1/48 Kinetic Mirage 2000

[sharkey]

Alf, we are in the same boat. I want accuracy, but I'm not going to pay out the nose for it. If a kit has some minor problems and the price is much lower then I'll go with that kit. I loved the Academy Viper.

[Vodnik]

If a kit has some minor problems

I now have a sample of the kit assembled on my desk and can tell you that there are more accuracy problems (I would say "serious" but don't wan't to be misunderstood again...) than just the canopy shape (e.g. dihedral wings with a straight trailing edge instead of anhedral wings with a slightly drooped tip - minor issue, isn't it?). But I'm not going into more details on this forum, as I don't want to spoil the mood.

Pawel

Edited November 9, 2010 by Vodnik

[gb_madcat_sl]

...dihedral wings with a straight trailing edge instead of anhedral wings with a slightly drooped tip...

Interesting. Will modeling the plane with the flaperons down help to conceal this issue?

Mark

[Vodnik]

Interesting. Will modeling the plane with the flaperons down help to conceal this issue?

Not really. The problem is visible at the leading edge. There is a weapons options drawing in the kit instruction sheet, which was (most likely) prepared using the same CAD drawing that was used to make the kit parts. On that drawing the wings are perfectly horizontal - they lack any anhedral, what is already wrong. But when I assembled my kit, the wings ended up with a slight dihedral.

By the way, the lack of tip drooping is a relatively small problem, as it is very subtle and not very obvious on the actual airplane. But the wing angle is a different matter.

Real Mirage:

Kinetic:

Edited November 9, 2010 by Vodnik

[Zactoman]

I now have a sample of the kit assembled on my desk and can tell you that there are more accuracy problems (I would say "serious" but don't wan't to be misunderstood again...) than just the canopy shape (e.g. dihedral wings with a straight trailing edge instead of anhedral wings with a slightly drooped tip - minor issue, isn't it?). But I'm not going into more details on this forum, as I don't want to spoil the mood.

Please, do share your findings with us.

This is after all a modeling discussion forum (it even says so at the top of the page!)!

If possible show photos of the kit and photos of the real plane (or links) for comparison, preferably showing the same view and focal length.

If you have any suggestions about how the problems might be fixed please share them.

Speaking as an aftermarket guy, I value input about accuracy issues from other modelers. It helps me to decide if correction sets are worth making. Plus somebody may point out an issue that I might overlook.

Speaking as a model maker, I value the input in deciding if I want to buy a kit and if I want to correct the problems.

The problem is visible at the leading edge. There is a weapons options drawing in the kit instruction sheet, which was (most likely) prepared using the same CAD drawing that was used to make the kit parts. On that drawing the wings are perfectly horizontal - they lack any anhedral, what is already wrong. But when I assembled my kit, the wings ended up with a slight dihedral.

Is the kit (which you referred to as a sample of what you believe is the production version of the kit) warped?

Can the lower wing part be bent to the correct anhedral and the resulting gaps on the top fuselage joint be filled?

Any other observations about the kit (other than the canopy which I agree is a disappointment.)?

How is the surface detail? Crisp?

:lol:

[Vodnik]

This is after all a modeling discussion forum (it even says so at the top of the page!)!

Chris, I know it is, but I'll probably post my findings (after sending them directly to Raymond) on another forum, where I know I will be able to discuss my findings and not the very concept of posting them...

If you have any suggestions about how the problems might be fixed please share them.

Well, the wing angle problem can be probably at least partially reduced by simply bending kit parts, but that also requires adjusting angles of pylons and MLG legs.

Is the kit (which you referred to as a sample of what you believe is the production version of the kit) warped?

No, no warping. The sample was sent to me only a few days before the kit release and it includes a box, instructions and all sprues were in plastic bags. The only thing missing was a decal sheet, so I expect that it is fully representative to a production kit. Also Raymond did not mention anything to me about it being a test shot.

Can the lower wing part be bent to the correct anhedral and the resulting gaps on the top fuselage joint be filled?

As I mentioned above it can probably be done.

Any other observations about the kit (other than the canopy which I agree is a disappointment.)?

