KINETIC MIRAGE 2000D

[Wolfpack]

Greetings all.

A short time ago, Kinetic released a brand new kit of the two seat Mirage 2000, with options for three versions. About time thought I, having hunted high and low (aha) for the old Airfix/Heller kit in it's various guises. I was reasonably impressed when I opened the box, though did notice one or two errors which I have previously commented on. I needed something to build in between group build sessions so picked this. Should be straight forward thought I. Ha, no such luck.

What has only recently come to light, is that you cannot build the options OOB without modification.

Other comments about this kit such as no anhedral and a too wide fuselage were taken on board when I started. Looking at the Airfix and Kinetic fuselages, it does look as though the latter has been working out somewhat.

So, as usual, we start with the cockpit. Kinetic's love of ejector towers gets full rein here. They are a bit difficult to remove unless you attack them with a grinding tool.

Once they are out of the way, the instrument panels need modifying to 'D' standard. I used some hollow square stock for the hoods and cut away some spare dials from an Eduard Zoom set for the pilots panel.

When fitted and painted, they look the part and more importantly, completely transform the 'office'.

The seats have a reasonable level of detail and with the addition of some belts from the Zoom set FE128, they look the part. FE128 is for the Revell kit, but it's cheap and the seatbelts are the dogs nards when painted.

Stand by for more revelations. Comments and/or donations welcome.

W

[Mike]

Interesting - is the Heller kit accepted as being correct in the fuselage width stakes then? Genuine enquiry rather than the beginning of a scrap

[Wolfpack]

Mike

To be honest, I don't know. There are no decent plans out there for the Mirage 2000. However, it looks right and is the same as the Esci kit, so that's what I'm going with.

I would love to be proved right/wrong*.

W

* delete as appropriate.

[POMPEO]

nice progress Wolf,

i will start my own in this weekend post here on britmodeller WIP too, nice to see your changes on cockpit, i will try to made the same on my own, i'm looking ahead for some progress

cheers

[Wolfpack]

Being that the Renaissance guy is French and he probably knows more about Mirages than many, I've used his 'D' conversion set to remodel the Kinetic kit.

First off, the fin, which is a tad large and needs re-shaping at the rear. If you measure 2mm from the rudder hingeline forward, draw a line down from the panel line just below the fin tip light, then cut down there and remove the excess from the rudder, see pickie.

The forward ection of the lower wing needs some sanding and filing to get a decent fit.

More as it comes peeps.

W

[Wolfpack]

Sorry for the delay on the updates, it's taking a bit of fettling.

To address the wings lack of anhedral, the fuselage join line was sanded to a negative angle. Some say it should be 8 degrees, but a bit downward will be OK for me. To get the wings to bend down and not break a line was scored on the inside of the lower wing ( red line ) where the top wing ends. This should give it some flexibility. The black lines show the locating holes flashed over for the rear two pylons of the 2000-5.

I glued the wings to the fuselage with tube glue for a strong join and after a day or so, attached the lower wing. You can see the anhedral in this photo.

Attaching the spine shows the poor fit. Sanding and filling the order of the day.

The part I wasn't looking forward to, correcting the anemic drop tanks. For both, I cut along the centre line of each half down to the fourth panel line and forced 60 thou of card in the gap to flare out the tank. Then the tanks were cemented together from the rear to the cut. When dry, another 60 thou was forced into the gap so the tank now flared out on all four sides.

Next, Milliput was used to fill the gap on the first tank and card on the second. card was definately the easiest of the two. After muchos sanding, this is what I ended up with. Definate improvement.

Next will have to be the nose cone. More sanding.

keep the faith.

W

[Calum]

Nice work there. keep the posts coming

[Work In Progress]

I like the way you've fixed the tanks with the X cuts and card inserts to flare the nose. Very smart and effective. I don't generally get involved with modern-ish jets but following a thread like this is always useful for the modelling technique which can be used on any kind of subject.

[Wolfpack]

Today's update concerns the drop tanks and the nose.

I forgot to mention previously, that the drop tank fins have mounting plates on the upper and lower surface of the fins, attached by eight bolts per plate. If you have a punch and die set, this is no problem, otherwise leave them off. There are only 96 all told.........................

