WEAPONS AND CONFIGURATION:

The most common configuration of the F1AZ is -  two 1200 litre tanks and six MK81 or MK82 bombs together with two V3b or V3c missiles. The pylons for the tanks and bombs can easily be scratch-built using relevant drawings. The Mirage Fl carries only one type of external fuel tank. Unfortunately only one 1200 litre tank is supplied in the kit so 2 kits are needed or a tank from a fellow modeller who intends building a CZ or a `clean" AZ. The bombs are similar to NATO weapons and these can be obtained from other kits or weapon sets. Different fuses are used from time to time on the bombs so check photos for the exact configuration of the subject being modelled.

The wing tip launchers for the different missiles are not the same and both differ from the ones supplied in the kit. The V3b missiles can easily be modified from AIM 9 Sidewinders and are painted in a Sand colour close to Humbrol 63 with the launchers in light aircraft blue (close to Humbrol 65). The V3c missiles are externally identical to the Matra 550 Magic. Unfortunately the Magics supplied with the kit have incorrect canard span. These can be cut down to the correct shape. The only other source of accurate Magics in 1 :48 scale are supplied with the HELLER Rafale. The V3c missiles are painted in the same colour as the aircraft underside and the launchers in "steel". The weapon pylons in the kit are only correct for the Matra 530 missile. The AZ does not carry this missile, as it is a long-range intercept missile. The pylons used on the Mirage Fl AZ are as follows: The outside underwing pylons are the CLB3O pylons. On the ESCI kit the location for the CLB3O is marked under each wing with two small circles. The inside under wing pylons are the 915/916 pylons. They are not handed but identical under both wings. Only the fairings at the front of the pylons are different to the left and right side. The pylon under the fuselage is the CLB4 pylon. All these can easily be built from scratch using the supplied drawings. One small detail to note is that the bombs on the rear of the CLB4 are carried with a 5-deg nose down position. See the galleries for more info.

COLOURS AND MARKINGS:

See Colours & Markings.

DECALS:

Depending on the particular scheme one intends to model, decals from a number of sources will have to be used. The kit decals are okay for the earlier schemes but at least the National Insignia needs to be replaced. This is also the only source of the 1 Squadron badge. Carpena made a set sometime ago (48-06) which included low vis markings for a CZ and some of these can be used for stenciling, National Insignia etc. The Super Scale 1:48 set on SAAF aircraft includes National Insignia but the Blue on these are only correct for the very early Mirage III's. They can however be used successfully on insignia that are lightly over sprayed. Various SAAF insignia have been produced on a limited scale. Some are excellent but are not generally available. These can also be successfully used on the Mirage F1AZ.

But decals for the SAAF Mirages are now so much easier, due to the "Dark Mirages" decal sheet from Albatros Modelworks. Included on the sheet are decals for most of the SAAF variants including both low and high vis schemes of the F1 AZ & F1 CZ. Full colour drawings are included for the SAAF aircraft, but contain a few errors. All patterns in the Albatros Modelworks decal sheet and other publications, must be verified with actual photos of the aircraft. Some of the patterns are correct for the particular aircraft, but not all the variants in SAAF service. Further, there are a distinct difference between the last 3 tone pattern (Dark Green, Dark Earth and Mirage Grey) as used on the F1 AZ. The upper fuselage and upper wing pattern differs, compared to previous patterns. See the drawing of the AZ by D. Cooke in the GALLERY.

See also bulding the Mirage F1 AZ in 48 Scale by Malcolm Reid.