Spanish Mirage F1C Tiger Meet

This is my model's subject. 

and this is the box art.The model is the old Esci, reboxed by Italeri.Panel lines are engraved and the base isn't bad, but the model shows its age. 

It would be a shame to represent the aircraft straight from the box, as the system of flaps, slats and airbrakes is one of the most complex and beautiful I've seen, so let's get started with some cutting, to open the airbrakes' and gears' bays. 

A better view of the difference between the treated half anf the original one. 

Next are the wings.For the wing brakes, I've removed them and added a stip of plasticard from the inside,after havingthinned that area of the wing. 

There aren't mani locating pins and the fuselage has lost some rigidity, thus some plasticard bits were added to the fuselage halves, to improve their fitting. 

Much easier now! 

The components of the Pavla cockpit 

Cockpit dryfit test. 

Once adapted the fuselage halves , it fits really well! 

It's now time for some scratch to make the airbrakes pits. View from inside... 

...and from outside. 

Bottom view of the airbrakes pits. 

The cannon firing slot as it was...  

...and after I deepened it and opened the cannon hole. 

Left side main gear bay scratch built from plasticard. 

Dry test to check the wings fitting. 

Right side one. 

Added some plumbing 

Left side is slightly different from right one. 

Right side fuselage view. 

Left side fuselage view. 

Airbrakes were drilled. 

Hinges were added to the airbrakes. 

Dry test for the airbrakes. 

Airbrakes' bottom view. 

Once painted the Pavla cockpit and drybrushed, it's time fit it and glue the fuselage halves. 

Cockpit detail. 

 

Instruments panel is ready to be fitted. 

Mr Surfacer is used to fill the joints. 

The ejection seat fits well. 

Ejection seat painted. 

To represent the aircraft in landing mode, a pilot is needed. It has to be modified to fit .The seat has to be filed a little bit. 

Once modified , checked its fitting in the cockpit. 

Checked wind screen and canopy fitting. 

Once tested I'll remove it to go on with the assembly and sanding.It'll be added before gluing the canopy. 

Pilot painted and fitted.