Now for the nose cone. What a pile of ! Its diameter is too large and this applies to both parts supplied. However, the bright side is that if you attach the 'D' nose to match the underside contours, you are left with enough plastic to re-shape the top section and an urgent need for a Dremel or similar. Having got the former, it was used to re-shape the rear section of the cone to match the fusleage profile to the radome section and to shape this slightly. After a good rub down with wet and dry ( the model, not me) it now resembles the 'D' radome. Of course the strakes on the radome have to be replaced. Good old stretched sprue again.

Like most other Mirage kits, the intakes don't fit well. I ended up removing the locating stubs for the cheek and got a much better fit to the intake body section. At least Kinetic have molded this section with the small supports that attach to the fuselage.

You can see the filler in these two shots. Don't forget to fill in the night intercept spotlight on the port intake. Ds don't have 'em.

The jet pipe is a bit naked as well. Even though the instructions don't mention them, there are a choice of five parts and the model will look silly without them.

Drill three indentations in each petal, one at 3mm down from the top and two at 9mm. Sorry about the crappy photo, but you can just see the indentations.

Then select a nice cold beer and a movie and relax for the rest of the night. If you've got this far, you deserve it!

W

[POMPEO]

nice progress wolf,

i start the changes that you say on my mirage, and i looking yours to take sme ideas

cheers

[Wolfpack]

A quick mod to the nose. A new panel needs scribing forward of the last fuselage panel line. The photo shows where.

Most of the rest of the build is just basic. Adding the kit parts and detailing where required. Brake lines and such. Shorten the nose leg by about 4mm, it's too long otherwise for a landed aircraft.

Stores are abit of a pain. One AS30L? Nah, something more exotic is needed. I found a photo on http://florent1973.free.fr/FrenchAirWings/francais/uk2.htm of a D with two LGB's, US 500 pounders no less! Mounted on a rack mounted in turn on the fuselage centreline pylon, they looked cool. Or would do if (i) I had two LGBs and (ii) I had a mount for them.

Sometimes my memory decides to work and I remembered that the Revell Rafale has lots of goodies in the box. LO!. Two 500lb LGBs and that strange looking pylon they are hung on. So, of we go and here we are:

Looking at the decals, it's real nice of Kinetic to not tell you what unit the markings belong to. The French roundels I think, are too dark and the Greek roundels not dark enough. I'm gonna use a set from Eduard's D/N kit, apart from the formation lights as Kinetic have kindly printed the silver surround.

Anyone seen this on hypoid scale? Mirage build linky I guess he doesn't like Renaissance stuff or know his Mirages too well. Heigh ho.

Back soon with more updates. Keep the faith!

W

[Wolfpack]

YEAH! Finally got some paint on't bugger. Primed with the usual auto primer, I used Xtracrylic Ocean Grey and Green Vietnam for the camo. Blue-Tac was used for the demarcation. Not long untill decaltime................................

W

[Silver Fox]

Looking good Wolfie, looking good. The kit that is.

[Wolfpack]

Well, thanks for that O silvery one.

Anyway, on with the update.

It's done. See RFI thread.

W

[bungynik]

Actually Wolfpack, I'm not sure that you have to cut the fin rudder. I have very accurate drawings of 2000D, so as you can see there is only the minor misalignment with drawings, wich could be 'cause I have scanned the fin . It is measuring in tenth of millimeters.

Two millimeters have changed the shape significantly. Kinetic, obviously,have a very accurate drawings!

And considering the fuel tank, it is properlu shaped in the front part, but the diameter of the back part of bigger than it should be.

And just one thing, you have modified right front panel according to N version. D version have different layout. But I think I have already posted the image! And radom have lighter shade of green. Kinetic stated 34102 which is very close, if not completely accurate. But I think that you can find better shade of radome in BS381C colors.

Cheers!

By the way, great build.

Edited February 21, 2011 by bungynik

[Wolfpack]

Bungynik

Actually Wolfpack, I'm not sure that you have to cut the fin rudder.

Photos don't lie.............

