OT's Springbok Mirage III *** Done(ish) ***

[Old_Tonto]

This will be my entry for this group build:



IIRC there are a few issues with it but nothing too bad. The interior is OK but the seat is 'generic' looking so if you want to show off the office (which you can as the canopy and windscreen are separate), at least get a decent after-market seat. There is no ordnance supplied with the kit so I will try to make a pair of those funky rocket pod\Fuel tank combos.
You also get two types of lower wing fuel tanks. The larger tanks and the skinny supersonic versions.

Sprue shots:



I am hoping it will end up looking something like this:



Wish me luck.

[TobyC]

That looks a fun camou scheme.

[Old_Tonto]

That looks a fun camou scheme.

Tell me about it. I did the fighter version a while back by hand with a brush and it was a chore.



I don't think I got the Deep Buff quite right so this build will be an experiment with Revell Aquacolor and my airbrush skills.

Overall the kit is a good shape.

[shangos70]

I have one of these, I do hope your decals are better than mine. I don't know what they use to check register on them .Mine are fit for the bin. Tbh most of the Heller kits I have of this vintage have shocking decals.

Edit, re read your -post aftermarket decals!

[Old_Tonto]

I got around to starting this last night whilst watching the footy. I'd forgotten what a nice kit it is, less than an hour in and I was at this stage:



This morning I got the wings on:



The nose is only dry fitted as I need to pack it with some weight.

I'm not convinced that the wing droop should be so pronounced. Anyone have access to reliable drawings of the Mirage?



The cockpit is pretty bare with no detail on the instrument panel or even a decal. I will add a few lumps and bumps, just enough to fool the eye.



The seat is not attached yet so that will also be getting spruced up.

I have decided to go with the large centre line fuel tank and JL-100 rocket pod fuel tanks like this.



I'm not sure if they were ever used operationally but they look very cool.
I can see a few sink marks that need attention so on with the filling.

More to follow.

[Old_Tonto]

Whilst the filler dries along the wing to fuselage join I started work tarting up the kit seat as it's a bit bland.



That should look OK once I have painted the cushions, dry-brushed it and added seat harness.

I have also dipped the canopy and fitted some stretched sprue for the pitot tube as the kit one look like a scaffolding post.



Once I have blended in the pitot tube with some squadron green putty I will add some weight to it and attach it to the model where more filling and sanding with be required to make it flush.
Other than that the fit seems great. More work on the office area tonight.

[Kitaholic]

Looking good so far, nice start on the seat. Taking note of the issues for my build

Can't vouch for accuracy but these are the drawings I'm using

http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprint ... -iii-3.png

They show an anhedral, but not as pronounced

[DavidWomby]

I love your earlier one (is it a IIICZ?) in that camo and look forward to this one too.

David

[Old_Tonto]

Cheers guys and thanks for the drawing Kit. Just what I need.

[Old_Tonto]

Progress on the cockpit. As nothing is supplied with the kit I made this up based on a few images.



Seat cusions are blutak, belts are painted Tamiya tape. The space in front of the consoles is a mass of wires & cables so I used some wire & superglue to simulate this.



The IP is a decal (possibly a Mirage) and a bit of plastic painted green to simulate a screen of 1970's vintage.
I'm pretty sure none of this will bare scrutiny but once the immensly thick canopy is in place it will all be a blur anyway.

I have dipped & masked the canopy and fitted the front piece. Next I want to fit the ejection seat pull handles then close her up.
Under fuselage fuel tank has been fitted as well as plenty of filler. So tomorrow sanding and just maybe a primer coat to highlight issues.

[DavidWomby]

Nice work on the cockpit!

David

[Dazzled]

Excellent job on the office OT. Couldn't have done much better with an a/m one

[Old_Tonto]

Thanks guys. It should be enough to fool the eye.

I added an overhead ejection seat handle\loop before closing up the canopy. The fit is pretty good.



I have also added weight to the nose before attaching it to the fuselage. Some blending in will be done before I apply a primer coat. The nose looks a little puny to my eyes but it will have to do.

I am enjoying this build.

[shangos70]

Lovely work so far O.T, I like your gizmology in the cockpit.

[TimJ]

Great job on the cockpit.