PJ Production 1/72 Mirage IIIBE/BD/DS/D2Z
By Matt Bittner
The Kit
PJ Production 1/72 Mirage IIIBE/BD/DS/D2Z consists of w pieces of injected plastic, x pieces of resin, y pieces of photoetch and z pieces of clear. There are decals for four aircraft:
- Mirage 5 BD, 2 Sqn Belgian AF, Florennes, 1985 (Dark Green/Medium Greeen/Tan on the top sides, Light Grey on the undersides)
- Mirage III D2Z, 85 Sqn, South African Air Force, Pietersburg, 1975 (Olive Drab/Deep Buff on the top, Admirality Grey on the unders)
- Mirage III BE, ECT 02/002, French AF, "Cote d.Or", Dijon, 1982 (Natural metal overall)
- Mirage III DS, Uberwachungsgeschwader, Swiss AF, Payerne, before 1989 (Dark Grey/Light Grey overall)
Decals are really nicely printed with excellent color density and look to be in register.
Construction starts with the cockpit, but you'll need to pay close attention to the instructions. There are a few modifications needed between the injected and resin parts, so study the instructions closely before proceeding. Once you understand what it is you need to do, then build and paint the cockpit, and add it to the forward nose halves. Glue the halves together and add the nose cone (but leave the pitot off until the very end).
Next up is assembling the two mid/rear-section fuselage halves. There is some surgery to be applied here as well so study the instructions. Once these are together than add the vertical tail, spine, forward fuselage and engine nacelles. You'll build up the exhaust cone and after painting, add it to the fuselage before gluing the rear-most piece of the fuselage to the main section. I think you would want to do this to ensure the fit of the rear piece matched the rest of the kit. It just means you'll have to mask/fill the exhaust prior to painting.
Now the wings are assembled. If you want to fit a center-line fuel tank you'll need to open the holes for it before gluing the wing to the fuselage. From here you'll add the various strakes and bumps to the underside of the wing prior to painting. Once painting is accomplished you'll be able to add the final touches; landing gear, gear doors and stores, if wanted. Finally, fold the provided photoetch boarding ladders and add those to the opened cockpits again, if so desired.
Conclusion
The PJ Production Mirage IIIs are very nicely done kits and look great built-up. With this release you'll be able to add a two-seater to your collection and it's definitely recommended.
A big "thank you" to PJ Production for sending the Mirage IIIBE/BD/DS/D2Z for review.