behind us now, with Italeri re-popping the kit and its all GOOD news. Inspite of 'encouraging' the modeller to build an early generation F.1C (or export equivalent) the kit still retains the additional sprue that was included in the F.1CR/CT re-issue. For those not familiar with the original kit, the additional sprue includes the later stores pylons, MERs, bombs, ECM and Chaff pods, ejection seat and recce camera fairing etc associated with the CR/CT variants.....so if you have the right aftermarket decals you could build the two later variants out of this kit too.

The piece de l'resistance though is the SUPERB silkscreen quality decal sheet, produced by Cartograf. It is easily up there with the very best of aftermarket sheets and offers no fewer than 7 Armee de l'Air choices, when their F.1Cs all wore attractive tail markings. There are also options for Hellenic, Spanish and Jordanian examples. My copy was in perfect register and includes a very comprehensive set of stencils and safety markings.

Have no doubt, this is one of the better re-releases we have seen in recent months with some inspired decal choices, which is more than can be said about the RAF options in the re-released Tornado F.3 from the same stable !.

Highly recommended to all

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I have the FM weapons set for the F1, and the casting is just as bad as in the article you linked to. Will require massive cleanup, pluss it only contained the banana belly tank, not double set of underwing tanks. This is why it is so nice that I soon have 2 F1's in stock to do exactly that - arrange for dual underwing tanks :)

For the same reason I am very pleased that the new release form Italieri contain the extra sprue form the CR/CT release - this way I also can avoid using the poorly shaped parts from FM

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I hadn't looked too hard at it, wheels ok, burner can - chunk taken out, cockpit tub SUCKS!!!.

It looks like no mould release agent was used.

Instrument panel is not much better.

White metal isn't too bad, but it looks like FM just cannot do resin.

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Yeah, but is the double underwing tanks that is really interesting. HOwever the kit comes with only one, set up for centerline mount.

If you can get hold of a pair of Jaguar tanks and modify the fins the tanks themselves are the same size as the F.1 tanks.

Stephen

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