IsraDecal IAF-33
 
 

Mirage IIIC/B “Shahak”

1/48 scale

Reviewed by Dave Williams

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In time for the excellent Eduard 1/48 Mirage IIICJ kit, Isradecals has released a new sheet for the “Shahak”.  The sheet allows making any of the three paint schemes used on IAF Mirages:  the original natural metal finish, the desert camouflage scheme of FS 30219/34227/33531 over FS 35622, and the rare ghost grey air superiority scheme of FS 36377 and 36320 as used on Kfir C.2s.  The instructions are contained in a 16-page booklet, which includes a two-page history of the Mirage III service with the IAF, and over two dozen black and white photographs of various aircraft in addition to conventional line drawings showing decal placement. 

The decals are provided on two sheets and include multiple number styles (three types of tail number and two types of nose gear door numbers), stencils in French and Hebrew, and badges for four squadrons, allowing the modeler to make any Mirage IIICJ or BJ used by the IAF from 1962 to 1982.  Also included on the sheet are the red airbrake outlines and wingwalk stripes, and the yellow-orange ID triangles fitted during the 1970’s.  Finally, kill markings for Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq are included.  In order to avoid registration problems, each kill marking is made up of multiple parts.  For example, the Syrian and Egyptian kill marks are made up of three parts:  the red and white outer roundel, the stars (two or three), and the center black roundel.  Making the kill markings will require some patience as each one must be made up individually and all of the decal components, which are fairly small, must be carefully aligned. 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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Specific instructions are provided for the following aircraft, although additional aircraft are shown in the photographs: 

·         Mirage IIICJ #259, First Fighter Squadron, 1970 in NMF.

·         Mirage IIICJ #745, First Jet Squadron, 1967 in NMF.

·         Mirage IIICJ #758, Bat Squadron, 1969 in NMF.

·         Mirage IIICJ #778, Bat Squadron, 1967 in NMF.

·         Mirage IIIBJ #88, First Jet Squadron, 1967 in NMF.

·         Mirage IIIBJ #86, First Fighter Squadron, 1967 in NMF.

·         Mirage IIICJ (R) #798, Bat Squadron, 1970 in desert camo.  This was one of two special reconnaissance Mirages specially ordered from France identified with a small fairing under the nose.

·         Mirage IIICJ #458, First Fighter Squadron, 1977 in desert camo.  This is another reconnaissance Mirage, however this was originally a fighter that had been fitted with a long range camera in an elongated nose as seen on some recon Kfirs.  This aircraft is shown retrofitted with the Atar 9C engine in place of the original Atar 9B.

·         Mirage IIICJ #730, First Jet Squadron, 1970 in desert camo.

·         Mirage IIICJ #159, First Fighter Squadron, 1975 in desert camo with ID triangles.  Shown with the Atar 9C engine.

·         Mirage IIICJ #153, Negev Squadron, 1982 in air superiority scheme.  Shown with the Atar 9C engine.

·         Mirage IIICJ #144, Negev Squadron, 1980 in air superiority scheme.  Shown with the Atar 9C engine.

·         Mirage IIICJ #129, Negev Squadron, 1980 in desert camo.  Shown with the Atar 9C engine.

·         Mirage IIICJ #150, Negev Squadron, 1982 in desert camo.  Shown with the Atar 9C engine. 

As a note on the aircraft numbers, Israel bought less than 100 Mirage IIIs.  When three digits were used, the last two digits were usually the individual aircraft number.  The first number was a prefix, which changed during the aircraft’s life.  For example, aircraft numbers 159 and 259 were both the same aircraft, as was #758 and #458.  Shahaks x58 and x59 were top scorers with 13 kills each. 

Recommended kits are the Eduard and Heller kits. 

These decals are comprehensive, of excellent quality, and well researched.  Modelers who are interested in Israeli Mirages should not hesitate to pick this set up. 

Highly Recommended! 

Review samples kindly provided by Isradecal. 

Preview Text Copyright © 2003 by Dave Williams
This Page Created on 19 November, 2004
Last updated 19 November, 2004

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