The SAAF Forum

I will be using Humbrol enamels, the supplied MAV decals and I'm going to scratch build the F1AZ MER.

Italeri 1/48 F.1 CT/CR, ScaleWorx F1AZ conversion and Verlinden Mk82 bombs.


Sprue shot;


ScaleWorxbits;

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EX ALTO VINCIMUS

Found some more bits I'd bought for this F1AZ;
Pavla intakes and Resin Art wheels with the correct hubs.


Got some work done on this beauty.
Cut off the nose and forward fuselage, quite simple and the resin replacemnt (pretty weighty!) fits like a glove. The exhaust requires a bit of trimming of the kit but is otherwise drop-in perfection.

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EX ALTO VINCIMUS

Thankfully Joker drew my attention to the fact the Pavla intakes had the wrong shock cones, so I pinged those off and stuck on the kit ones (which are the correct, longer shock cones with folding tips).

Some more progress here too today.

Cockpit painted and weathered


Instrument panel

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EX ALTO VINCIMUS

Hey Bladerunner,

Sorry to hear about the upheaval in your life, I hope it is getting better.

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EX ALTO VINCIMUS

Hi Parabat,

Thanks, its been tough, but getting better.
Also thanks for posting your build where it belongs... much easier to follow and appreciate.

Cheers
John

Hi Parabat
Am watching this with interest as I started this one yesterday. I like what you are doing.

I do have a few questions and hope that you or the other SAAF Experten can help me. Apologies if these are old hat to some .I have spent the last day and half trawling my books and some Posts here.
I am interested in doing a AZ representing the decade 1978-1988 . The Scaleworx kit features the South African ventral strakes/chaff dispensers. Were these in use before 1988 ? I have a feeling that they were fitted post Border War or right at the end.

Are there other RHAW or counter measures featured in the kit which were not used in the time period I am interested in ? Having read J.Lords "Vlamgat" I would expect that these features were developed incrementally and not generally available until quiet late in the conflict.

And lastly do you or anyone else have a plan view of the F1AZ camouflage for this period - it seems that it is dissimilar to the CZ.

All information is welcome and thanks in advance,
kind regards from cold and snow Holland
Brian

Hi BKirwan,

This is the best I could come up - with air to air photos of the AZ & CZ. Hope they help.


Mirage F1AZ's


Mirage F1CZ's

As far as I am awarew it is only where the green goes over the fuselage that varies.
On the AZ it goes completely across the top of the fuselage.
On the CZ it has a buff break in it.
All the rest of the camo pattern for both models of aircraft is the same.

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So few, who did so much, with so little - the RhAF 1970 - 1980

Vulcan
Thanks for that, the top photo is the Az and the bottom the CZ. The difference is very subtle .
Appreciate the bother .
Regards
Brian

Welcome to the forum Brian


Source: Aircraft of the SAAF by Potgieter & Steenkamp.

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Brent Best

Don't think you'll ever see a top-camo reference pic better than that!

Yea I have no excuse for getting the camouflage wrong on this one. Many thanks for that gents .
Brian

When I started my apprenticeship on the Mirage F1AZ in the early mid-1980s they were still fitted with the standard thin ventral stakes but as I recall by the time I left Mirages in the late 1980s (about 1987) the chaff dispensers were being fitted. The Radar Warning System "kat balletjies" were also by then fitted on either side of the cockpit and tailfin. When I left the aircraft were also still painted in the deep buff/olive drab scheme - the first pattern dark earth/olive drab colour scheme came in I think in 1988.

Flying Springbok
Many thanks for your reply, straight from the horses mouth as we say. I am going to have to nail down a date for myself and work towards that.

Cheers
Brian