Welcome to the last commission build of 2024. For this build I will be using Kinetic’s 1/48 Mirage 2000C kit. The scheme will be the French version. The client is a Harrier pilot who was doing a joint exercise with France and had the chance to fly one of their Mirage 2000C aircraft. The aircraft will be displayed in a case and the background of the case will be a photo of him standing in front of the aircraft he flew. The aircraft will be detailed using a ResKit resin ejection seat and the rest of the cockpit will be detailed using Quinta Studio’s 3D decals.

I started this build by detail painting the resin ejection seat. The seat came with all the warning decals as well. In roder to fit the resin seat into the cockpit tub I had to remove the mount for the kit seat. I then sanded down the side panels and the instrument panel so the 3D decals can be applied. The tub and instrument were painted black and then the decals were applied. The completed ejection seat was then installed. Next I prepared the fuselage halves so I could install the cockpit. The 3D decals also came with the side wall decals as well. With the fuselage halves cleaned and detailed I installed the cockpit and the nose gear bay then closed up the fuselage halves. The fuselage required some minor putty in a few areas due to fit and clean up. I am now working on detailing the fuselage and the intakes then move over to assemble and detail the wings.

You can see more photos and details in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mirage-2000c/

8 attached images. Click to enlarge.

A perfect start, David @davids_models

Excellent progress and super looks so far, my friend @davids_models!

As the fourth week of the Mirage ends I have completed the aircraft. I installed the landing gear and landing gear doors. I then worked on the canopy, windscreen, and HUD. The HUD required some minor adjustments. The kit represents the dual glass for the HUD but because the clear parts are so thick the HUD did not fit under the windscreen correctly. I removed the plastic dual glass and changed them to clear acetate. This lowered the overall height and made the HUD fit perfectly under the windscreen. For the canopy I added some photo etch extras to represent the side handles and the rear view mirror. I installed the canopy in the open position and installed the refueling probe. Finally I finished off the aircraft with some detail painting and some light weathering.

The display case is going to have a background of a photo supplied by the client. In order to cover the width of the case I copied the right side of the photo and extended it so that the building and the tarmac appear to be longer. I printed the photo on plain paper so I could adjust the size and line up the tarmac seams on the display base with the photo. I then used a sheet of styrene on the base to thicken it. The base is thin plastic and a little too flexible to properly mount the aircraft. The inside of the base was then sprayed with a base of light grey. I then misted the surface with medium grey, tan, and gunship grey giving it a cement appearance to match the color in the photo. I then used a scribe and added the seams of the tarmac. The scribed lines were then colored with a black pencil. I then used black, dark grey, light grey and sand pastel chalk to weather the tarmac and to highlight the seams. While the base was drying I notice the nose wheels had a wheel chock. I used some scrap styrene to replicate the wheel chock and made a decal to match the letters/numbers that were on it.

I just need to print out the background on to some glossy photo paper and trim it to fit the inside of the display case and then adjust the placement of the aircraft and the name plate. I also need to make a stand for the name plate as well. Stay tuned to see the final photos of this commission build.

You can all the photos and details from the start in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mirage-2000c/

10 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Excellent job, my friend @davids_models!

Looks perfect on the headlines, David @davids_models