While the Mirage IIIC was being put into production, Dassault was also considering a multirole/strike variant of the aircraft, which eventually materialized as the Mirage IIIE. The first of three prototypes flew on 1 April 1961.

The Mirage IIIE differed from the IIIC interceptor most obviously in having a 30 cm (11.8 in) forward fuselage extension to increase the size of the avionics bay behind the cockpit. The stretch also helped increase fuel capacity, as the Mirage IIIC had marginal range and improvements were needed. The stretch was small and hard to notice, but the clue is that the bottom edge of the canopy on a Mirage IIIE ends directly above the top lip of the air intake, while on the IIIC it ends visibly back of the lip.

Many Mirage IIIE variants were also fitted with a Marconi continuous-wave Doppler navigation radar radome on the bottom of the fuselage, under the cockpit. However, while no IIICs had this feature, it was not universal on all variants of the IIIE. A similar inconsistent variation in Mirage fighter versions was the presence or absence of an HF antenna that was fitted as a forward extension to the vertical tailplane. On some Mirages, the leading edge of the tailplane was a straight line, while on those with the HF antenna the leading edge had a sloping extension forward. The extension appears to have been generally standard on production Mirage IIIAs and Mirage IIICs, but only appeared in some of the export versions of the Mirage IIIE.

This kit is pretty much exactly the same as those for the previous single seat Mirage kits done earlier this year. PJ Production/High Planes have offered the same sprues with the bits to do just about any of the Mirage variants, the major change being in the decals and in this case, the clear resin nose for the recce version.

It only makes sense that their first kit is of a subject that has been previously released in resin, the Mirage. In this case, it is the Mirage IIIR/5F, which has been produced not only for France but in slight differences, for air forces around the years.

It is pretty obvious when looking at the sprues that these are intended for all the different Mirage versions. You get a bunch of different noses and different fuel tanks along with other bits and pieces not used on the versions kitted.

The injected parts are actually rather well done. The engraving is a tad on the 'soft' side compared to Hasegawa, for example, but is still quite acceptable to the majority of modelers. The wings are pretty standard as Mirage kits go and the fin is a separate item. Also separate is the forward fuselage. This is to allow the two seat version to be kitted later. The clear sprue includes both the two seat canopy as well as two windscreens; one of them unframed.

Of course, there is resin. I have taken the liberty of using the previous Mirage 5 sprue as there are few new parts. The clear recce noses are not included nor are the skinny drop tanks or later Martin Baker bang seat. What is added to the resin fit is the lower fuselage doppler radar bulge, that is also included in plastic if you want to use that. Also in resin are standard set of drop tanks with separate fins and a replacement resin fin.  A photo etch fret includes a boarding ladder, sensors, antennas and canopy mirrors.

Instructions are quite well drawn and let you know which of the optional bits are to be used for which set of markings. Color information is also provided during the build. There are three markings options, all of the camouflaged as befits a tactical reconnaissance aircraft.

The first option is the box art plane from the ER 3/33 'Moselle' based at Strasbourg in 1965. This aircraft is the one that French female pilot Jacqueline Auriol broke the woman's world speed record in 1963. It is in grey/green over aluminum paint. The Mirage 5F is with EC 3/13 'Auvergne' at Colmar in 1976 and carries a Tactical Weapons Meet marking on the nose. Same colors as the Mirage IIIR. The third option is one of the four Mirage IIIRZ aircraft of the South African Air Force. This one is in deep buff/olive green over light admiralty grey and was with 2 Squadron 'The Flying Cheetahs' at Swartkops in 1978. This scheme carries a sharkmouth.

The camo and markings sheet is in full color and the decal sheet is superbly printed with all the various data markings. The roundels have separate centers to prevent issues with registration.

If you like the Mirage III/V family as do I and have been waiting for a modern injected kit, then this is a very good one, especially with all the resin and the photoetch adding just that much more detail and being something you do not have to buy later. By the way, according to the box this kit is for Experimened Modelers! Gotta love translations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirage_IIIE 

June 2013

Thanks to PJ Production  for the preview kit. You can find this kit at this link.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.

Back to the Main Page

Back to the Previews Index Page