I finished this piece a while back too... I paid 170rand here in SA🇿🇦 I would agree in saying its a test bed before attempting say... Some thing from Revell or Tamiya. However i enjoyed the build. The more your willing to put in, the better your model will come out. I painted with Revell 99 Aluminium and Tamiya panel line accent. Came out pretty sweet 👌

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Sounds awesome!

The one dislike,.......Academy decal manufacturers!!! 😂

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Haha! That dislike was there before it even premiered!

@Smk_spotting

4 жыл бұрын

Maybe they were early access patrons? 😂

Amazing build, I just bought the kit and 2 spray cans (black & silver metallic) after watching this vid. I might try modelling again after so many years...

@ModelMinutes

6 ай бұрын

Go for it! I'll be making another video like this one where I use rattle cans for a silver finish on a F-80 i recently completed, but I also think I used the same technique on a 1/144 scale F-86 some years ago too

looking forward to starting this one 👍

@ModelMinutes

3 жыл бұрын

Hope you enjoy it!

@lappin6482

3 жыл бұрын

@@ModelMinutes thanks mate

I'm currently working on this same kit today. Plan to finish it in the next few days. A quick & simple job.

@ModelMinutes

Жыл бұрын

awesome!

@dennisgraham3087

Жыл бұрын

@@ModelMinutes wished I had known or thought about some of the suggestions for scratch building the boxes for the landing gear that would have been interesting to do.

Ah yes, the 'highly detailed cockpit' sales blurb.... along with 'choice of weapons', 'detailed pilot figure' and '20 different marking options!' Fallen victim to them all. I think this is a great build and a fantastic finish. Good job, great vid and thanks for sharing.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! :D

@julianmhall

2 жыл бұрын

@@ModelMinutes I think 'sparse' or 'absent' is more accurate WRT to the cockpit detail :)

Great video

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! It should be unlisted for now - but I guess it's in a playlist and that's how you saw it early

@luisparsons3981

4 жыл бұрын

@@ModelMinutes yep

@Smk_spotting

4 жыл бұрын

Luis Parsons how? How did you see it?

@luisparsons3981

4 жыл бұрын

Basically a pro hacker here you just wouldn’t understand

All the parts fit well and the decals, painting.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Parts are ok, it was the decals I had the most trouble with

I might just buy this kit based on the thumbnail alone.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Haha! Thanks :P

@scalemodelingltd

4 жыл бұрын

Me too ! Looks awesome x

You did a nice job, one of the nicest I have seen for this kit although you could have added more weathering and of course addon details to the cockpit and landing gear area. Honestly this kit is fantastic value especially for a 1/48 scale. It has super exterior details which are the most important. Keeping in mind the price it not surprising that it has no details in the cockpit and landing gear and exhaust areas, yes, this is why it is so cheap. I bought the R version now which has many holes for camera equipment in the nose, and clear parts for those holes are missing. But I do not complain. One has to keep in mind the value one gets for the money and its great value kit. It was inspirational to see the usage of spray cans, I will try that too.

@ModelMinutes

6 ай бұрын

thanks for sharing your thoughts :)

Good to see a kit just get banged out - no filler, sanding, crazy aftermarket stuff. Nice result.

@ModelMinutes

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like it, most of my builds are a bit like this. Although the extra work and aftermarket stuff usually gets better views, who has the money and time for that every time?

Just the thumbnail alone looks like an amazing model, can't wait to see the build :)

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm glad you like the look of it

@marsbar7099

4 жыл бұрын

Ikr

Good video overall - I've built an older 1/48 academy Mirage III back in 2011. If I remember correctly, it came with French decals, which I used in my build. It's on display in my office now.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Nice!

This is probably your best finish ever! Well done Matt! ☺

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :D

Absolutley fantastic!

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :D

That looks great Matt!

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Excellent work Matt! The model looks really good. I built the original Fujimi issue and the model did have the recessed panel lines on the model. At that time the Japanese aircraft model companies were introducing this type of panel line while American and European manufacturers were using the raised panel lines. If I wanted a Mirage III I would buy this but I would detail the cockpit, add boxes for the gear wells and buy a aftermarket decal sheet. I am impressed with how the spray paints really did a good job of replicating the metallic finish.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yeah, this is suitable for a lot of improvements :D

What a beautiful model

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Great work..! Million thanks for sharing..

@ModelMinutes

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

One suggestion on applying glue: squeeze some out onto a piece of scrap plastic or card and use a toothpick to apply the glue to the part. You can control where and how much glue you apply with this method.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

I do this sometimes, but can't always be bothered - I know it gives better results but thanks for reminding me

I've build this, ideal kit to fill the fuselage with lighter gas and Ignite it. Makes for a cool effect.