Only a short note now, as I need more time to prepare a detailed report. Just a few things out of the top of my head: Radome part for D and N is wrong length. Wing roots are too thin. Tail fin base is inverted U shape, while it should be "omega" shape (as Raymond rescribed it). Wing fuel tanks are wrong shape. One probe too many on a leading edge of the D version tail (easy to fix). Something is wrong in a relative position of the wing and air intake, i.e. the leading edge of the wing at the wing root is below the intake lower lip, while it should be well above it. This problem can be related to the missing anhedral.

How is the surface detail? Crisp?

Better than in F-16 kits, but not consistent. Very nice in some places, soft in others. Surface of the model is quite smooth, but some slightly pebbly areas are present.

The fit is good for most part, but some areas leave a lot to be desired (e.g. the hump and tail fin base parts have different width).

Pawel

Edited November 9, 2010 by Vodnik

[Berkut]

It is really bloody annoying when someone criticizes a kit (heck, criticize is really really harsh word in this occasion ), 100 people jump at him, telling him how stupid evil rivet counter he is.

How about:

Mind your own d*** business. Don't like that yours perfect kit turned out to be not-so-perfect afterall? Continue what you have done before you read about its faults, don't care. Build it as you like. NO ONE, NO ONE is forcing you to fix it or build it more accurate. Paint it pink if you want to.

[gb_madcat_sl]

Not really. The problem is visible at the leading edge. There is a weapons options drawing in the kit instruction sheet, which was (most likely) prepared using the same CAD drawing that was used to make the kit parts. On that drawing the wings are perfectly horizontal - they lack any anhedral, what is already wrong. But when I assembled my kit, the wings ended up with a slight dihedral.

By the way, the lack of tip drooping is a relatively small problem, as it is very subtle and not very obvious on the actual airplane. But the wing angle is a different matter.

Hmmm. In that case, is it possible to add a few mm of styrene strips to the upper wing half to fuselage joint to force the wing dihedral?

Mark

[bungynik]

Here you have an in-box review.

http://inscale.org/pub/index.php?topic=673.0

[Phantom726]

Only front fuselage pylons. Weapons are only 2x MAGIC 1, 2x MAGIC 2, 2x AS-30L. Plus 2x ATLIS pod (very simplified), 2x wing tanks (the shape is off - not enough diameter difference between the rear cylindical part and the "bulge" in the front), one centerline tank.

Speaking of wing tanks: I've been looking through some photos of both Greek and French M2000s as I am building the Kinetic kit at the moment and it seems that the wing tanks are somewhat different. I can only find photos of French birds with the Coca Cola shaped tanks whereas the Greek (and UAE for that matter) all seem to carry a version without this strange shape.

Greek M2000 #1

Greek M2000 #2

French M2000

UAE M2000

Anyone care to comment or share their knowledge??

Thanks in advance

Bjarne

[RichardL]

Speaking of wing tanks: I've been looking through some photos of both Greek and French M2000s as I am building the Kinetic kit at the moment and it seems that the wing tanks are somewhat different.

I have not found a single picture of the real wing tank that the kit wing tanks suppose to represent, so I won't use them. TwoMikes used to make great looking wing tanks for the Mirage 2000, but I can no longer find them on their website.

[SouthViper]

Those pictures above are of different Mirages 2000 , We have -5, -9, N, I don't know if there is some exterior relevant differences between they.

SouthViper

[Drifterdon]

Does it look like a two seat Mirage 2000....Yep!

I'm in for two!

Thanks Kinetic!

[bungynik]

Speaking of wing tanks: I've been looking through some photos of both Greek and French M2000s as I am building the Kinetic kit at the moment and it seems that the wing tanks are somewhat different. I can only find photos of French birds with the Coca Cola shaped tanks whereas the Greek (and UAE for that matter) all seem to carry a version without this strange shape.

Greek M2000 #1

Greek M2000 #2

French M2000

UAE M2000

Anyone care to comment or share their knowledge??

Thanks in advance

Bjarne

The wing tanks you are referring to, are 2000l RPL 541/542 and they are only in use only with French Air Force. So if you want to use those tanks on M2000 model, it have to be French Air Force. The only unconfirmed air force that may have those fuel tanks is Brasil Air Force. But most referencer indicate that the photos of Brazil M2000 is taken during the long distance delivery flight and that Brazil actually do not have those tanks in inventory.

[thegoodsgt]

Great information that will even help me with a Mirage in 1/72 scale!

