The SAAF Forum

Hi everybody,

My latest finished model, a 1/72 Mirage 50EV from High Planes Models, using the injected Mirage base and the detail set to make this kind of aircraft. Decals are from the same brand too.
As usual, not much to say about this model, just a bit of care is needed and it goes all pretty well.
Love the camo.










Michel

Very nice, well photographed too.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Hi Michel. Fantastic model of the prettiest of all III variants. That F1 nose and canards look great on a Mirage III . Love the Venezuelan color scheme....Vietnam camo in South America

Thanks a lot Gents
Sure it's a neat looking Mirage...
Few more coming, 2 Chileans on the bench as well as the new 5F Rose III, and I expect to make the Cheetah E 842 and add it to my SAAF collection.
Michel

Lovely Mirage!



No to mention that the 50 was fitted with 9k50 engine, so this would have been a hot bird to fly.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/141742650@N08/albums

Thanks Mars

Was there a big difference on flying conditions when the 9K50 was used on Mirage?

Someone who actually flew both needs to confirm but I understood that they are very similar but the 9K50 has some more oomf available. Think they are quite similar in terms of response.

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MAMBA

Keep your feet on the ground, and reach for the skies!

The the 50 in Mirage 50 comes from the engine designation 9k50. The engine was used in the F-1,V, R2Z and Cheetah C/D.

From Wikipedia


Mirage IIIE, SNECMA Atar 09C afterburning turbojet engine, 41.97 kN (9,440 lbf) thrust dry, 60.8 kN (13,700 lbf) with afterburner

SNECMA Atar 9K-50 afterburning turbojet engine, 49.03 kN (11,020 lbf) thrust [114] dry, 70.6 kN (15,900 lbf) with afterburner

Its a difference of more or less 2000 lb's, which is 907 KG of thrust.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/141742650@N08/albums

From my memory of discussions with SAAF F1 and Cheetah pilots in the 1990s:
Thrust was important but pilots also really appreciated the care-free throttle handling which 09K50 provided compared to 09C. With 09C, I believe you had to be fairly careful when going (for example) from a flight idle to full throttle (it was easy to get a flame-out), while with 09K50 you could slam the throttle from idle to full afterburner. with no problems.

Very nice build Kangourou!

Interesting camo pattern with the darker green.

Geoff

Thanks Geoff
Indeed, interesting, and a bit of a challenge with the masking before the painting, but it seems all right in the end.