@ModelMinutes

2 жыл бұрын

lol, sounds fun! If not a little dangerous

I'm just deciding whether to buy this model... Your video convinced me :) The model is really cheap and I'm surprised how good the quality is in the base itself. I'm not interested in small details and a bad cockpit, because one day it will decorate my showcase in the 'flying' position.

@ModelMinutes

10 ай бұрын

Hope you enjoy it!

Great building. Very good. Only one thing. You must disappear the line which is created between the two plastic parts of fuselage. Mask right and left in the line and put putty. After some hours use model sand papers to remove putty. Repeat this many times and you will see the line will be disappeared , when you paint the model. Ask for this other modellers. Great building👍👍👍👍👍👍

@ModelMinutes

3 ай бұрын

thanks for the info

Nice aircraft model kit from academy.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, it's not bad but does have a few issues here and there

Got some lovely rivet detail! Nice build👍

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! 👍

I think the say highly detailed because its a mid 70s kit so at the time it would be spectacular. I also just bought one for myself.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Haha! They should probably change the wording now though . . .

@marsbar7099

4 жыл бұрын

@@ModelMinutes it'd make sense to.

good informative vid and a good looking model

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

Nice job thanks for sharing.

@ModelMinutes

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching 😊

Can’t wait 😊!!!

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Yay!

Nice oneeeee! It looks better than you would expect it to be, as far as kit general quality is.... You pulled out the best of this kit, since it is not the best Mirage III in 1:48....I imagine it looks lovely on your shelf!

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yes, It does look great next to the other kits :)

nice model! subbed!

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :D

These Mirage 3's looked glorious in the bare alloy. I'm busy with a South African airforce one atm with a similar scheme. Thanx for the tips and great build

@ModelMinutes

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Wonderful video Matt I've been looking forward to seeing it ! And if im being honest of its one of your best models (along with the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley & the Panzer II). Great job on the sliver paint scheme, even a cheap can of spray paint works wonders ( and will stick very well). Also I'm glad the infamous academy decals worked okay for you minus the issues you had.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! It was certainly a bit of a challenge in places but I'm glad it came out ok

Beautiful build, i love the Mirrage III C, for me one of the most beautiful jets along the years , keep the good work and the videos stuff . greetings from Portugal 😉

@ModelMinutes

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot!

If anyone is looking to build a 1/48 Mirage IIIC or IIICJ, then get either the HobbyBoss kit ( www.scalemates.com/kits/hobbyboss-80315-mirage-iii-c--104929 ) or the Eduard kit (for example: www.scalemates.com/kits/eduard-8496-mirage-iiic--958551). The Eduard kit comes in several boxing’s with different marking options and there are Profi-pak versions with extra details or just the basic plastic kit in the Weekend Editions. It actually has a detailed cockpit and there is a representation of the back end of the engine so it isn’t see-thru. The HobbyBoss kit is a near exact clone of the Eduard kit. Both kits come with a fairly extensive selection of nicely detailed external stores. There’s a copy of the Eduard kit instructions to download at the Scalemates link I included. There are other Mirage IIIC kits, notably from ESCI and Heller, but they are not up to the standard of the Eduard/HobbyBoss kit.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Russel! I am aware of the superior quality of the Eduard kits - but they'll have to go on a wish list for now until I can afford them :P

nice video nice model 👍👍👍👍

@ModelMinutes

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

For the price it seems a very good kit.... It certainly has potential to improve it... That scheme is the one I'd like to do as well. Yes, for an old kit great value . Keep the vids coming nicely done.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! More videos to come soon!

I'm making it now and about to work the intake area. Haven't glued it though. I'm not sure how to match them right. I'm afraid that I read the numbers wrong and would make me attach wrong pairs (those four pairs are 29, 30, 31, 32). Any tips?

@ModelMinutes

2 жыл бұрын

dry fit them, if they look wrong they probably are

There is something about a bare metal fighter that I find aesthetically pleasing, this scheme was used by many nations upon receiving their initial order of Mirage 3 airframes. As for Academy as a brand, I have found them to be a hit-and-miss. I have had some horrible kits & I have some excellent ones, the F-18E I recently built was very detailed & fit well together. What I like about Academy is that they make kits which are affordable & they are generally easy to find, but they are not the same level of quality as Eduard or Kinetic which offer similar kits at 3 times the price.

