Last Update : 2025/02/24

Model : Dassault Mirage F1 C

Brand : ITALERI

Scale : 1/48

Build type : OOB + Resin seat and exhaust

Display : Parked

Progress :

Project Complete !

Kit and Construction

The Dassault Mirage F1 has always been one of my favorites amongst french fighter jets. On the scale modelling market, you had the choice in between really old ESCI kits and more recently, a difficult to find Kittyhawk version of it. Thanks to the ITALERI Brand, you can now benefit of an upgraded version !

In fact, the "Bye Bye Mirage" Italeri model is an upgraded ESCI tool which received recessed panel lines and new parts. I had the chance to find this commemorative version for the last flight of the jet just before Italeri new release in 2025.

Kit seems interesting when you look at the box but when you jump inside the cockpit, there is close to no details inside. It is very simple and I decided to try a resin part for the first time by getting a martin baker ejection seat.

I also challenged myself on the exhaust nozzle by purchasing a renaissance models set made out of resin and (tiny) photoetched parts. What a challenge for this part !

Project is to depict the plane in its commemorative livery, only with the center fuel tank to keep lines as clean as possible and an opened cockpit to enjoy the view on the resin seat.

Project Gallery

Ready For Inspection !

Conclusion

A good kit from Italeri with a general rendering quite nice. Resin parts especially on the nozzle gave me some hard times but in the end, happy for the resul as I am just coming back to the hobby.

It was a good opportunity to try the BLUE TAK masking technic with my airbrush and I will definitely continue to use it.

The main drawback of this kit ? DECALS. They are of really poor quality and despite applying carefully over a gloss coat of varnish, I got silvering in many places. Also prone to break with microset and microsol operations, I would just recommand to go for an aftermarket decals sheet if you want to achieve top concours results ...