Italeri 1/48 Mirage F1 AZ (Saaf 1980's)

[T. van Vuuren]

I am building this kit as a "simple one" after the JU 88.
I will be using the exelent Pavla cockpit and seat, aswell as the AZ nose with laser finder and much better exhaust.

It will be in this low viz scheme of dark green/dark earth over PRU blu with "ghosted" insignea

Theuns

 

[flyjoe180]

Look forward to seeing this Theuns, looks a unique scheme

 

[T. van Vuuren]

This resin stuff turns a really asic kit into somthing special

Theuns

 

[flyjoe180]

Certainly a lot more detail in there compared to the kit cockpit Theuns

 

[yak face]

Wow that cockpit is mega detailed theuns , should look amazing when its painted.

 

[T. van Vuuren]

The IP that I have is for the French CT/CR, same as the SAAF CZ F-1 with the radar scope on the right.
The AZ as used by the SAAF didnt have this but had a moving map display mounted centrally on the top IP, I will have to modify the IP to the correct shape.
IMG_20180529_061630 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Theuns

 

[papa 695]

Nice one Theuns, some great detail in the cockpit with the resin parts. One to watch me thinks.

 

[T. van Vuuren]

The office in the Mirage is black, now that presents me with a problem as it will hide all the lovely resin detail so I went for tamiya "rubber black"
It is not as "harsh" as normal matt black and I can still drybrush some areas and do a black pinwash in others to give some tonal difference.
IMG_20180602_164227 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
Theuns

 

[T. van Vuuren]

Here is the tub sofar. I am pleased with the level of "black" , it is not overly dark and most of the detail is still nicely visable.
I drybrushed the highlights with gull greay instead of white, I think it looks cool.
The switch pannels were highilghted with white.

IMG_20180603_122352 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
For the exhaust I used burnt iron and the pettals were made to look "metal" with a graphite pencil.
On the inside I used tamiya smoke to make it look a little more "sooty"
IMG_20180603_120847by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
IMG_20180603_120826 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
The seat still needs some buckles and a pinwash.
IMG_20180603_122540 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Theuns

 

[Mickc1440]

Off to a great start with this one, the AM cockpit looks really good, they certainly lift a model.
Mick

 

[papa 695]

Very nice work Theuns.

 

[T. van Vuuren]

almost done with the office
IMG_20180603_165203 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
IMG_20180603_165257 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

T

 

[T. van Vuuren]

I got the resin nose on but it was not a good fit and took allot of filling and sanding

Then I rescribed the whole thing.

The canopy fot also is a PITA to fit on the new nose but after filing and sanding the front it works a little better.

IMG_20180614_174212 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
IMG_20180616_094154 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Theuns

 

[T. van Vuuren]

The windshield took allot of work but I think it came out OK
IMG_20180623_161345 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
The preshaded it all
IMG_20180624_084417 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
The colour the saaf used are not "out the tin" standard so I had to mix my own.
IMG_20180624_140429 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
IMG_20180624_152434 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
I am rather pleased with the look
IMG_20180624_160324 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Next the intermediate PRU blue will go on.

Theuns

 

[Fernando N]

Sorry for missing the start of this one Theuns, great looking office those resin bits certainly add a lot of detail to the kit.
Great start at the paintwork too, looking forward to see the next update.

Fernando

 

[T. van Vuuren]

Dankjewel

 

[Si Benson]

Lovely paint work
Si

 

[T. van Vuuren]

These are not the best pix but you get the idea of the scheme
IMG_20180624_175354 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
IMG_20180624_175320 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
I will try humbrol glear gloss for the first time on this as soon as it is fully cleared.

Theuns

 

[T. van Vuuren]

The pylons supplied in the kit for the outer stations is incorrect for a SAAF craft so I though of building new ones from styrine sheer. Then I saw that if I just cut the kit one on the red line I can get somthing that is quite close to what I see in pix.so this is what I will do.

IMG_20180629_071622 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Theuns

 

[T. van Vuuren]

The humbrol clear seems to work well.
Theuns