Belgian Mirage 5 (Mark One 1/144)

[draken35]

😉

[draken35]

Inside the cockpit... Pilot'stick replaced; made from scratch and not finished yet

[No.1]

Not finished yet... just wonder how many parts you will add in this scale

[Second Air Force]

Wonderful!

[modellius]

Stunning !

[draken35]

Thank you friends!
Well, I have to scratchbuild the front of the cockpit; Belgian Mirages didn't had a cover to avoid too high temperature for some instruments. At 1/144th scale: lenght 3.5mm; large 3mm behind the instrument panels and 2mm in front of the nose. With instruments to be placed on it of course...

[draken35]

Before to continue the work on the cockpit, I've begun to resolve another big issue of the kit : the interior doors of the main undercarriage.
On the kit, there are closed (like the ones of an Albatros L39 by example).
...But the photos of the actual Mirages 5 show that those door are open the most part of the time (it's just the prudence that ask me not to say: all the time).
So, I've created new doors with Evergreen. Fitting looks good enough for me.
... Now, the hard job to do: to remove the kit's doors...

[No.1]

Well, after all of this modifications and details update, must ask you- you have Mirage 5 in garden?

[draken35]

Ah ah, no but I would like To....

[draken35]

Patrick Bouclans, a friend of mine who is THE specialist of the Mirage 5 gived me some informations about the closed doors:
Engine shut down and accus empty, the doors are open.
When the engine is on, the doors are closing themselves.
...But you can also close them manually...

...Anyway, I want the doors open on my aircraft! 

So I have begun the work. Slowly, to avoid to damage the part. One door ready; must continue with the second one and then to make nice wheel bays...

[draken35]

Second door trap OK. I've reinforced with a plate in the interior. Work not finished yet.
I've also modified my arrester hook: I forgot the triangular metalic plates that protect the hook

[Second Air Force]

When you first mentioned these doors I immediately looked at some photos--you're correct to open them! This is just like the D model Mustang, the doors bleed open after the engine is shut down.

[No.1]

It look like this will be your best kit made last period

[draken35]

Thank you my friends.
Don't know if it will be my best kit made... I like the result obtained for the Dornier 27; and the Renard is still under construction... But sure it's one of the most corrected

[modellius]

great work mate !