South American Mirages, 4X Heller 1/72 Options

[bad edd]

I started yet another multi build, this time using the good'old heller Mirage IIIE/R/5/BA as a start.

A little about the kit.
Cheap and easy to find , it's a pretty decent representation of the real thing.
The panel details are not engraved, but the soft plastic makes this task a little easier.

The box artwork, not the best Heller has:


Pieces:






Canopy:


Decal:


On ALL 8 boxes i have, the decals are out of register, this one is the bes i could find. Lucky I won't use any of them.

Details; the cockpit, exhaust and lack any details:


Tha nosewheel is a little too simple and the main LG legs look too thin.


Against two sets of plans, it stands quite well, some issues at the fin. The BA nose is also too short.




Tha big problem of this kit is the total lack of armament. Only two sets of fuel tanks are provided.

[bad edd]

Here's where I want to get:

Chile Pantera, a Mirage 50 upgraded by ENAER with israeli help. Almost a Kfir with Atar engine.


Mirage 50C, the original version with Agave radar.


Mirage Elkan, actually the ex. Belgium 5BA fitted with canards.


Peru Mirage M5P.



For the Elkan I used the nose from the box, with a 2mm plug to correct the shorter length:


The tricky part will be to get the unique tail fairing right.

Pantera got a resin nose, adapted from an Italeri Kfir and a piece from a pen.



The M5P has the same nose as the Elkan, plus a Mirage F1 IFR probe.



For the M50C was very difficult to get a right nose shape . I finally fixed it using a pen segment and a fuel tank tip:)
This has already been engraved and got some of the antennae and intakes.

[Albert Moore]

Hi Edd,

Good to see you are gracing us with another set of eclectic builds! I look forward to seeing these come to life.

Cheers,
Alby

[bad edd]

I cast tons of resin goodies for them:


Seats:


The special Atar 50 intakes were adapted from the in box ones and copied in resin.
For the normal ones, i'll just remove the round panels.


Three of them will use FCM decals;
Pantera and M5P:




Elkan:




For the 50C I'll adapt a 50FC, from a Carpena sheet:

[dragan_mig31]

wow this is what i have beend waiting for.cant wait to see the camos

[ChernayaAkula]

This is gonna be good!

[bad edd]

I started engraving the Pantera, also filed the nose a little as it seemed bulkier than the real thing.
The Heller fuselage is much slimmer than Italeri's Kfir which donated the nose.

[dragan_mig31]

niceeee

[masterqq]

Wow... I like these... I have one done recently and I am looking forward for your build ...

[Jack-Swiss]

Lovely work badedd...another great in-line production from you,cool, can't wait for more!!!

Cheers

[bad edd]

Engraving three sets of wings is not funny :


The Elkan doesn't make it easier, it has some special looking fairings and antennae that need to be scratchbuilt:




From the brick of plastic sheet and putty, i'll have to get to this:

[Aigore]

`Great to see you at it again!! that´ll be a gprgeous trio!

[Citrico]

Wow!!


Chilean Mirages!!, my favourites. Very nice that you´re interested in those historic planes of our beloved air force.

I´m happy to see this thread. Congratulations!

Andrés Fonseca Wilder

[dragan_mig31]

you a master of deltas cant wait to see the cockpits....

[Aggressor Suppor...]

I'm predicting good looking Mirages!

[bad edd]

Thank you for your kind words!

The Panteras had initially the standard ventral fin. It was later replaced with the fat chaff/flares dispenser type.
It also had to be scratchbuilt.

[bad edd]

Zee Pantera has all the features on;
The ventral fairing, the IFR probe (half scratch, half stolen from a Skyhawk) ,
the canards (taken from an Italeri Kfir, shortened and filed for a larger sweep angle).




The resin instrument panels will be slightly modified according to the model.

[mario krijan]

You are my man! What a research, and eye for details!!! Great! :-)

[dragan_mig31]

great job on the canards and the cockpits and the ifr probe.cant wait to see the cockpits done...

[PIERRE CHRISTIAN...]

Great job so far !

I like FCM decals....I've used FCM decals for my P-47D-25.

Bye.