Mirage F-1CG “135 SAMOS” 342MPK 114PM Tanagra 1994
A few words about the kit:
This is Kitty Hawk in 1/48. Quite good in detail both in terms of linework on the surfaces of the fuselage and wings, as well as in individual points such as the landing system, the wheel housings and the engine to which the kit gives its entire body. Rich in parts, armament and options of Interception or Reconnaissance edition and decals for French or Spanish edition aircraft. It does not contain the sidewinder AIM-9P, but neither the corresponding decals of the Greek Mirage F-1. Contains photoetched for the airbrakes back on the wings, for the engine nozzle inside and belts for the ejection seat. The application of the kit is moderate to bad, both in the 4 main pieces that make up the body of the fuselage and in the wings in their two half pieces and also in their union with the main body of the fuselage. The vertical stable needs care in its base so that it sits properly, but also in some simple points the application of the pieces is bad, as for example in the two halves of the wheels and the legs of the S/P. Its big disadvantage is also its very tight packaging, which results in the crushing of some pieces, and even the breaking of its transparent parts. It is imperative to check the inside of the box before buying, if this is possible.
Construction:
Starting as always from the cockpit, which was improved in the instrument points to the right and left of the operator, as well as in the central instrument panel where Eduard photoetched were placed. The cockpit shade was replaced with a resin one from Neomega. The kit’s ejection seat was also not fitted and its position was taken by a resin MK6 with enough detail. Only some straps made of masking tape and a photoetched safety from Eduard were installed. A lot of detail was added to the inside of the cover to show the correct perimeter of the frame. The mirrors, the two handles and the opening wire with its bases were added.
Next step is closing the body of the spindle. It is made up of four pieces and a fifth which forms the spine of the aircraft. The application is moderate to poor, with the main point being the joining of the front sections of the kit with the rear (at the height of the air intakes) again and below. Bad application also in the union of the wings in their two halves and in their union with the fuselage. The vertical stable needed sanding at its base so that the step it leaves disappears. The radar cone was rubbed up and down to reduce the sharp curvature it has in this particular kit.
Finishing with its basic assembly and after it was plastered with mainly epoxy putty but also Gunze liquid, it was rubbed on the points and some lines were re-engraved and some panels that I had to remove were lost. The aircraft exhaust nozzle was replaced with an Amla resin one, so the entire engine body where the kit was supplied was left for future use.
Next in line was the Landing System. Good in detail in general lines although a little coarse in one or two points mainly in the retraction systems which were replaced in their entirety and installed new ones made of plastic and wire. The necessary wiring with fine wire was added, both in the two main legs as well as in the rail, as wiring was also installed inside the aircraft’s nests. Finally, the ties – hoops that hold the piping to the legs were made of thin aluminum sheet. Before they were painted they were coated with Gloss Black Base ALC305 from Alclad and then sprayed with White Alu