The author's completed model of a South African Air Force, Cheetah D, in the markings of No.2 Squadron.

NOSE SECTION:

The nose section was removed on the radome joint. I replaced with another one, using an F-5 auxiliary fuel tank as a base, trimmed to 47mm. After glued, puttied and done the right shape we must remember to leave a step on the bottom side. Next add a fin, 11mm length by 1,5mm wide in scaled, on the bottom of the nose. There is a second fin on the bottom side as a reversed fin and a sensor located at the back of it. In the nose front there is a 23mm pitot also underneath the nose. Just after the pitot there’s an air intake, for the avionics equipment cooling, with two sensors at the end and two side plates. The nose is angled to have a better visibility from cockpit. In the bottom side of fuselage, just under the cockpit, there are two ribs that start after the radome and stops just past the engine air intakes. To make that 1mm brass wire were used.

COCKPIT SECTION:

Cockpit was modified to install a bigger and upgraded deck, side panel with throttle control and control stick. Seats were modified adding cordite cord for canopy breaking. Not my normal building style but, I inserted two pilots inside with safety belts, gloves in British style and national flag painted helmets. The front figure with his right hand on flight control panel and left one on throttle, the back figure with check list in his left hand and right hand on instrument panel. Do not forget glass between two cockpit positions. A vac formed moulded canopy replaced the original one that is wrong in size and shape. 

FUSELAGE:

On top of the mid fuselage there are two air intakes, different to the Mirage III but similar to a Kfir. Engine air intakes were cut using an hacksaw blade to separate top and bottom connections to the fuselage and a thinner edge was obtained using a cutting knife. Remember to joint the air intakes to fuselage using an aluminium sheet obtained from an aluminium beverage can. Under the air intakes there are 30mm canons built, using trimmed needles from a syringe. The canards are similar as the Israeli Kfir. Refuelling probe is made of 1.5mm brass wire located on top of right air intake. The probe protrudes from a shaped cover located; around 10mm back from the canopy edge on the fuselage. Remove the fin extension. The fin actuator and sensor with navigation light need some modification to bring it to SAAF spec. The back end were cut and modified to insert the nozzle of Atar 9k-50 engine as the kit feature the longer end section of an Atar 9B with eye-lid nozzle. Inside the engine was rebuilt -  the after burner chamber use cyno glued paper. The external ring, to shape the nozzle to fuselage is obtained from an aluminium can. At the fuselage rear bottom side are some air intakes and a hump.  The cover plate under the fuselage (were an R.A.T.O. rockets is mounted on a Mirage) is flattened with details of flare & chaff dispensers added. 

OTHER:

The landing gears were modified adding pipe lines, actuator push rods and under carriage doors. The auxiliary fuel tank is 9mm dia. by 71mm length from the spares box. 

PAINTING: 

At the time there were no references about the colour of the Cheetah aircraft and the closest one looks the FS36237.  I use this colour for the full aircraft. I draw a dark gray cheetah  in the front in FS36076 and a serial number made using decals painted  black for nose and white for air brake in FS36132 using a paint brush -  "no step" on moving parts in FS36270 hand brush painted. Stencils were retrieved from a Mirage III or F1 because the Matchbox's kit does not supply all of them.

CONSTRUCTION:

	The nose cutting line is diagonal at 31mm measured from air intakes and 6mm. from canopy. The new nose lengh is 44mm. and 22mm for the pitot.
	A fin 11mm length by 1,5mm wide in scale on the model. Also  a  reversed fin and a sensor located at  the back of it. In the nose front underneath is a 23mm pitot. After the pitot shape there's an air intake, for the avionics equipment cooling, with two sensors in the end side and two side starkes.
	In the bottom side of fuselage, just under the cockpit, there are two ribs that starts after the radome and stops just past the engine air intakes. To make them, 1mm brass wire was used.
	Cut the air intake with a diagonal hacksaw blade. Top and bottom.
	After the air intake separation, join it to fuselage with inserts.
	The backside, underneath cover plate must be flattened  in two sections. The back one large 3.5mm. and 10mm. long. The bottom one 4mm. by 22mm. in length.
	The back one shaped to the tail end. Add self-defense equipment.
	The leading edge gap must be filled and a small fin placed on it made as drawing and 11mm. by 2mm.h. size.
	Cut the tail end at 2mm. From rudder base, rebuild the parachute vane (shorter) and rudder actuator cover. Add RWR sensor under the navigation light
	The dielectric must be removed from the vertical tail fin with a cut in line to leading edge.
	With a piece of paper make a ring folding coiling to right size and insert into the nozzle. Make a second on shorter with more folds, insert into the first one and glue everything with c.a. glue.

Webmaster note: Although most modern day Cheetah aircraft have 'tone-down' stenciling, except the sqdn badge - photos of a Cheetah D with exactly the same markings, as applied to this model did appear in "Aero Africa”, Oct. '95. 

Special thanks to Stefano Vedovi and Marco Tessari from Group T.M.P of Zevio (Verona)  for the help they gave me. Antonio Carmagnani is a member of "Grupppo Padano Modellismo & Storia" of Sanguinetto in the Verona Province.