And so we begin...
Job #1 with Mirages IIIs, in my experience:
From the online reviews builds of this kit I've read, the fit of the alternative 2-seater front fuselage can cause problems if you build it the way the instructions want, with the entire front "pod", including landing gear, slotted into place at the end. So I've fettle the joint and got two complete fuselage. The thing I've learned for myself is to fit the upper wings to the fuselage at this stage, so you get a solid join, and an easy to clean up seam, rather than filling a long, inaccessible, trench a lot further down the line. This way, the tricky join is behind the leading edge of the wing, and a LOT less conspicuous...
Just taped together to confirm it does actually fit, building it this way...
Just to prove that no matter HOW old you are, and how long you've been doing this, you can still get a sticky thumbprint in an annoyingly visible place! That will have to be dealt with. You can see, though, that there's no obvious gappage at the wing root. and a scrape with a sharp blade will take off the plastic bead.
And I give you, ladies and gentlemen...
The most irritating seam on the Mirage III. Every one I've built (at least in larger scales) would have you deal with this little beggar! It'll be fine with plenty of glue and some firm taping, but I bet we all will tangle with a pair of them at some point in the next few weeks...
Laverdure has had his head cut off so he can look sideways out of the cockpit, but no painting yet. And I've managed to find the French monograph that I was SURE was in the bookshelf somewhere with detailed walkaround pics of the IIIB and IIIC, including yet another all black cockpit!
bestest,
M.
) so perhaps you can answer this question:
