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Page 8 of 18 Mirage F1 CZ colour schemes and markings.
Original article N. Scheltema, former AZ driver & AZ display pilot. Additional, D. Cooke, J. van Zyl, A. Dyason, other F1 pilots and ground crew (anonymous).
The colours and markings used on the SAAF Mirage F1 CZ and AZ are often inaccurately quoted. In my research it was striking to note how many publications are inaccurate. Unfortunately this is also true of publications that appeared in recent years.
Please note: - Unlike claimed by leading publications, there are distinct differences between the various colour schemes as used on both the AZ and CZ. The pattern is not the same for all the F1s that were in SAAF service.
- 'Light Admiralty Grey' does not actually exist in the SAAF. Light Grey was applied to the first few Mirage III and F1 types. But this was changed at a very early stage, to a colour that closely resembles Humbrol 65. Most photos were taken when the F1 entered service with the SAAF and thereafter photos were banned due to the classified nature of all operational aircraft. It is therefore assumed that the early photos reflect the entire time frame that the original colour schemes were in use.
- The SAAF never used paints based on the FS system, but these could be used with some colour tuning, to obtain the correct shade for modelling purposes.
Mirage F1 CZ - Original colour scheme:  Examples of the original F1 CZ colour scheme based on the std. French pattern. Note fuel tank in Natural Metal. | The original colour scheme of Buff and Green was based on the standard French pattern. Most CZs were painted to a gloss finish in France. In SAAF service the finish was changed to a satin finish and later some examples were even seen in matt. The "brown" is not Sand, but rather a Mid Buff (closely a bit lighter than Humbrol 63) while the Green is original Olive Drab, with a slight Brownish tint added. The brownish tint is less than what was used on the Mirage IIIs & Sabres. The best hobby colour for the Green is Matt Olive Drab (Humbrol 66) and not the FS hobby equivalent. For a few years the CZs were painted in Light Grey on the undersides, but due to the vast blue skies found in sunny South Africa this changed at a very early stage. The Light Grey is similar to Light Aircraft Grey (FS 36495), but with a minute dash of mid blue added. Due to the ineffectiveness of the Light Grey the underside colour was changed to a colour that closely resembles Humbrol 65. The Light Grey was also changed on the Mirage III. The pattern contains sharp demarcations between the three colours used on the aircraft. A number of differences in the actual pattern have been noted in particularly on top of the wings and to rear of the aircraft on the starboard side. Refer to actual photos of the aircraft you intent to model. See pg 42 of "Aircraft of the SAAF" by H. Potgieter, the photo shows the top view of the early F1 CZ pattern, in perfect 1/48 scale! The anti glare panel was in Satin Black with the radome in matt Black. Sometimes the anti glare panel was also finished in matt Black. Most F1 CZ s had the entire radome in matt Black, but at one time, some had the bottom fuselage colour painted in a narrow triangle towards the pitot, at the bottom of the radome. Antennas incorporated into the vertical fin were painted matt Light Grey, with a semi gloss White leading edge on the top part of the fin. The antennas on the spine were painted in matt Yellow with a Yellow Gold tint. Later the spine antennas were changed to Mid Buff (Humbrol 63). The brake parachute housing was in Light Grey, but some examples were in Natural Metal. Just ahead of this housing is small band in Natural Metal. The antenna on top of the brake parachute housing was also in Light Grey, while the horizontal VOR antenna at the op part of the fin was in matt Light Grey with front and side edges in semi gloss White. The ventral strakes were painted in the same colours as the camouflage pattern on the outside while painted Light Grey or Humbrol 65 in later years on the inside. Drop tanks were in the same camou pattern or in Natural Metal. Throughout the F1 service life with the SAAF, the undercarriage and wheel wells were in Duralumium or a darker shade of aluminum. The same applies for the rear of the fuselage which was left in the various shades of natural metal. The pitot and environmental probes were all in Natural Metal.
