1/48 Kinetic Mirage 2000C - Commission Build

[DavidsScaleModels]

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/

 

[mark2]

Cockpits looking good

 

[DavidsScaleModels]

The second week of the Mirage build was spent assembling the fuselage details. I assembled the intakes and the wing assembly and set them aside for now. The tail was installed and I began adding details to the fuselage like the antennas and pitot tubes had to be modified. This kit has some issues. Aside from the flash and mold marks many of the mounting holes are larger than the pin or tab that fits into them. For the items on the nose I filled the holes with putty then reopened them up to the correct size and I replaced the plastic small blades with photo etch as the kit parts were very thick and the tree stub flowed into the part. For the blade antennas I centered them and then filled in the sides of the slot with putty. I then installed the wing assembly. Again more modifications were required to fit the wings to the fuselage. The starboard side wing root had a large gap which required a shim and putty to fill.

Next I worked on the exhaust which was painted using Vallejo Metal paints. The base is "Jet Exhaust" and the highlights are "Exhaust Manifold" and "Burnt Metal". It was them weathered with light gray, dark gray and black pastel chalk. The landing gear struts were then detailed as well as the wheels. Again I had to fill in the large holes of the nose wheels and re-drill them to the correct size for the strut pins. The missiles and drop tanks were then assembled. Finally I had to modify the nose. The kit comes with the plastic tip but trimming it from the tree weakened it. I accidently broke it twice, first when I added the weights to the nose and then again when I went to paint it. I decided to use a thin brass rod and to replicate the tip I used solder.

I am currently getting ready to start painting the aircraft. The underside and light color of the camouflage is Light Ghost Gray. For the blue/gray I am looking at various paints. I will discuss further into this next week once I chose the color that best matches the references I have.

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