@ModelMinutes

6 ай бұрын

Academy are indeed very hit and miss, some really good kits and then some poor ones as well

At first moment I dysliked the whole build - terrible kit, quickly stitched together, gaps left as-is. But then I looked it from the perspective of my childhood, as exactly as this I glued whole kit within one evening. For the moment I smelled the homemade xylene glue, cellulose paints, that loved to bite the plastic, horrible smell of DDR silver paint, that's been added to DDR Plasticart kits. Thanks for kind remind of me getting old. 😂😂😂

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Haha! This kit could be made into a true wonder if you had the patience - I build mostly for fun though and all those little "extras" I just don't always see the point in doing. It turned out ok though, and I'm happy to display it on my shelf

I really want to see this build.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Not long to wait now!

the funniest part of this kit are the length of the pilots legs!

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

:P

I think it's the one of your best models on your channel, isn't it?

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

One of them - and I only built it to mess about with haha! This, the Whitley I built at Christmas and my Defiant i'm particularly proud of

You know..........For an inexpensive down and dirty build it came out pretty dam good.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! It was fun to build for the most part

Tamiya Mark Fit Strong is a somewhat more aggressive decal softener you can use on troublesome decals. Solvaset is the softener of last resort.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I will have to investigate

Really nice Mirage. If you wish to build another one, go for the Hobby Boss kit, it's a great kit (I've also read it's a better fitting copy of the Eduard kit).

@ModelMinutes

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips!

Have you tried the Micro Kristal Klear canopy and lens glue product by Microscale? It's my go to clear glue and you can even make light lenses by putting a drop on a hard surface, it can be painted and sanded when dry as well. A little bit goes a long way and can be used to fill gaps in clear parts too.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Oooooo that sounds good! I will look into that in the future

Hi Matt, a great watch, I didn't quite catch the name of that scale model resource site you mentioned, any chance you could repeat it for me as I'd like to find out about when some of my old models were produced, cheers, Johnny.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Hi! Certainly - scalemates.com is a good site for finding stuff out!

@johnnyz3354

4 жыл бұрын

@@ModelMinutes thanks Matt, cheers.

Finally ..!

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Haha! It's finally here!

Great job👍 It would be interesting to see you build the Eduard 1/48 Mirage III. You loved the Eduard spitfire. It’s quite a reasonable price if you get the weekend edition. Cheers👍

@ModelMinutes

2 жыл бұрын

Good suggestion. It is my intention to get more Eduard models when I’ve finally cleared the bulk of my stash. For now though, I’m pretty much on a purchasing ban 😂

@PeteCourtier

2 жыл бұрын

@@ModelMinutes same here although I bought a 1/48 Eduard Hellcat dual combo profipack really cheap (that’s a mouthful 😂) and had to get it. I’ll send a link where I got it👍 which won’t help your purchasing ban in the slightest 😂 Maybe you could change the channel name to “Model weekends” 😂🤪

@ModelMinutes

2 жыл бұрын

@@PeteCourtier “model years”

I've always had issues with Academy decals and silvering

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

yeah, they seem a bit weird

@KJ-kn8pg

3 жыл бұрын

The newer kits got exelent decals. You are probably talking about the older ones. The "new" f/a-18, the new tooled f-14 the f-15 and f-4 from last year and many more, decals are very good.

Stuff like Blu Tack and the like have volume but no weight, so it might be worth considering Liquid Gravity. It's not cheap so not much good for those on a budget, but it's great stuff. Tip it in to the smallest of gaps, add a few drops of PVA glue and you're all done.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

I saw that stuff in a recent visit to the model shop, but as you said - was out of my budget at the time. The sticky tack though - had loads of that available which is why i used it :P

Your best build yet in my opinion!, nice wash work and great result with the paints you used. Academy decals are trash, you did well with them. Canopy masking was Bob on too... Little Monty Python reference in there as well?.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Was there a monty python reference? It was unintentional if so :P Thanks for watching!

@lpjmodels

4 жыл бұрын

@@ModelMinutes pointed stick, the Welsh chap in "how to defend yourself from a man wielding a bannana" lol..

Wish u did make us wait

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Patreon supporters get to watch these videos a week early :D

use a blow dryer it works fantastic to conform the decals and you don't need micro sol or set hair dryer and cotton bud

@ModelMinutes

3 жыл бұрын

oh that's interesting - does it slightly melt them?

'... I decided to omit this...' To paraphrase Edmund Blackadder from series 2.. 'You, Matt, are an utter berk..' Just kidding :) Great job as always!

@ModelMinutes

2 жыл бұрын

haha :)

I tried using the liquid mask for the canopy but it didn't work, so I had to clean it up and go back and started over.