|  Note the differences in the camou pattern. Although similar in general layout, some F1s had distinct differences. Note entire radome in matt Black. |  The entire radome is not finished in matt Black on this CZ. Also note the intricate flaps, slats and all moving tail plane - all contributing to the success of the design. |
Markings used in the original scheme:| | Similar to the Mirage III then in service. Blue and white bordered Castle with leaping gold Springbok insignia in standard SAAF six positions. Note the Springbok leap towards the fuselage on the top and bottom of the wings and towards the nose of the aircraft on the side of the fuselage. The rudder was painted in the colours of the Republic with Orange facing forward, followed by White and then blue. Most had the words "Avions M. Dassault" applied on the bottom of the rudder. No 3 Sqdn badge was towards the top of the fin on both sides. The serial number was carried in matt Black ahead of the tail plane on both sides of the rear fuselage and on the front undercarriage door. The servicing walkway areas on top of the wings were in Matt Red, including the lines indicating the wing to fuselage join and the flap and aileron to wing separation.
The following were in similar style as used on the SAAF Mirage III: - Ejection seat warning triangles were in red and white, while the emergency canopy release was in Yellow with instructions in White.
- Servicing stencils.
- Mirage F1 CZ in matt Black.
- All access points to open inspection panels were in Matt red.
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Mirage F1 CZ - "Air Superiority" colour scheme:  le Spectre or Ghost, No 203 the first CZ painted in the Air Superiority scheme. Note MiG kill marking. | The first low viz colour scheme applied to the SAAF Mirages was on a Mirage III CZ no 802. Similar patters that are in use on the Cheetah C were used and effectiveness evaluated. This was mainly due to the colour scheme on the MiG 17 of Lt Bomba and operations in the Border War area. Experiments with no 802 led to the "Air Superiority" scheme of the F1 CZ, which Mid Buff and Green camouflage scheme was no help at altitude, during ACM (Air Combat Maneuvering). The first CZ to use the new low viz camou scheme was no 203 and this aircraft received the nickname "le Spectre" or French for "Ghost". The "Air Superiority" colour scheme comprises three individual colours: "Highveld Grey", "Mirage Grey" and "Intermediate Blue" or "PE Blue" in a distinctive matt finish. The closest FS number for "Highveld Grey" is FS 36251 Medium Grey and this colour was painted on the nose, both sides of the top part of the tailfin and to the upper and lower tips of the wings and the upper and lower tips of the tail planes. The closest FS number for the "Mirage Grey" is FS 36076 Engine Grey and this colour was used for the reverse diamond on the upper and lower mid section of the aircraft. This colour was also applied to both sides of the bottom leading edge part of the tailfin. The closest FS number for "Intermediate Blue" or PE Blue is FS 35164 Intermediate Blue or Humbrol 144 and the rest of the CZ was finished in this colour. Demarcation between the colours were a soft feather. The low viz pattern broke up the aircraft's outline, to cause confusion on the aircraft intended flight path to an observer of the aircraft. In the split second world of ACM, if your enemy hesitate for a moment, because he is unsure, it might just swing the scales in your favour. Photos exist of no 203 in the low viz scheme in the Border War area, during late 1981. The scheme's effectiveness was still evaluated and several feasibility sorties flown under actual combat conditions. Final effectiveness of the scheme was proven when "le Spectre" piloted by Maj Johan Rankin, shot down the second MIG 21. See page 202 of "The SAAF at War, by S. Bouwer & M. Louw" for photos of the CZs before they took off to intercept the MiGs. At the time 203 was the only CZ in the new scheme. However, not all the CZs received the new scheme, as the aircraft was used for strike missions, where it was reasoned that the Mid Buff and Green worked better at low level, than the low viz scheme. The antennas along the spine of the aircraft were painted in dark Yellow, but later appeared in the same colours as applicable to the particular area of the aircraft. However, at the time of the CZ's retirement, all the aircraft was painted in the new low viz scheme. Some time before the