This was the first kit i ever built some 25 years ago. Mum and dad had just separated. Mum was looking for a way for me to be closer to Dad without plonking me on the back of his motorbike while he gallivanted off around the country. And so she got me the mirage. I slapped it together in a couple of days. No paint. No masking. Just plastic and decals. Half of which weren't even placed correctly.
Unfortunately i don't have photos of that.
What i do have photos of is my attempt 25 years later.
This kit fought me from start to finish. I started out by trying my level best to make it the best kit i could. By the time i got to putting it together, i just wanted it done.
Box Art. I believe this kit was first popped in 1975?
Pretty simple kit.
Lotta weight in the nose.
Simple pilot with size 500 feet?
First proper try using alclad.
Fit is...ok. Pretty damn good for its age.
Looks mean in black.
Half way through the build i knocked my electric drill off the work bench (id just used it to create the holes for the skewars to hold parts being painted.) I stupidly tried to catch it. This is the result. I didn't realise drill bits could bend. (Yes the blood is where it went into my hand, no thats not what bent it)
Paint finished.
Somehow (i do not know how) i managed to make XF-1 spray high gloss. So high gloss in fact the flat coat didnt change it at all. It continued to stay gloss even after several coats of XF-86
Time for decals...or not.
Sample decal.
Remaining very very yellow decals. (Camera doesnt do the yellowing justice, they were almost brown)
After a day in the sun they cleared up a bit. But were still yellow.
I laid on a coat of testors decal matt coat. It seemed to work pretty well.
Final thoughts.
I hate this kit. It has made life difficult for me since the moment i opened the box. Everything that could go wrong did. Now that its done i want to biff it.
Literally the only reason i did this kit is because i wanted to go back to my roots to try and get my mojo back. All this kit has done is stress me out.
Hopefully you guys get some enjoyment out of it.
Would i build this kit again?...No, i wouldnt.
Do i have another one (Academy repop) in the stash?...Yes, yes i do.
Im aware this is more of a build log. But i wanted to share the process with you and show it finished.
Fujimi Mirage IIIRS 1/48
- scorpiomikey
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Fujimi Mirage IIIRS 1/48
You can learn all the math in the 'Verse, but you take a boat in the air that you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
Re: Fujimi Mirage IIIRS 1/48
I’ve learned to let sharp things fall...well, for the the most part. Glad it wasn’t more serious. It still looks a bit painful.
You did a bang up job on this rascal, given the struggles. I think we all have done this. I know I have several early years kits on the shelf. The Tri-Pacer was one. I had such fond memories of this... they vanished when I dug it out.
But, more importantly, you are back among us? Made a happy, happy start to my day!
You did a bang up job on this rascal, given the struggles. I think we all have done this. I know I have several early years kits on the shelf. The Tri-Pacer was one. I had such fond memories of this... they vanished when I dug it out.
But, more importantly, you are back among us? Made a happy, happy start to my day!
To make each build less crappy than the last one. Or, put another way, "Better than the last one, not as good as the next one!"..
- Stikpusher
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Re: Fujimi Mirage IIIRS 1/48
I feel your pain! Well, not the one in your hand, but the pain of building this kit. I built an Academy boxing a few years ago, adding a few improvements. But yes, it fights you.
You did really well on this! Very well done! The metallic paint looks gorgeous! What paints and color(s) did you use?
It’s good to see you back on here building again!
You did really well on this! Very well done! The metallic paint looks gorgeous! What paints and color(s) did you use?
It’s good to see you back on here building again!
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
FLSM
FLSM
Re: Fujimi Mirage IIIRS 1/48
Despite all the troubles this thing gave you in the end you have a beautiful build of this old kit.
March as one, Don't look back
Odin's sons... Attack!
Unleash hell! Do not repent! Warfare grants us no lament
Let your weapons slash and tear This is no place for fear
Hold the lines! Move as one! In unity our victory's won
Our shields will form a mighty wall
United we shall never fall
Odin's sons... Attack!
