Mirage IVP

[kitspackman]

I've a yen to build a Mirage IVP with the CT52 recce pod fitted, as flown by ERS01/91 'Gascogne' during that amazing aircraft's twilight years.

Naturally I have the Heller kit (1/172 in my case) and the Pavla resin recce pod, which looks as if it should fit into the belly recess originally provided for the AN-11 nuke, but it fits where it touches, which isn't very much.

All the piccies of the IV carrying a CT52 pod look as if the pod fits very closely, not a sign of a gap anywhere around it, but most pics are taken from 3/4 forward and any others show the pod in deep shadow. The Pavla pod ends up with a BIG gap all the way round it, but the recess in the belly is round edged so it may be Heller's fault.

Does anyone have first hand knowledge how well the pod fitted please, either by looking very closely or by being a member of the Armee de l'Air? (I should be so lucky.......)

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Kitspackman,

That's an unusual name...... surely I can't keep calling you that.

Any way, having done the kit a while ago, albeit at 1/48. Have a stock of research photo's and am quite happy to send to you, it may help answer questions.

Feel free to email me at the decal bank, [e-mail]

Then I can send you some photos...

Colin

[viper]

I've got one of these to make and Modelart do an range of accessories for Mirage IV i.e. CT.52 recon pod with decals (and which fits perfect into the recess), CT151 ECM pod for the outer wing, AN.22 Nuke bomb, Boz 103 Chaff dispenser with pylon also for the outer wing and ASMP missile with pylon and there all about £5 each

Hope this helps

Ian

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Ian,

Same applies to you, if interested, I am quite happy to send you what I have, might save you going looking yourself, and duplicating effort.

Just email me at above email address, so I can send photos to you.

Colin

[kitspackman]

Colin and Ian,

Thanks for the responses, much obliged. You don't have to call me by my whole moniker Colin, no-one else in the World does,so just 'Kit' will do fine thanks.

I'll drop you an email right away, and thanks for the offer of the photos.

Ian,

I had no idea that Modelart did a CT52 pod as well, that's good news thanks. I'll keep an eye out for it at Telford.

Sadly (for me) I've already done a IVP with a scratch-built ASMP and Boz pods, and a week after I'd finished it Heller brought out the 2000N with the ASMP included! Grrrr......

[kitspackman]

Post Telford, and after seeing Colin's 1/48 Mirage IVP and talking to the boss man at Modelart, I've progressed this quite a bit.

From Colin's .jpgs (thanks very much publically Colin) it's obvious the pod fits with almost no gap anywhere round its edges, and the Modelart CT52 pod is almost identical to the Pavla one I already have. I'm drawn to the conclusion that the Heller 1/72 scale IVP is wildly wrong in that area, as the edges of the 'socket', in which both the nuke and the PR pod fit, should not be widely radiused as they are.

Looks like lots of filler will be needed when I build it <sigh>

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Kit,

Thanks for that, always nice to get thanks, my pleasure in helping...

Look forward to seeing the model when finished.

By the way, welcome to the SIG..... Email inbound.

Colin

[popeye]

for you Mirage IV addicts,

have you seen:

www.hyperscale.com/2008/galleries/mirageivag_1.htm


Rolf

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Rolf,

Good God, just look at that Photo pod.......

Feel so inadequate now......

colin

[popeye]

so was I,

just shaking my head and holding my breath in disbelief

Rolf

[Julien]

Holy recce pod batman

Thats pretty amazing.

Julien

Dec 18, 2008 9:40:16 GMT popeye said:

for you Mirage IV addicts,

have you seen:

www.hyperscale.com/2008/galleries/mirageivag_1.htm


Rolf

[kitspackman]

He hasn't got the seals installed on the pod doors. That'll lose him competition points........

Otherwise STREWTH!