@ModelMinutes

Жыл бұрын

I feel that having had a bit more experience, tape is generally a better choice

@dennisgraham3087

Жыл бұрын

@@ModelMinutes thanks. I've had success with the liquid mask before, but for some reason it didn't work out as well. So I'm just happy that I was able to fix the problem.

I have the old Airfix mirage 1F, it’s pretty similar to this

@ModelMinutes

2 жыл бұрын

Probably a similar design from a similar time

I built this and the R (green/grey French camo) both the same lack of detail. The R just has holes for the camera apertures, no clear parts.

@ModelMinutes

3 жыл бұрын

that's a shame

Might be just me, but I can see a void in the front landing gear bay...

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

There's no details in there if that's what you mean

What i would have done differently is paint the central missile individually, since as far as I know the mirage was the only plane to carry it.

@ModelMinutes

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I would have done the same had I known it was a missile haha

Next time for the silver use humbrol metal coat

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

If i can get any! It looks like a better product but it's 5 times the price of the stuff I used

I think the centre missile was probably an Exocet air-ship missile, as used by a Mirage o the Argentine Air Force during the Falklands Conflict.

@ModelMinutes

Жыл бұрын

I believe it is a Matra Missile, an IR air-to-air missile

@julianmhall

Жыл бұрын

@@ModelMinutes Ah yes, spot on as Mr Google verified :) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.530

I want that model kit for myself mirage 3c Israeli air force.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

It makes a nice cheap alternative to the other kits of this aircraft

@rodneypayne4827

4 жыл бұрын

Go for the Hobby Boss range of Mirages, they are a little bit more expensive,have better full interior detail and engineering,and great decal sheets with multiple schemes portrayed. The overall cost is worth it.

Brilliant model, though I think you shouldve spent a bit more time on the under-wing items. This model demonstrates why I put little faith in Academy's older stuff. - AJThorn

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yeah, I didn't really feel like it as it was a "mojo" build, but I could always go back and give them more attention later

Re no engine detail..How about a small circle cut to the size of the hole /before/ the engine nozzle is glued on the back? Glue the circle in place, paint it to look like the inside of an active engine - so orange / red kind of thing, then glue the nozzle as per the instructions.

@ModelMinutes

Жыл бұрын

That is an interesting idea!

You can tell the kfir was developed from the Mirages the Israelis pocessed, kfir is longer and has canyards and uses a different engine but apart from that its just minor areas here and there

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Ah! I can't say I know much about the accuracy of the model

i have that well a husk of that jet

@ModelMinutes

3 жыл бұрын

Nice!

@mohanmadrid9736

3 жыл бұрын

Well its not a kit its more of a diecast toy

This model was a first for me. The first time I have ever bought a model and been so disgusted with it that I ordered a different brand and binned the Academy model after only a steps of the build.

@ModelMinutes

Жыл бұрын

I feel you

No image on iPhone 12

@ModelMinutes

10 ай бұрын

not really sure what that means

I use sticky tack and some small nuts to weigh down my plane noses.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

I have got some of those somewhere - I've used nails and coins before though

@justarandum7959

4 жыл бұрын

Used to melt lead a long time ago too

Time for an air brush!?

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

I'd love one! I just need to get all the right stuff! (and have money for it)

Missile looks like a Matra R.530 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.530#/media/File%3AMatra_R530_missile-001.jpg

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I had no idea what to look for

Every year I do the walk with Israel.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

What walk is that?

I might be wrong here, but I'm pretty sure I had the same kit from Fujimi and that was in the late '80s. Not a very pretty kit even back then.

@ModelMinutes

2 жыл бұрын

you're probably right

Looks like Academy dropped the ball on this one....and even though you didn't use filler you maybe should have...the seems were kind of glaring.

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah . . . I did give them a bit of a sand off camera but they didn't look too bad. As I said though, this was a mojo build and i only really wanted to do what I felt like doing, so hence the easy spray painting and things

@bubbapipe

4 жыл бұрын

@@ModelMinutes yup sometimes that little bit is need for piece of mind before hitting the big intense builds😉👍

@eviltoast2981

4 жыл бұрын

To be fair, this kit is from the 80's. Academy decals were definitely the weak point of their kits, glad they use Cartograph now. Edit- today I learnt this is from the 60's! Damn good for the time then!

In muy opinion it Is a poorly accurate model for that scale.

@ModelMinutes

2 жыл бұрын

yeah, it's not the best but it is ok for a relatively easy and quick build

In this moment I emsambly the old kit fuyimy wiht scratch interior add parts other kit mirage new decals.i hope make good finish.

Great video

@ModelMinutes

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you liked it