[V.Narayan]

Foxbat, congratulations on yet another self assembled self painted model the IAF Mirage 2000. Your determination & patience to do this is quite laudable. Looks good. My attempts at painting my models {stopped doing it in the 1990s} usually ended in disaster! Great work.

skanchan96, love the Israeli F-16. It just looks menacing, which it indeed is. Like the MiG-21 before it the F-16 will soon clock 50 years in production and still have runway ahead. It is an example of design excellence. When it first flew c.1974 it looked futuristic - blended wing-fuselage, chin air intake, 360-degree canopy etc. I also admire your Zero. In 1940 it was the best fighter in the world not only in dog fighting but also range. The Bf109 and Spitfire might have had 90% of its maneuverability but they could fly less than half the radius. The Zero introduced the flush rivets to the world of aviation - an example of the Japanese attention to drag reduction.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Foxbat, congratulations on yet another self assembled self painted model the IAF Mirage 2000. Your determination & patience to do this is quite laudable. Looks good. My attempts at painting my models {stopped doing it in the 1990s} usually ended in disaster! Great work.

Thank you. It's never too late to restart building models, most of the videos on YouTube by professional model builders are in their 40s-50s.


Getting an easy 40-50 part kit can be a good starting points, its a relaxing hobby to do 30-40 minutes a day

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

skanchan96, love the Israeli F-16. It just looks menacing, which it indeed is. Like the MiG-21 before it the F-16 will soon clock 50 years .

Good to see you back Sir & Thank you.

The camo on Israeli AF jets makes them look even meaner. JC has stepped up their game on their newer models (this F-16I is based on a new mould) - better finishing, better fitment of attachments but for some odd reason they are not keen on improving the pilot models which continue to look like green painted sacks of sand

However JC's new releases that still use their older moulds, like the F-14 I will be posting soon, continue to suffer from the same old issues! That is where HM scores over them big time. However HM's F-14, shape wise is, no where close to Calibre's and JC's F-14 releases.

[FrozeninTime]

This video is from youtuber Sam Chui where he visits a South China diecast aircraft model factory and chronicles the whole process.

https://youtu.be/y5-qU-xiAlI?feature=shared

[Foxbat]

After watching many videos online I have started scratch building details from common household materials. This kit (like many others) did not come with a pilot so I ordered one online (complete rip off but I could not find a better option).




I painted it in IAF colours including the brown hands
The seat belts are thin pieces of tape(about 1-2mm wide) painted and glued on the pilot. The pilot did not come with a oxygen tube so I took two pieces of thread and painted it black and joined them together.





Any guesses for this aircraft? This is how the cockpit appeared in the 1980s- early 2000s probably.

[davelok]

@foxbat you have captured the true spirit of DIY!

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Any guesses for this aircraft? This is how the cockpit appeared in the 1980s- early 2000s probably.

K-36 Ejection Seat, grey cockpit and distinctive radar scope, so MiG-29.

Nice work on the pilot figure.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by davelok

@foxbat you have captured the true spirit of DIY!

Thanks.

I just saw this video on YouTube which is very similar to the process I did however I didn't make the belt buckles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UblCurn5q4A

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

K-36 Ejection Seat, grey cockpit and distinctive radar scope, so MiG-29.

Nice work on the pilot figure.

Great observation and correct

The ejection seat is hardly visible in the pictures.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

I painted it in IAF colours including the brown hands
The seat belts are thin pieces of tape(about 1-2mm wide) painted and glued on the pilot. The pilot did not come with a oxygen tube so I took two pieces of thread and painted it black and joined them together.

Foxbat your skills at making your models and now creating your own pieces is simply mind blowing. Great work comrade.

Originally Posted by davelok

@foxbat you have captured the true spirit of DIY!

+1

Originally Posted by skanchan95

K-36 Ejection Seat, grey cockpit and distinctive radar scope, so MiG-29.

Wow! You amaze me.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Finally managed to finish this today, some initial pictures:

1/48 Scale Indian Air Force Mirage 2000H, Tigers Squadron KF135 in 1991 based at Maharajpura AB, Gwailor.

Some more pictures of the IAF Mirage 2000I









The underside is well detailed with numerous decals which is rare for a 31 year old kit.




Next to a Su-30MK-1 it looks like a midget

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Some more pictures of the IAF Mirage 2000I

Next to a Su-30MK-1 it looks like a midget

Your DIY skills are getting better and better Congratulations. I couldn't paint that well even as a younger man when I had the patience and the skill. Love the juxtaposition of the Mirage 2000 and the Sukhoi. Just goes to show what a huge machine the Sukhoi is.


I am ordering a JC Wings model 1:72 that....

I am aircraft of the 1970s-1990s but I evolved from an aircraft of the 1950s.
I am probably the only aircraft to successfully serve in squadrons with two different wings
The IAF tested me in c.1976 but selected another bureau's product.
Guess who I am.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Your DIY skills are getting better and better Congratulations. I couldn't paint that well even as a younger man when I had the patience and the skill. Love the juxtaposition of the Mirage 2000 and the Sukhoi. Just goes to show what a huge machine the Sukhoi is.

Thanks

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

I am ordering a JC Wings model 1:72 that....

I am aircraft of the 1970s-1990s but I evolved from an aircraft of the 1950s.
I am probably the only aircraft to successfully serve in squadrons with two different wings
The IAF tested me in c.1976 but selected another bureau's product.
Guess who I am.

Sukhoi Su-22 ? Two different wings meaning physical shape of wings?

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Sukhoi Su-22 ? Two different wings meaning physical shape of wings?

Bulls eye. Indeed it is the Sukhoi Su-22.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Bulls eye. Indeed it is the Sukhoi Su-22.

Excellent!!

Sir, Just be very careful while fitting the attachments on the JC Su-22 and while handling the model in general.

Although they are somewhat elastic, those twin nose pitot tubes are very fragile and get bent out of shape easily. It is easy to unknowingly flick them with your hand wile fitting the landing gear/weapon attachments The green pitot tube on mine got bent badly and I had to use hot water and borrow my wife's hair dryer to bend it back into shape.


In all other aspects, It is a superb model and has all the tell tale signs of being a former Calibre Wings mould.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

I am probably the only aircraft to successfully serve in squadrons with two different wings

I suppose the hint to what you are referring to, is in the model box itself.
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