1/48 Heller Mirage 2000C

 by Dominique Dom Friard

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To build this kit, I bought the new Renaissance resin detail set which includes parts for Elevons, front gear, airscoops, ECM, gonio pods, electric park, exhaust, serval chaff dispenser, air refueling probe and wheels.

Other detail kits used are the Eduard photoetched parts 48106, Renaissances RPL541/542 fuel tanks and Blackbox pit.  The decals are from special Daco EC-1/12-EC2/12 based at Cambrai Air base.

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So now, let's talk about the kit. I will show a Mirage 2000C from 01/12 "Cambresis" sqadron based at Cambrai air force base (north of France) with 2 RPL541/542 fuel tanks tigered, one inert exercice magic and other magic pylon free.  I have not yet made the ladder but I will do it with styrene sheets.

Some modifications scratch built for this plane are karman made with adhesive cooking aluminium, pressure scoops made with old photoetched parts, interception light on the left intake made with styrene and transparent styrene, Antennas on the vertical fin and "aigrettes" (thin part on the top of the air intakes) rebuilt with thin evergreen sheet and some cables on the wheel bays.

Building of this aircraft needs patience because of the adjustements of the Renaissance parts to have the best fit with the model.

Painting of this model are made with Xtracolor enamel paints but not directly with the famous Mirage 2000 colors. Light gray is a mix of 60% X395 and 40% X139.  Light blue gray is a mix of 60% X125, 20% X136, 15% X124 and 5% white.

First, applying this colors for the camo.  Then I take the same mix with a little amount of black to make some weathering but I must be light.  And finally, I repaint the camo with standard colors.

 

Weathering the bottom with a mix of Sepia thinned with essence F and with a mix of black for the bottom.  At this time, I repainted another coat with thinned standard colors.

Painting of the exhaust was done with Alclad II colors and a black thinned Gunze color for weathering.

General coat with Prince August Air satin varnish which has been polished with a coat.

The kit is very heavy due to many resin parts added (fuel tanks full resin!) and I hope that the wheel legs will be as strong as I hope!

Dominique

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Photos and text © by Dominique Friard