Mirage 2000 D/N

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

Eduard's 1/48 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 will be available online from Squadron.com
 

Eduard’s re-release of the Heller 2000N kit is a welcome return of a nicely detailed kit.

In this Limited Edition release Eduard have provided some very good extra details in etched metal, photo film, cast resin and masks. The kit contains 94 light grey injection moulded plastic parts and 8 clear parts, 6 cast resin parts, 2 photo film parts approximately 70 coloured photo etched metal parts, masking for the canopies and wheels and a large decal sheet covering 4 different schemes.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Of the plastic injection parts 11 are not used being either superseded by resin or not used on this version. Unfortunately the clear parts are packaged in with the main sprues and the review samples have suffered from some light scratches but these will easily polish out.

When this kit was first released a few years ago it had some nice detail and the Heller moulds are holding their age well, the detail is crisply moulded. The surface detail is engraved and is quite good by today’s standard. When this kit was first released it was rated as the most accurate of the current 1/48 scale Mirage 2000 kits and would still hold this mantle today. I do not have accurate scale plans of the Mirage 2000 so I cannot make too many comments on the accuracy of the dimensions.

The original cockpit interior was a bit on the plain side and I think from memory Heller used to provide decals for the instrument panels and side consoles. The original ejection seat detail was also very sparse. No cockpit detail seats have ever been produced for the two seat version of the Mirage 2000 but thanks to Eduard this has been remedied with beautiful photo etching for the cockpit and resin ejection seats.

The wheel wells contain some detail but lack the finer details of hydraulic piping and electrical cables and this will need to be added as scratch built detail. The undercarriage itself gets some improvement with detail provided in the etched metal fret. The Speed brakes are moulded closed. Pin injector marks are minimal with the only visible ones being on the undercarriage doors and these can be easily filled. The engine nozzle detail is sufficient but the inside afterburner detail may be improved on by some scratch building expertise. The optional parts for the different antennae fits are provided to make the kit either a 2000D or 2000N

The transparencies are moulded crystal clear but. as I mentioned earlier, will require some polishing to remove some transit scratches.

The fit of the kit, previewed through some very quick dry fitting, appears to present no major problems.

Options are provided for two large underwing fuel tanks and a cruise missile, and open or closed cockpit canopy.

A full coloured sheet is provided depicting the colour schemes for the four aircraft. The decals and schemes provided for the four aircraft are as follows:

• Mirage 2000D 626 of EC.3/3 Ardennes, Nancy Ochey AFB in 2000. This aircraft was finished in a wrap around scheme of Olive Green and Dark Grey. A large wild boar with tusks is painted on the fine and national markings are large hi visibility French national markings.

• Mirage 2000 N 318, EC.02.004 La Fayette, Luxeuil/St. Sauveur AFB, EBFS Florennes Belgium in 2004. The aircraft is finished in Olive Green and Dark Grey upper surface and a Light Grey lower surface. A large American Indian head is painted on the fine and national markings are large hi visibility French national markings. A large shark’s mouth is painted on the nose.

• Mirage 2000 N 335, EC.02.004 La Fayette, Luxeuil/St. Sauveur AFB, EBFS Florennes Belguim in 2004. The aircraft is finished in Sandy Brown and Yellow upper surface and a Light Blue lower surface. A large coat of Arms is pained on the fin and national markings are large hi visibility French national markings

• Mirage 2000 D 612, EC.05.330 Cote d'Argent, Mont-de-Marsan in1994. The aircraft is finished in Olive Green and Dark Grey wrap around camouflage scheme.

The decals are crisp, accurate in colour and in register. They have a small amount of carrier film which should disappear under a coat of clear finish.

In summary, this is an excellent reboxing of the solid Heller kit with improvements that enhance the overall finish of the original offering.

I am looking forward to building this in the near future and will be posted to HyperScale.

This kit will be suitable for modellers of above average skill and experience due to the etched metal content of the kit.

Recommended.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2007 by Mick Evans
Page Created 01 August, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

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