Page 1 of 1
1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 4:59 pm
by 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
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 7:30 pm
by IanG
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:45 pm
by 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
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:53 pm
by IanG
Howard wrote: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:45 pm
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.
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 10:00 pm
by 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
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2019 4:48 pm
by IanG
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 12:54 pm
by Howard
Wow!! I'm guessing it's a good size in 48th?
Cockpit looks amazing Ian!
Howard
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:21 pm
by jmurphy18
awesome details on this build! Excellent work!
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:43 pm
by 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 ??
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 1:41 pm
by IanG
digger303 wrote: Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:43 pm
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.
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 10:11 pm
by AAC
Great work Ian, however the pictures are a bit overexposed making it hard to see all the detail you've been doing.
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:17 am
by IanG
AAC wrote: Tue Jun 18, 2019 10:11 pm
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.
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 9:06 pm
by 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
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:35 pm
by 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
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:49 pm
by Howard
Looking Great Ian!
What have you had to do to convert it to an A model?
Howard
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:55 pm
by IanG
Howard wrote: Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:49 pm
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.

Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IV A
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 7:32 pm
by 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
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 12:54 pm
by Howard
IanG wrote: Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:55 pm
Howard wrote: Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:49 pm
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
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 3:19 pm
by jmurphy18
Awesome work here. Excellent detailing and painting
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2019 9:54 pm
by 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
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2019 9:31 am
by 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
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2019 10:02 am
by 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.
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 10:37 am
by IanG
Howard wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2019 9:31 am
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.
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 10:38 am
by IanG
ElCapitan wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2019 10:02 am
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.
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 10:41 am
by IanG
All completed. Some French sexiness!
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=27194
Ian G-4083 by
ian gaskell, on Flickr
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:09 am
by 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
Re: 1/48 Heller Mirage IVA
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:25 am
by IanG
DoubleDigit12 wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:09 am
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.