If you read my posting(s), you will note that I have based the correction on the Rennaisance part as, being he is a French type person, he would know more about Mirages than I or Kinetic do.

As far as the tanks go, it's easier to ammend the front than mess about with the back. The tank rear is also under the wing and can't be seen, resulting in an undersize front view as you have no rear to compare it to on the completed model.

Any chance of sending a copy of your "very accurate plans"?

Have to disagree over the IP.

W

[jimbuna]

Very nice indeed.

[bungynik]

@wolfpack

I have very accurate scale drawings by Cyril Defever, but I'm not allowed to spread, considering those are copyrighted. As for the instrument panel, I have the photos of front and back! instrument panel of M2000D. I do not speak about that just to be smart. 2000D and 2000N instrument panels are completely different.

[Mike]

Being that the Renaissance guy is French and he probably knows more about Mirages than many, I've used his 'D' conversion set to remodel the Kinetic kit.

Sorry, but I'm going to have to stretch your logic on this in order to pick a serious flaw in it. So Gerard Depardieu knows more about Mirages by dint of being French than Kinetic? I don't wish to engage in any rows about it, cos I know less about the Mirage than a lot (probably because I'm not French ), but I'd be more inclined to be swayed by your assertion if you were posting up pictures of the real thing, or at least scale drawings, rather than another kit. know what I mean?

bungynik has presented credible evidence, so he's winning at the moment in my book.

[bungynik]

@wolfpack and Mike

I really didn't want to start any bickering here. I was just tried to share what I know on this subject and nothing else. I didn't have intention to devalue one's work. Just to help somebody who's preparing to build this kit. I know a lot 'bout Mirage 2000s and I have very extensive documentation. I am ready to share everything that I'm allowed to share. I posted the scan with drawings just to point out, that it might be a mistake to cut of 2mm of the tail and to offer different information, but it is on somebody who building the kit to decide what information he is going to follow. For same reason I did the scan of fuel tank and drawing. I am maybe wrong and I am open lo learn more from somebody who knows more than me, but there is no reason for you to follow somebody work as a Bible. This kind of forum is here so we can exchange knowledge and experience and to help each other, not to build our reputation... at leas this is how I look on this. I'm relly glad to find somebody who knows more than me, and than I can be very annoying in hope that I can learn more from him.

P.S.

And for those who have a plans to build 2000D version in 1/48 scale, I can recommend Skyraider decal set.

Somebodey just posted the review here http://inscale.org/pub/index.php?topic=1010.0.

I have the same set and I am more than satisfy. Those minor flaws are, according to the review, mainly related to instruction sheet.

Edited February 25, 2011 by bungynik

[Honeybee]

Hi Bungynik,

I may have inadvertantly started this latter discussion as I read your post as

I am not sure you have cut the fin rudder. Whereas you said

I am not sure you have to cut the fin rudder.

I told Ian and he believed me and obviously he missed the small word TO also. That is why he posted the pictures again. Sorry for my mistake and the next time I see him I will point out what has happened. At present he is totally into Mirages so I hope you can help him out with info

Regards (Apologetically)

Paul

[Wolfpack]

Paul

he said

I'm not sure that you have to cut the fin rudder

, you read it aright.

Mike

Sorry, but I'm going to have to stretch your logic on this in order to pick a serious flaw in it. So Gerard Depardieu knows more about Mirages by dint of being French than Kinetic?

If you want to use 'shambolic logic' like what I do, you need to get a more representative Frenchperson. M. Depardieu knows more about French ACTING than Kinetic would be a more representative comment there.

I based my conversion on the Rennaisance parts 'cause he knows more about French aircraft than Kinetic (or me for that matter).

And finally Bungynik, are the plans available commercially and if so where? I would love a decent set to base future models on. The completed tanks look 100% better after correction/conversion and that's what I'm after. It don't have to be right as long as it looks right IMO. It's what modellings all about innit?

W

[bungynik]

You can buy this book. It's filled with Cyril drawings for all versions of M2000, plus a lot of unseen photographs (cockpit of M2000D). Hope this gonna help.

All the best !

Edited February 26, 2011 by bungynik