aircraft's retirement the CZs received a false canopy and false tailfin on the bottom of the aircraft in matt Black. The false tailfin has been largely overlooked by publications. Although three distinct colours are used in the "Air Superiority" scheme they quickly blend into each other due to the harsh SA conditions. When the colours blend the overall finish turn to be generally "bluer" in appearance. No 203 is today preserved at the SAAF Museum Swartkops. Another variation was used for ACM training. For more realistic air-air combat training the number of 'bogeys' were increased from 1 on 1, to two or even three. In order to distinguish the larger number of bogeys, the nose cone and tail planes were painted matt White on the 'enemy' aircraft. Drop tanks were either left in Natural Metal or painted in Intermediate Blue. | | |  Bottom view of the low viz scheme. |  For more realistic air-air combat training the number of 'bogeys' were increased from 1 on 1, to two or even three. In order to distinguise the larger number of bogeys, the nose cone and tailplanes were painted matt white on the enemy aircraft. |
Markings used in the Low Vis scheme: One notable variation on the CZ toned down markings, is the striped outlined Castle Insignia. This appeared on CZ no 203 during 1982. See also the gallery. | Initially no 203 carried hardly any markings at all, except for ejection seat warning in a heavily toned down or over sprayed marking. But later the low viz CZs received National Insignia and markings, which was over sprayed in the same colour depending in which area the marking was applied on the aircraft. At times various variations in the markings as applied to CZs have been noted, including a stripe outlined Castle insignia. As far as could be established, no 203 was the only CZ that carried the striped outlined Castle and serial number. On this particular CZ no Sqdn markings were carried at the time. Also the aircraft was not fitted with RWRs. The striped markings appeared during 1982. The CZ does not carry the serial number on top of the intake as claimed by some publications. Also no matt red stripes along the spine, only the diagonal stripes are used. All "Air Superiority" CZs carried the name of the last pilot assigned to the particular aircraft, when the type was withdrawn from service. This was in matt black at the bottom of the front left and front right windscreen. The names were NOT over sprayed. Pilot names were not carried during the Border War. CZ no 201 is the only CZ, which carried the name of the pilot in an odd font, size and a yellow colour at the aircraft's retirement. 201 was the personal aircraft of the last OC of 3 Sqdn, Kmdt Willie Hartogh, when the Sqdn closed down. Both 213 and 203 retained the MiG kill marking on the port side of the aircraft. The serial number was carried in matt Black ahead of the tail plane on both sides of the rear fuselage and on the front undercarriage door. The serial number on fuselage side was over sprayed, but not on the front under carriage door. With the false canopy applied, the serial number on the under carriage door was applied in matt Light Grey/White. After the CZ's retirement from SAAF service, at least two CZs remained flying with the SAAF. These aircraft were used for system testing and for development work on the V3S & V3P missiles. No 205 is credited with a high speed drone kill, illustrated by an appropriate marking. This was achieved by Col Des Barker, at the time, chief test pilot for the SAAF. No Sqdn markings were applied to this aircraft. |  As part of the striped oulined Castle insignia, the serial number also appeared in this striped outline. |  Oversprayed National Insignia and markings. |  Not only a false canopy, but also a false tailfin at bottom of aircraft.
|  Antennas were initially left in Chrome Yellow primer, but later also painted in same low viz colours.
|  201 is the only CZ, that carried the name of the pilot in this font, size and colour. |  This aircraft achieved the 2nd MiG kill. The name of the pilot is the last pilot assigned to the aircraft, when the type was withdrawn from service. Preserved at the SAAF Museum Swartkops. CZ no 203. |  One of the last CZs used for system testing, no 205. Aircraft is credited with a high speed drone kill.
|  Close-up of high speed drone kill marking.
|  MiG kill marking as applied to the original CZ colour scheme.
|  Angola Air Force insignia.
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