I'm not a big fan of 1/72 scale aircraft (too much hassle masking canopies) but looking round a charity shop I spotted an Airfix Mirage IIIC for the princely sum of £1. Well, it would have been rude not to! It seemed to be complete, but later found that the pilot and the nosewheel bay rear door were missing, as well as the instructions.
I started trying to fill and sand all the sink marks, but there were just too many, coupled with raised panel lines, (this kit is, I believe, from the 60s) so I gave up and decided to just throw it together for practice.
The paints are mostly the 'new blend' Hataka, from their Argentine Falklands war set. They seemed pretty good to me, but this is only the second model I've airbrushed.
The decals were a nightmare - seemed to be stickier on the outside than the side towards the model, so stuck to fingers and tweezers - tried using a paintbrush but they just curled. In addition, wherever they touched the kit they stuck, and just wouldn't move, so some aren't quite straight. (I tried with water, Decalfix, and Klear).
[ATTACH]285334[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]285335[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]285336[/ATTACH] There were two sets provided, but I used whichever would work, so the end result is a mixture of two schemes.
The matt coat is Galeria, which sprays beautifully.
Oh, and I know the main u/c bay inner doors should be open; I found a photo without the doors hanging down, and only realised later it was of a much more recent Mirage with a completely different door arrangement.
Next will be another charity shop find - a Revell Lancaster in a Marks & Spencer boxing - never knew they sold kits. I actually passed that one by, but them noticed a lady looking at it. I told her I'd have it if she didn't, at which she replied "Huh! £6 and they expect you to put it together yourself!".
I started trying to fill and sand all the sink marks, but there were just too many, coupled with raised panel lines, (this kit is, I believe, from the 60s) so I gave up and decided to just throw it together for practice.
The paints are mostly the 'new blend' Hataka, from their Argentine Falklands war set. They seemed pretty good to me, but this is only the second model I've airbrushed.
The decals were a nightmare - seemed to be stickier on the outside than the side towards the model, so stuck to fingers and tweezers - tried using a paintbrush but they just curled. In addition, wherever they touched the kit they stuck, and just wouldn't move, so some aren't quite straight. (I tried with water, Decalfix, and Klear).
[ATTACH]285334[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]285335[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]285336[/ATTACH] There were two sets provided, but I used whichever would work, so the end result is a mixture of two schemes.
The matt coat is Galeria, which sprays beautifully.
Oh, and I know the main u/c bay inner doors should be open; I found a photo without the doors hanging down, and only realised later it was of a much more recent Mirage with a completely different door arrangement.
Next will be another charity shop find - a Revell Lancaster in a Marks & Spencer boxing - never knew they sold kits. I actually passed that one by, but them noticed a lady looking at it. I told her I'd have it if she didn't, at which she replied "Huh! £6 and they expect you to put it together yourself!".
Comment