Mirage IVA / Mirage IVP
1966 - 2005

UpNorth
 

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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A fairly recent release from the Finish based company UpNorth^«, 48-001 is their premier decal release.  And a nice one it is too. 

The sheet provides markings to enable you to model any of the Mirage IVAs and Mirage IVPs ever produced. 

The placement guide (which thankfully is in the English language) advises that the Mirage IV wore two different schemes during its service life that stretched from 1963 to 2005.  These schemes were the initial overall natural metal finish worn between 1963 and 1975 and the overall dark grey with a dark green disruptive pattern on the upper surfaces.   This latter scheme also saw two variations to markings. 

As stated above, this sheet will enable you to produce any of the machines manufactured in any of the schemes it wore.  To do this, the sheet provides you with doubles of each letter of the alphabet bar the letters L, G, Q, T, X and Y.  To realise the missing numerals, UpNorth^«  provide the additional 'missing' parts of the letters to enable you to convert them, ie. a letter C to a G.  UpNorth^« also supply you with each of the two numeral serial numbers worn by the aircraft in the original style as well as the different style worn by the 19 machines that were underwent the P (for penetration) modifications.  These serials are a combined decal ie. the serial 20 is a separate design with its own carrier film.  I for one was happy to see this as UpNorth^«  could have just as easily supplied individual numerals and let you struggle with placing these minute numerals.    

The placement guide is a two-sided affair printed on an-4 sized sheet.  It carries left and right hand side profiles as well as upper and lower surface plan views of three different machines to represent the two different finishes and the three different marking styles.  A further header sheet is also provided and the rear of this carries a chronological history of the machine detailing when it was introduced, modified and when the different marking styles came into being.  It also carries a list of each machine, its serial number as well as the two letter code it wore. 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

With judicious use, you can produce two models from the supplied decals, a natural metal one and the first camouflage scheme, or two camouflaged models in the two different marking styles. 

The decals themselves have been printed by the Fantasy Printshop.  They are in perfect register and have an absolute minimum of carrier film which bodes well if you elect to model a natural metal finish machine. 

Unusually, the placement guide, header and decal sheet are placed into an open-ended clear plastic bag and not a zip-loc one.  So what you say?  Well, if your decal sheet encounters any moisture in its travels from Finland to your post box, it will spell disaster.  Zip-loc bags on the other hand offer better protection, as they seal the package from the elements. 

No advice is offered as to which kit the decals are meant for.  My bet is that it is the early Heller one.  This is a nice kit, but it does however have raised panel lines.  UpNorth^«  also offer a brass-etch re-scribing set for this kit which is why I base my assumption on the decals being meant for this kit. 

The UpNorth^«  website at http://upnorth.site.voila.fr/index.html advises that they are selling these at €11.00 which translates to $17.00 Aussie dollars.  Only 200 copies of the sheet have been produced so if you want one I wouldn't mess around. 

Recommended.

Thanks to Vincent from UpNorth the review sample

Review Copyright © 2005 by Rodger Kelly
Page Created 04 December, 2005
Last updated 04 December, 2005

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