Heller 1/72 Mirage F1CG
The origins of the Mirage F1 can be traced back to the mid-1960s where Dassault was putting its efforts in designing a large swept wing VTOL derivative of the Mirage III.
The plane had a similar fuselage to delta-winged Mirage III/5 and was powered by the same version of the SNECMA Atar engine that was used on the larger Mirage IV.
Following a relatively long development period, the construction of 85 examples was authorized in late 1971, with the first deliveries to the Armée de l'aire commencing in mid-1973.
While officially developed as an air defense aircraft, Dassault had placed considerable emphasis on developing the plane for ground attack as a secondary role during its early design, something that the well designed Mirage F1 successfully performed.
The type has been exported to around a dozen nations, having seen action in a large number of armed conflicts involving several of its operators.
40 single seaters (designated as F1CGs) were ordered in 1974 and entered service with the Hellenic Air Force in 1975.
Being both a French and a leading plastic model company during the 70s, it was only too natural for Heller to come up with a detailed Mirage F1 mold in 1978. Though accurate and sufficiently detailed, it is a relatively complex kit, leaning towards what we would describe as “limited run” nowadays.
The specific kit is the “CT” version 1998 reboxing, which was handed to me by a good friend, asking me to build it in less than a week and should you wish to read its full build review, you may do so by visiting my beloved site Modelingmadness:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/mod/fr/penf1.htm
Happy Modelling!
Nice job Spiros @fiveten, this is a sharp looking plane!
Thanks a lot, my friend @v1pro!
Nice!
Thanks so much, my friend @pjotri69!
That's a fine looking Mirage, Spiros @fiveten
Especially considering this is just 1/72
Great article as well
Thank you very much, my friend @johnb!
Your fast work resulted in a good looking model, Spiros, I’m sure your friend was very pleased to receive it.
Thank you kindly, my friend @chinesegeorge! Yes, he was happy!
Beautiful Mirage Spiros !
Thanks so much, my friend @ramair67!
Nice piece of work, Spiros!
The Mirage is such an elegant aircraft and it reminds me of the comic books about Tanguy and Laverdure, which I read in my youth (and still do when I come across one).
Thank you very much, my friend @alfred!
Nice looking F1!
Thanks a lot, my friend @cwiechers!
Great work on this model, Spiros (@fiveten). You have really made this Heller kit shine.
Thanks so much, my friend @gblair!
Well done, Spiros. Love the dart look of this aircraft.
Thanks a lot, my friend @gwskat! I second your thoughts. It's hard to resist building the F1 in nothing else but totally clean configuration, as to not spoil its dart looks.
She looks swift and elegant, Spiros @fiveten! Almost as beautiful as the iconic Mirage III 🙂 what blue did you use for the upper side?
Thank you so much, my friend @fxrob! For the topsides, I used Humbrol 144 intermediate blue, a safe choice for the Aegean Blue of the original.
that is a sharp-looking F1, and wears those colors nicely! Well done. I'm a big Mirage fan - all versions!
Thank you kindly, my friend @gkittinger! I am also a big fan!
What a shape! Great work, as ever, Spiros!
Thank you kindly, my friend @yellow10!
Nice work, Spiros. We can never have too many Mirages!
Thanks a lot, my friend @j-healy!
An elegant and surprisingly clean model. You've really captured the look of the original.
Thank you kindly, my friend @christopher!
A beautiful rendition of a beautiful aircraft.
Fantastic stuff Spiros.
Thank you kindly, my friend @alistairfgauld!
I have always liked these graceful machines. Beautifully built model.
Thank you very much, my friend @milantesar!