Unleash hell! Do not repent! Warfare grants us no lament
Let your weapons slash and tear This is no place for fear
Hold the lines! Move as one! In unity our victory's won
Our shields will form a mighty wall
United we shall never fall
Re: Fujimi Mirage IIIRS 1/48
You finished it! You persevered ! For that alone you should be proud.
And I think you did good with such an old kit.
And I think you did good with such an old kit.
- BlackSheep214
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- Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:47 pm
Re: Fujimi Mirage IIIRS 1/48
I’ve got a couple Italeri kits in my stash, one currently on hold for the Jets GB thread. I’ve been hearing stories of Italeri being a PITA to build. You managed to whip her in shape despite the faults. Well done!
“Who controls the skies, controls the fate of this Earth”
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
- Stikpusher
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Re: Fujimi Mirage IIIRS 1/48
I think that the 1/48 Italeri Mirages are reboxes of the old ESCI kits, with new decal sheets and perhaps some updated sprues as well, depending upon the versions.
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
FLSM
FLSM
- scorpiomikey
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- Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2014 11:44 pm
- Location: Christchurch, NZ
Re: Fujimi Mirage IIIRS 1/48
Yes, hopefully back among you. I have a few kits i want to build. Or at the very least finish.
The 3 colours i used were Polished Aluminium. Duraluminum and Steel. I was surprised at how dark the steel came out. Having worked with steel for the last 10 years i dont remember it being that colour lol.
Im temped to give the academy one a go, but i might leave it till im a bit more settled.
Next up is my RAF squadron. 48 scale typhoon, 48 scale spitfire and a 72nd scale lancaster.
This build as you can see is completely OOB. Didnt even use any filler. It could probably benefit from a bunch of it if im honest.
Thank you for all the compliments on my terrible rendition of this shitty kit lol.
The 3 colours i used were Polished Aluminium. Duraluminum and Steel. I was surprised at how dark the steel came out. Having worked with steel for the last 10 years i dont remember it being that colour lol.
Im temped to give the academy one a go, but i might leave it till im a bit more settled.
Next up is my RAF squadron. 48 scale typhoon, 48 scale spitfire and a 72nd scale lancaster.
This build as you can see is completely OOB. Didnt even use any filler. It could probably benefit from a bunch of it if im honest.
Thank you for all the compliments on my terrible rendition of this shitty kit lol.
You can learn all the math in the 'Verse, but you take a boat in the air that you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
- Duke Maddog
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- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:22 am
- Location: Rowland Heights, CA
Re: Fujimi Mirage IIIRS 1/48
Mike, I gotta say, you have some mad skills and excellent perseverance with this kit. Despite the fact it fought you hard; you made this look magnificent. I can't even dream of doing so well with a bare metal finish! I would be proud of that kit; especially given how hard that one fought. You are one mad-skilled modeler!
The Duke
Virtuoso of Miniatures
"Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I get and beat you with 'till you understand who's in ruttin' command!"
-Jayne Cobb, Firefly Episode 2 "The Train Job"
We are modelers - the same in spirit, in hunger to insanely buy newly released kits, hustlers in hiding our stash from our better halves and experts in using garbage as replacements for after-market parts.
Virtuoso of Miniatures
"Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I get and beat you with 'till you understand who's in ruttin' command!"
-Jayne Cobb, Firefly Episode 2 "The Train Job"
We are modelers - the same in spirit, in hunger to insanely buy newly released kits, hustlers in hiding our stash from our better halves and experts in using garbage as replacements for after-market parts.
- Medicman71
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- Location: Houston, Tx
Re: Fujimi Mirage IIIRS 1/48
It's not bad for a kit that fought you the whole time. But hey, at least you finished it and the NMF looks great! I've tried my hand at a kit I did back when I was a kid. I tried building the Revell Tomcat and gave up. I couldn't for the life of me get it to look decent. It's now a paint mule.
Mike
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Sponsored by Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Saab, BAE, and Dassault