1/48 Fonderie Miniature 

Mirage F1B

108 plastic parts, 28 p/etched, 11 white metal, 14 resin 2 vacu formed, 5 options on the decal sheet. The last kit from FM is devoted to the training version of the famous Mirage F1 from AMDBA, the looser of the century commercial contract, won by the F-16 for re-equipping the European  Nato Air forces.  Nevertheless the beautiful bird had been sold to  many other foreign air forces in the world, following the tracks made by the Mirage III.

Here is a premium in the 1/48 scale world and my first reaction with the opened box was to see that FM improve its concept on many areas: 

1) The surfaces are better than the former production ,and only the rear belly fuselage will need attention (you could at least sand slightly overall to get perfect sleek skin).

2)location  pins appear on the two half fuselages, on their roots for alignment of the wings and on the wheel bays too.

3) the instructions is clearer than before and you could put aside your aspirin tablets.  I'm a lover of this bird and I will compare it with the ex Esci l F1C reboxed by Italeri in FC/CR version, with drawings from manufacturer and the notes I took on full scale aircraft.  Where Esci/Italeri failed with dimensions and shape, FM captured the right finest areas and get 10/10 versus Esci.  

The wings and stabilizers have now right surface and shapes (you'll have to add 1.5mm onto each ESCI wing and reduce horizontal stab around 1mm).  The narrow windshield is now right too and more conform to reality.  I must admit that you'll still have to prepare all the plastic parts by removing excess flashes (easy ,the plastic is soft).  Due to internal location pins, depression appear on the external skin around the main bays, but less than monogram on it's B-29! 

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Now the analys by sequence.  The cockpit tub is multi media with  a mix of plastic (for the frame), p/e (for console and instruments), resin( for dashboard and MK10 seat).  Remember that the canopy breaker equipped seat is in front of the office and with the help of your source (see end of the comments) you'll add control throttle on left console, wirings under windshield and rear seat.  Do not cut the front portion of the clear backward canopy, it's the second crew shield for ejection sequence!  From spare box you'll dig out mirrors and handles to close the  canopies.  

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On sequence G on the instructions, you'll install gears bays.  Parked..the F1 has them dropped and circuit ignition close them after.  Some plumbing  will be installed according with pics.  Think to add weigh in the nose  cone, (just in case..)  The next job is wings, stab, exhaust, canopies, probe wheels installation.  I suggest to left aside all fragile items that prevent you to paint it properly. The fuselage airbrakes if mounted on close position will lead you to enlarge the "arms" in the fuselage (not good depth ).The air intakes join the fuselage with an horizontal tiny plate to scratchbuilt.  Fuel vents can be add at the rear fuselage ,too. As usual brake wiring will be added on the 3 legs (sand smooth w/metal undercarriage molding line). The wheels pattern is not the best with snagging tracks ,that you'll have to correct and re-align. About armament ,the French two seater is deleted from internal DEFA30mm canons but keep external weapons as R550 Magic and Super 530.A 1200 dropping fuel tank is also provided. If you are not satisfied
of them, pick up the ones from Revell/Esci F1or M2000 kits.  The wing tips house
 profiled nav lights (red/blue), that you'll create from sprue or a coloured tooth brush.

The decals offer you a choice for 5 different French aircrafts, 2 for Escadrille de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine at REIMS AB in 1991,2 for the EC 3/5 ComtatVenaissin (disbanded now) in 1981 at Orange AB and one spectacular Tiger scheme F1 from EC 5/330 Cote d'argent at Mont de Marsan AB in 2001.  All are in the blue superiority scheme upper surface and silver/greyhish under.  I mention that 3 of them are in the last configuration with short emblems,roundels and without yellow walkways on wings.  One is in the '70 pattern with large roundels and large forward intakes painted red (code 5-AD).  All the stencils are included with some tiny letters "at the limit".  For some of them CARPENA/COLORADO have printed some good sheet in the past.  The white line decal aside the roundel is the perspex explosion system for the front seat.  With  improvement in design and development, FM is on the good way with its unusual kits.

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Instruction sheets

This kit is Highly recommended to Mirage lover, and with a little experience the definitive accurate single version of this bird could be turned from this training version and the up-date set.

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If markings are not your choice, buy as far as you can and where you can the amazing sheet "Dark Mirage" from Albatros decal, a MUST sheet on the subject.

Jean-Paul

Photos and text © 2003 by Jean-Paul Poisseroux