Novità

Nathan Dempsey
The next project is up and running. This one will likely get a slow start as there's another hurricane headed my way…

Nathan Dempsey
Well we survived that darn hurricane and had power restored yesterday by some fine Canadian fellows from Nova Scotia. The project continues with some progress to the fuselage.

Clifford Keesler
Watching. Glad you weathered the hurricane ok. Did not know you were in Florida. I am a transplanted Florida guy. I am from Panama City. Was down there the end of August, first time I had been back since 2001. Hurricane Michael sure messed up the place, but they have rebuilt a lot. The house I lived in from 1995-2001 no longer exist, hurricane Michael leveled it.

Nathan Dempsey
We were part of mandatory evac. I sent the family away and stayed since my parents are next door in a 100 year old frame home. We were lucky and had minimal damage. We just lost large oaks and our entire cow field was a shallow lake. Power was out for a while but I'm used to living simple during such times. Yeah Michael was a monster.

The plastic in this kit is quite fragile. Getting parts off the tree cleanly is quite difficult. Very happy with the ResKit parts! They are very clean and easy to prepare.

Nathan Dempsey
More work today included adding etched parts to the rear fuselage and filling large holes intended for oversized antennas. Will be replacing all antennas with etched parts or thin plastic sheet.

Clifford Keesler
Looking good Nathan. Glad you only had minor damage, and all is well.

Clifford Keesler
I have 2 ESCI Mirage 2000's wonder if they are the same as the Heller kit?

Nathan Dempsey
Thank you sir! The Heller kit is the same as the Eduard kit. I believe the ESCI kit is now the Italeri kit.

Clifford Keesler
OK, thanks. Any way I have 2, hope they are good.

Nathan Dempsey
Work continues. Today I added some etched hydraulic lines to the rear landing gear. Preparation begins for the ResKit wheel set.

Clifford Keesler
Looking very nice sir.

Desert Marlin
Excellent work!!!

Dutch
Nathan, I love checking in from time to time, (super busy with Hurricane Helene and Milton recovery at the house and the rented house.). Anyway, glad to see you start this project. Did you ever build the Monogram Mirage 2000 and ESCI Jaguar I sold you? K/r, Dutch

Nathan Dempsey
Thanks Clifford & Desert!

Dutch: Same here. Still cutting downed trees and burning it all. Too much to place by the streets. The Mirage waits in the stash and the Jag was built as a close copy of my Kosovo build and given to a friend.

Nathan Dempsey
Added some photos of continuing work which includes more paint work on the landing gear and exhaust, the addition of the painted ejection seat to the cockpit & the completed external fuel tank.

Clifford Keesler
Beautiful work.

Desert Marlin
Looks great! I suppose you are aware that the Mirage 2000 series aircraft have the option of an arresting hook or a parachute for landing? I believe either can be installed but only one of the two depending on airfields and conditions. Referring to photo #5.

Nathan Dempsey
Thanks Clifford & thanks for the catch on that parachute housing Desert!

I found a good picture of a '91 Mirage 2000 with the bigger chaff dispenser replacing the back of that housing. I'll need to go back and file that off and change the position of all the chaff dispensers. I'll add some pictures this evening.

Laurent VILLANUEVA HELLER ForEver
je vais suivre = 2000 et daguet !

Laurent VILLANUEVA HELLER ForEver
color pit = humbrol 27
radome = 64 ,
grey 127
blue = 144 with white...

Guy Rump
Looking good, following. 👍

Nathan Dempsey
Welcome Laurent and thanks for the color info! Paint work is near.

Thanks Guy! 🙂

Christian W
Damned, how far will I go? Found a quite interessting wip on modelcarsmag (modelcarsmag.com/for..-mpc-72-pontiac-gto/) with a lot of work on the fitting ...

István Szücs
Christian, that's an incredible build!

Martin Oostrom
I'm not sure I like the front end of that car.
Let's see what you'll make of it

Christian W
The front end was an issue ever. Im not the biggest fan too. I was buying this because I thought it was built in 1973 too. But the 1973 GTO is a totally other car and this kit doesn't fullfill the requirements of our annual group build of our "club".
After looking through that wip, ... I think I will not go that far. But one I will do: reduce the gaps at the front. They are really present.

Christian W
I started this GTO in between because the Charger sucks a little or my mind gives me the order that I have to work on several kits at the same time.
I was in the mood, to get this car painted. So I get some spots sanden on the body, fillered it and gave it a kind of green-turquis-blueish. This rattle can is on of the leftover of the 1977 Firebird (1977 Pontiac Firebird Coupe | Project by christian-w (1:25)) color I bought, when I was looking for the right color. I think it works on this car good.

Christian W
By the way: I'm not going for a vinyl roof on that.

Christian W
Next steps are done. The body got it's clear cote, undercarriage and interior is painted too. It's good. Now I'm thinking about how to get a little more shade into the interior color. It's to close to the body color.

Martin Oostrom
Spray some Tamiya smoke over it?

Christian W
Smart idea! Maybe this klear yellow from Tamiya could work too. I have to give that a try.

Christian W
I painted the interior. First i tried with tamiya smoke to go over it but I wasn't satisfied. Then I went through my metallic paints and grabbed #397 (Car Metallic Plane Tree Green) and mixed a little #60 (Yellow Green) into it. Maybe 10%. I think it's not that bad so far.
Now I think about to take the same mixture for my 1977 Firebird 🙂

Martin Oostrom
Nice colour for the interior

Christian W
Thank you! It could be, that I go over it another time. It depends on, how it works together with the exterior color. It might be a little to green 😉 The body looks more blueish. Darker. Dirtier 😉 Somehow.

Christian W
Did the interior. I think it's ready to be completed

Bill Newcomer
I like your build. It may be too late now, but the rear package tray was this cardboard and is the same color as the door cards.

Christian W
Thanks, Bill. Maybe to late. Yes, it is. I know, that it should be in the same color like the door panels and/or the seats. I wanted to have a bit of more contrast in the interior because it looked a little boring for me I will say. So I decided, to "costumize" that. I was thinking the same way at the lower part of the door panels too but - as you can see - I didn't change that.

Nigel Chapman
Love that interior

Christian W
Thank you verymuch. The last week I took the chassis and powertrain. It comes to an end. Taking pictures and get you an update. I decided too, to build a mold for the lights to get them clear instead of that chrome at the front.
With this kit I'm fine.

Christian W
Slowly it comes together. The windows are in and the chrome trim is done. Not satisfied am I with those red rear lights. I'm trying to do my own in clear resin but they are so small, that I still have on tiny tiny bubble in it. I'll give it a last try.... On thing really sucks: the fitting of the rear bumper. I wish, I'd test fitted it in advance....

Bill Newcomer
Yes, the too wide rear bumper has been an issue for a number of reissues

István Szücs
Looks cool! What's the plan for the inner side of the headlights?

Bill Newcomer
I love the clear headlights. I don't supposed you could make a couple dozen for a modest fee could you?