Basic kit errors:

Although there are basic errors in the kit, they are easily corrected and overall the kit is accurate with good and accurate surface detail. To build an accurate AZ will only require fairly basic  modifications and if building parts from scratch is not one's forte, most of the required parts are  available from other kits. Starting from the front I will describe the errors and how to correct them.  The nose section first. The kit portrays  basically a Fl C nose section but the AZ has a different profile similar to a Mirage 5P. This is very noticeable when comparing the real aircraft and  something one notices immediately when seeing a  model of an AZ. Fortunately a good drawing is  available and the ESCI Mirage 5 nose has the, correct profile and is a perfect fit if extended with a shim of .5mm plastic card. Remember to cut the kit fuselage back 8mm to the joint line.

Another option is to build up the kit's nose with filler and sand to the correct profile using the drawing as a reference. Panel lines must also be scribed onto the nose, as there are various opening panels in the AZ's nose that are quite prominent. The laser fairing beneath the nose and the pitot position can be gained from the drawing and those who want a perfectly accurate nose can enlarge the laser fairing or build one from scratch as the one supplied with the kit is too narrow and not accurate in profile. Just behind the laser fairing is the Doppler panel that is depicted in the kit by a scribed panel. On the real aircraft the Doppler stands slightly proud from the rest of the fuselage and can easily be depicted on a model by a .5mm card strip blended in with a small amount of filler. Remember this panel is coloured a gloss off-white on the real aircraft.

The next area that needs attention is the cockpit area. The whole cockpit area and wheel bay bears no resemblance to the real aircraft. Unlike the Mirage III series the bulkhead behind the seat is flat and the cockpit is a lot deeper than depicted in the kit. On the AZ various electronic boxes are located on the bulkhead and can easily be added using photographs for reference. The wheel bay is in fact behind the cockpit and not below it. This is the reason why metal seats do not fit in the model. The other problem from this is that the cockpit sidewalls are also too high. The easiest way to correct this is to discard the kit's cockpit and to use the cockpit supplied with the HELLER 1:48 Mirage III B/C. If the III B is built, the III C cockpit is surplus anyway and is correct for the Fl. Only the nose wheel attachment point needs to be modified to fit the Fl nose wheel. Instrument detail can be added according to the cockpit photo.

The joystick of the AZ is also different to the one used on other Fl's. This is to make the Map display more visible and is the same joystick as used in the rear cockpit of the Mirage IIIB/D. The joystick from the HELLER kit can be used or it is not difficult to scratch build one. The ejection seat supplied in the kit does not resemble any known seat and is best discarded. The earlier Mirage Fl's all use the Martin Baker Mk 4 seat and apart from minor details, this is the same seat as used in later marks of Lightning (MK 4BS), French Jaguars and French Alpha Jets. This seat is available from AEROCLUB as the Mk 4B. Resin seats for the Jaguar are available from XTRAPARTS but as these are for British Jaguars, they are therefore not correct for the AZ.

The instrument panel is unique to the AZ and is best detailed from a photo. The HUD and surrounding area needs to be detailed also using a photo for reference as the HUD supplied in the kit is correct only for later Fl aircraft. The rest of the kit is accurate apart from the wheels. The wheels of the Fl are distinct in shape and because of the high wing configuration are highly visible. The wheels supplied in the kit do not have the characteristic 9 holes in the wheel rims and thus look nothing like the wheels on the real aircraft. This mistake was also made by HASEGAWA in their 1:72 Mirage Fl. It is possible to drill .7mm holes in the wheels supplied in the kit but my own efforts have been less than successful. Another option is to use 1:48 Mirage 2000 wheels that have the same shape and are the right size.

The only other area in the basic kit which need enhancing is the jet pipe. The jet pipe supplied in the kit is too short but this can easily be rectified. The exit area of the afterburner can also be detailed using again photographs as reference. Since entering service the Mirage F1AZs have been upgraded to make them more survivable. Externally this takes the form of various EW antennas. They are slightly different to the fit in the CZ. There are 2 small antennas next to the nose and 2 at the top rear fin. There is also a small blade and a small round antenna on the nose wheel door. The rest of the antenna fit is per kit instructions, but on different colour schemes they are painted differently, so once again consult photographs of the particular machine you wish to model. The other addition at about 1988 was the addition of chaff dispensers. These are housed in the strakes at the rear of the fuselage. These have lost their aerodynamic form and are now flat-sided approx. 53 mm thick. This is easy to portray on a model using plastic card. Between the strakes the AZ has a small AS 30 missile guidance antenna. At times AZs have been seen without the AS 30 antenna. Small attachment stubs have also been attached on the bottom surface of the wing.