1/48 Heller Mirage IVA

[IanG]

So, my next build is going to be this little beauty, Heller’s 1/48 Mirage IVP.
I’m intending to build mine to represent the Mirage IVA, that’s displayed at the Yorkshire Air Museum.
Aftermarket items are:-
3 decal sets, 1 Up North, and 2 Syhart (and yes, one is a 1/72 set, but there is a reason for this)
AML resin exhausts
NeOmega resin cockpit set
ResKit resin wheels
Master Models refuelling probe
Up North scribing set

D433049E-CFCC-4AA1-AB16-CBBCE215666C by ian gaskell, on Flickr

A3A80789-6181-4090-AF1B-09AD55AF3A73 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

5F1387E2-1CDA-4A6C-B277-473C72812978 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

B6D84D7F-B3DD-4405-847C-CC11978B487B by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

Detailed the undercarriage legs with lead wire, and made a start on the re-scribing.

69005B04-9105-4E33-B099-151BB0B306E4 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

5E21DB8C-C7C3-4BF7-A0B4-1AF60DE3ACF4 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

39851149-343B-4A42-8DD7-85C96578BAE2 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

C2597E47-149F-4F00-8E65-3F25A0036ECA by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Howard]

Awesome Ian, absolutely love these aircraft and had the pleasure of nosing around Chateaudun museums fine example on monday just gone so I am really looking forward to seeing this build come along.

Howard

[IanG]

Awesome Ian, absolutely love these aircraft and had the pleasure of nosing around Chateaudun museums fine example on monday just gone so I am really looking forward to seeing this build come along.

Howard

Thanks Howard
I’m making the point of going up to the Yorkshire Air Museum, and the IV there.

[IanG]

Cockpit, exhausts, and undercarriage, for the Heller 1/48 Mirage IV, are now finished.
Cockpit painted with Hataka Blue Line.

DSC_3685 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3686 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3689 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3691 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3694 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3696 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3699 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3701 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

With a bit of cutting and sanding, the cockpit is now in place, and the fuselage is together.
I’ve also finished the re-scribing, and added some rivet detailing.
Canopy windshield masked, and fixed in position.

[Howard]

Wow!! I'm guessing it's a good size in 48th?

Cockpit looks amazing Ian!

Howard

[jmurphy18]

awesome details on this build! Excellent work!

[digger303]

Amazed at the details I thought heller kits were a bit on the nose. A bias I gained from my younger days are they all good now ??

[IanG]

Amazed at the details I thought heller kits were a bit on the nose. A bias I gained from my younger days are they all good now ??

Hi
Heller kits may have been good, but not by today’s standards.
This is kit dates from the late 70’s, so 40ish years old. Has raised panel lines, which I’ve removed, and rescribed, and the fit isn’t brilliant. The shape of the cockpit opening wasn’t symmetrical.
Just needs a bit of TLC.

[AAC]

Great work Ian, however the pictures are a bit overexposed making it hard to see all the detail you've been doing.

[IanG]

Great work Ian, however the pictures are a bit overexposed making it hard to see all the detail you've been doing.

Thanks Alexander.
The photos of the fuselage certainly are.

[IanG]

Seats for the Mirage are done. These are the seats that come with the NeOmega resin cockpit set. Some very nice detail on them. Painted with Hataka Blue Line acrylics.
Ultimate black primer applied to the the fuselage. Then the underside, and the grey part of the camouflage sprayed. This is Hataka Orange Line Extra Dk Sea Grey. Then lightened the ExDSG, with white, and did a little post shading.

DSC_3717 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3713 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3721 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3722 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3724 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

Blu-tac sausages to mark out where the green will be sprayed (Hataka Orange Line Olive Green).
As with the grey, once the initial coats were airbrushed, a little white was added, and some post-shading done.
Then glossed ready for the decals.

DSC_3725 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3727 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3728 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_3730 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Howard]

Looking Great Ian!

What have you had to do to convert it to an A model?

Howard

[IanG]

Looking Great Ian!

What have you had to do to convert it to an A model?

Howard

Thanks Howard.

The most obvious change I made, was to remove the top and bottom, vertical vanes, that were on the nose. These were just before the refuelling boom.
There are probably other little subtleties, that would go unnoticed, by most.
My understanding is the P (which was for Penetrator), is the ASMP nuclear missile version. Where as the A would drop a big nuke bomb.
Avionics were updated on both A & P’s.
I think most of the original A’s were metal finish.
Hope that’s helped.

[IanG]

I had some trouble locating the correct sized badge for the starboard side of the the tail fin, a CIFAS 328 badge. Eventually found one, but printed detail was very sparse. Photo 2 shows the difference between the 1/48 version, on the left, and the acquired 1/72 versions. So with a fine brush, I painted in the extra detailing.
Then I did a panel line wash. Ammo by Mig washes were used, Blue Black for the grey, and Dark Green Grey for the green.
The last photo shows the streaks left by bird droppings, done with a thinned acrylic white, and a very fine brush.

DSC_4049 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

fullsizeoutput_e2a by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_4054 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_4053 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_4056 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Howard]

Looking Great Ian!

What have you had to do to convert it to an A model?

Howard

Thanks Howard.

The most obvious change I made, was to remove the top and bottom, vertical vanes, that were on the nose. These were just before the refuelling boom.
There are probably other little subtleties, that would go unnoticed, by most.
My understanding is the P (which was for Penetrator), is the ASMP nuclear missile version. Where as the A would drop a big nuke bomb.
Avionics were updated on both A & P’s.
I think most of the original A’s were metal finish.
Hope that’s helped.

It does, thank you so much. I didn't think there would be alot of changes as I think the P's were all converted from original A variants but wasn't sure.

Looks stunning in the paint and I love the bird droppings!!

regards

Howard

[jmurphy18]

Awesome work here. Excellent detailing and painting

[IanG]

After a matt coat, pastels have been used to carry out the weathering.
Also the undercarriage is now attached.

DSC_4063 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_4064 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_4065 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_4067 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_4072 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_4075 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Howard]

Just awesome Ian, what a sleek build!

Looks like some of the decals misbehaved on the nose but it doesn't detract from a wonderful build.

Howard

[ElCapitan]

Looks great Ian. What did you use for the matt coat? It's just the look I'm trying to achieve, but everything turns out satin.

[IanG]

Just awesome Ian, what a sleek build!

Looks like some of the decals misbehaved on the nose but it doesn't detract from a wonderful build.

Howard

Yes Howard, they did. I only noticed after the decals were dry. Used the usual Micro Set & Sol. I thought the surface was smooth enough, after a gloss coat, and rub with 8000 grit Micromesh cloth. Nevermind.

[IanG]

Looks great Ian. What did you use for the matt coat? It's just the look I'm trying to achieve, but everything turns out satin.

Thanks Rob.
I use Hataka Orange Line lacquer matt coat. Thinned 50/50, with thinners, and applied in several light coats. Works a treat.

[IanG]

All completed. Some French sexiness!

viewtopic.php?f=45&t=27194

Ian G-4083 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[DoubleDigit12]

Impressive work again Ian.

Can I ask what is the purpose of the scribing set? Is it for adding totally missing panel lines or for scribing raised panel lines?

James

[IanG]

Impressive work again Ian.

Can I ask what is the purpose of the scribing set? Is it for adding totally missing panel lines or for scribing raised panel lines?

James

Thank you James.
The Scribing set has all the templates to re-scribe the access panels, and openings, on the whole airframe.
The set also also has a couple of PE mirrors for the cockpit too.