[sadchevy]

After reading thru all the posts about this is wrong, that is wrong, you're obsessed, and you don't care.........etc. I am ashamed to see what our hobby has been reduced to. Its a "hobby" its not meant to be perfect. Its next to impossible to create anything in a scaled down version that will be 100% accurate.If I want to build perfect models I'll get a job at a 1:1 manufacturer.If the subject captures the look and feel of the real thing, then its a model of the real thing. Lets keep it a hobby and keep it affordable to all of us. My kids love building models with me , but they are priced out of the hobby by demands for the perfect reproduction. I for one would love to be able to say I passed along my knowledge and enjoyment of building models to my kids and they pass it along to their kids and so on.

I understand the idea of building a museum quality exact replica that some have, but that's not a hobby, that's a JOB. Lets keep it fun, lets keep it affordable, and lets keep the small aftermarket makers in business too. I would love to be able to afford HAS/TAM kits but I am just not that pocket rich, so I am limited to kits that suffer from some flaws to keep them affordable.....if it wasn't for Revell I wouldn't have a hobby.I'm not trying to say anyone's take of the hobby is wrong or right, all I would like to see the unrealistic demands put on the kit manufacturers come to a reasonable middle ground so that our hobby can continue. I love building models, I'm proud of the ones I built, and its satisfying to me to add the extra work to get the finished result from the pile of plastic some generous manufacturer has been gracious enough to see fit to supply as a beginning to my hobby.

I for one feel Kinetic has done a good job at supplying us with a reasonably correct Mirage. One that I will most likely build in the future, flaws or not.

[POMPEO]

Hello friends I received this kit yesterday, one of the latest releases of Luckymodel / Kinetic, which comes in handy for us Brazilians, considering that he be able to represent a model "B" as currently operated in Anapolis Bazilian air force base, but good new for all modellers that love jet's.

box

I have seen comments from various kinds about this kit around the world, bu now, i try to give my vision for this analysis.

Manual

Initially, the division of pieces looks nicely maded.

session of the wings

General

The kit is molded in a plastic gray-green, soft and easy to work, has distributed about 190 pieces in an organized and injected into trees, which is already an improvement on the prowler, who had many injection marks. The whole kit is in low relief and provides an optimal composition of dividing lines and screws. There are two options for Magic missiles outside the hanger, two types of tanks, wing and center, AS-30L missile and a laser pod ATLIS.

trees

The decals are printed on glossy paper, with options for three French aircraft a B, one D and one N) and a B Greek.

all the ailerons is separate and can be represented in the standings mobile, another interesting thing was the concern of Kinetic putting all options RWR receivers, allowing to build there but the three proposed versions.

Fuselage:

the fuselage seemed right to me and goes, like other brand kits, and clipped to allow the exchange of pieces.

continue's

[POMPEO]

continuing...

panels

This is a problem. The instrument panels are supplied in a 2000-5. They do not apply to any other version. So either apply the modeifications or search resin sets up, or even awaiting the P.E. parts.

Besides the problem of panels, there are small modificatios to be made in the interior parts and panels of the wings. Also beware of the nose sections as there are large variations between models.

Details:

there are three options drifts

conclusion:

Only the difficulty of finding Mirage 2000, any variant, this kit is very welcome, but considering all Kit, I can (in my opinion) considers it a nicely one and will be a pleasure to build a D, N and B in brazilian colors.

Special thanks to Luckymodel.com who kindly gave this kit to review

hugs to all and happy new year

[POMPEO]

continuing...

panels

This is a problem. The instrument panels are supplied in a 2000-5. They do not apply to any other version. So either apply the modeifications or search resin sets up, or even awaiting the P.E. parts.

Besides the problem of panels, there are small modificatios to be made in the interior parts and panels of the wings. Also beware of the nose sections as there are large variations between models.

Details:

there are three options drifts

conclusion:

Only the difficulty of finding Mirage 2000, any variant, this kit is very welcome, but considering all Kit, I can (in my opinion) considers it a nicely one and will be a pleasure to build a D, N and B in brazilian colors.

Special thanks to Luckymodel.com who kindly gave this kit to review

hugs to all and happy new year

[POMPEO]

dear friends,

here goes some photos from Brazilian air force Mirage 2000B, photos taken by me in 2009, on Santa Maria Air Force Base:

a happy new year for all Arcer's

Pompeo

[7rooper]

so... has anybody built this kit and let us know if inaccuracies can be easily fixed?