Eduard 1/48 Mirage IIICJ IDF
During the 1967 War a pair of IDF Mirage III were escorting Vautours on a bombing mission in H3 Iraq. Over the target, the Mirage identified a pair of Iraqi Hunters on final and Migs. In the ensuing air battle the pilot of of Mirage 747 shot down two aircraft. The aircraft was later adorned with another kill. The model depicts its service time with the 117 Squadron that boasted with the brightest metal aircraft in the Air Force.
The photograph of the late Prime Minister Mr. Itzhak Rabin with this particular aircraft demonstrates the results of hard work of the ground crew.
Eduard's Mirage is the best kit in the 1/48th scale. Yet it has fit problems, particularly around engine intake areas. Given the shiny look of 117 Squadron's aircraft, I did not apply weathering to the NMF. Yet, laws of physics cannot be defied and a mirror shine cannot be achieved on small scales.
Excellent job, Rafi!
Love your NMF rendition!
Thank you Spiros!
Very nice. The Mirage looks best in all NMF. Yourslooksgreat.
Next time, try the Super Metallics - Duraluminum. You can get closer now.
Thank you Tom.
I tried the Alclad before. Too shiny to be realistic and still obviously, no mirror reflection. Models look like toys.
A great looking Mirage, Rafi @blackmopane
The NMF does indeed look very nice.
Thank you John.
Absolutely gorgeous finish on this build Rafi. The third kill was a Lebanese aircraft?
Thank you Jim.
Indeed, a Hawker Hunter I think, by another pilot.
This is just excellent. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Marcello.
Fantastic Mirage Rafi. The NMF is perfect đź‘Ť
Thank you Guy.
Very nice Mirage Great finish.
Steve,
Thank you Steve.
I've always believed the Mirage to be the most beautiful, most perfect airplane ever made and you've certainly done this one proud. I love it. Thanks for the great pictures.
Thank you Thomas.
Totally.
A beautiful Mirage, and I personally think the NMF looks perfect for scale!
Thank you Greg!
Love a polished Mirage! Very nice, Rafi. Tom’s right, the Mr. Color Supermetallics are best. I’ve been thinking of doing a shiny Israeli or South African Mirage with them.
Thank you John.
The problem with super metallic paints is that they give an impression of metal coat and not a metal skin. But, I guess at the end of the day, it is a matter of personal taste.
Paint is not the same as actual bare metal, but to be fair I'd be proud to have this Mirage in my model cabinet.
I have to admit the older Eduard kits are still a notch above the Kinetic ones. I don't get that large gap between the intake and the fuselage unlike the Kinetic Mirages.
The secret of a good NMF is buffing regardless of the paint you use. Having said that some paints and mostly ointments react much better than others to buffing.
With the Kinetic Mirage variants I treat the intakes in the beginning of the build to seal the area.
The windscreen is another story.
Your Mirage looks amazing. You never fall to impress me Rafi, your a great inspiration! I always thought these were pretty cool aircraft. I like most of the earlier jets, I've just never built many.
Thank you Clint.
More to come...
Great looking Shahak! I've just finished an Italeri version of the very same aircraft. The Israeli Mirage III's & Neshers had such an interesting history!
Thank you Neill.
More to come...