Making my own Mirage, IIIC resin conversion for zee Heller Options

[bad edd]

Tired of waiting for Hobby Boss to scale down their 1/48 kit, i resolved to make my own conversion for Heller's Kit.

First, i had to chop the fuselage. The fin, exhaust end and forward fuselage have to go:


The air intakes fairings also have to go:


Heller's fuselage is a keeper:

So is the wing:


For the C variant I'll use AML's bottom:


This is what i'll use:


Hi-tech : IIIC exhaust, seat, wheels and instrument panel.
AML : nose, IIIC and CJ exhaust panels and cockpit bay.
Hi-planes : IIICJ exhaust.
Revell : Fin

This is the nose now:


It fits quite good to the fuselage:

[rom]

impressive surgery!!

keep us posted!

[the_baphomet_00]

WOW,

I´ll keep my eyes on this..!!

[dragan_mig31]

niceee

[Jim Barr]

Just curious as you mentioned Hobby Boss which only makes a C and you are using a AML C burner section so figure you are going for a C; then what is so wrong with the AML or High Planes "C" offerings that made you go down this path instead of using one of them as a starting point?

Regards
Jim Barr

[alrite]

Hey Ed very impressive work but I've got the same question as this chap;

Just curious as you mentioned Hobby Boss which only makes a C and you are using a AML C burner section so figure you are going for a C; then what is so wrong with the AML or High Planes "C" offerings that made you go down this path instead of using one of them as a starting point?

Regards
Jim Barr

I've tried an AML kit not too long ago and it is a dog, awful fitting kit, I guess that may be the reason.

cheers

[bad edd]

I have two AMLs and i'm just too scared to start them
High-plane's fuselage and wing seem wrong (fuselage too short, wing too long-chord)
Besides, they're around 25 euro each...

I intend to build at least 4-5 Mirages C and CJ ...so why not go with a home made resin conversion set and the 5 euro Heller as a start?
I'll end up with a cheaper, easier to build and more accurate early Mirage.

[Jim Barr]

I've tried an AML kit not too long ago and it is a dog, awful fitting kit, I guess that may be the reason.

Did you try the original release or the revamped second edition?

Regards
Jim Barr

[bad edd]

I have two "revised" ones. Except for the nicer engravings, the second edition actually seem worse then the original.
The original had very nice resin intakes, the fin already on the fuselage and many other features that made it actually easier to build.
Both have a problem with the canopy size and position relative to the intakes. Actually the mobile part of the canopy is too short, making the intakes look too forward. The front fuselage is about 1 mm too short (doesn't seem much but is visible.The back fuselage is about 3mm too short. That IS visible.
The wing fits horribly, the separated elevons don't help much.
I'll come back with pics.

This post has been edited by bad edd: Jun 5 2009, 06:55 PM

[bad edd]

Here a quick "rivetcounter" pic.
I have three sets of drawings , on all of them the "shortness" problems are obvious on AML kit.

[Jim Barr]

Edd

Thanks for the comparison with the plans, I dug out the one set of 1/72 "C" plans I have and get the same results for the AML, that's a shame, and I agree with the better detail resin in the original release.

Also compared the High Planes and while I get a slightly longer cord as you state, (a couple of minutes with a sanding stick will correct that), when I laid the fuselage on the planes it came up almost dead on in all regards as does the vertical stabilizer; however the parachute housing is way short.

With your cost for the High Planes kit and the amount of time it takes to get everything squared away on them I can see your reasoning for going with the Heller kit.

All the Best
Jim

[bad edd]

Thank you Jim!

I agree with you, the HP fuselage is good.
I love the Hi-Planes Mirages and Cheetahs. I would for sure use the HP kit if i wanted to build just one.
But i just won't go five times through the hell of sanding the inside of the wings

[Jim Barr]

It is still a mystery to me that we do not have a state of the art 1/72 Mirage III/5/50/Varients family along with the F-5E/F and MiG-21 MF/Bis/SMT/R; I tell you it's just not right

Regards
Jim Barr

[alrite]

Did you try the original release or the revamped second edition?

Regards
Jim Barr

I tried the new edition, the IIICJ. The resin is very well cast and detailed but the plastic parts of the kit, I found, simply do not fit each other without alot of messing/difficulty. The decals are also very nice too. I also found my fuselage was warped, or at least after I glued the two half's together it had a horrible banana shape which I tried to correct with hot water but didn't end very well as the plastic is very soft and melted/distorted irreversibly very easily. But that last part was my fault I have seen some very nice built up examples so it sure is buildable and I will have another go with a C in AdA markings, but I just advise you to test fit time and time again until the fit becomes acceptable. I think Eds got a good thing going here and if I could cast resin I probs would go down the same route.

Here a quick "rivetcounter" pic.
I have three sets of drawings , on all of them the "shortness" problems are obvious on AML kit.

Ed is it possible the whole kit is a few mm to small, such as the wing span etc so its a 1/73-4 scale kit? I just wish some manufacturer did what your doing

[AndrewS]

Very nice progress so far, Ed.

I agree with the previous comments that it shouldn't be necessary to have to do your own conversion but the route you've taken makes a lot of sense. I hope all goes smoothly for you and it will be great to see more deltas getting the amazing bad edd treatment.

Cheers,

Andrew.

[bad edd]

Great success!
I finally managed (after about half a dozen times) to cast a decent front landing gear leg.
Also the details just behind the bang seat. These will come in handy on all Mirage family kits.

[dragan_mig31]

what landing gear leg did you used as a master for the mould?

[musangpulut]

Wow! New project from master of resin in 1/72! :}

I know you will get a beautiful & accurate Mirage IIIC from all these resin.

Here is my in-progress Mirage F.1AZ SAAF with your conversion set. Without your resin parts, it's will never be materialized. many thanks again for your help and wish you good luck in this Mirage project!

[bad edd]

Super job on the F1!!! Watch out for the resin exhaust, it is larger than Hase/Revell fuselage.

This post has been edited by bad edd: Jun 15 2009, 10:01 AM

[bad edd]

I started another conversion nose set, this time based on the nose of Hasegawa's Kfir.
Three resin noses which should match the Heller or Revell kits.
One for the Nesher/Dagger/Mara or Mirage 5J
One for the export Mirages 5 (which have a pointed nose, as opposed to the rounder one on 5J) - good for Mirage 5AD, 5COA, 5D, 5E2, 5G, 5M, 5V etc
One for the IAI Finger - almost Kfir.