Mirage IIICJ Review by Sinuhe Hahn (Eduard 1/48)

Dassault Mirage IIICJ

Eduard

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number and Description:	8102 - Dassault Mirage IIICJ
Scale:	1/48
Price:	£ 21.79 http://www.hannants.co.uk and USD$42.46 http://www.Squadron.com
Review Type:	First Look and comparison with older Heller kit.
Advantages:	Totally new mould; dimensionally accurate; very fine engraved surface detail; Detailed cockpit, wheel-bays and turbine/afterburner; Good initial selection of stores; Further members of the Mirage family appear to be in the making.
Disadvantages:	Lack of location pins may be a problem to some inexperienced modellers.
Recommendation:	Highly Recommended

Eduard's 1/48 scale Mirage IIICJ is available online from Squadron

Reviewed by Sinuhe Hahn & Piet van Schalkwyk

Background

Introduction

Some historians have described the Dassault Mirage as the culmination of three Germans systems developed during WW2:

The delta wing, patented by Prof. Alexander Lippisch in the 1930‘s (and who was also awarded a patent in 1942 for variable geometry swept wings - to be evaluated in the Messerschmidt P 1011), who contributed to Convair’s F-102 and F-106 series of interceptors, where the delta design was modified by the inclusion of a wing camber to assist with low speed handling.
The BMW 003 and 018 family of axial-flow turbojets, whose post-war development was pursued by the BMW design team under the guidance of Dr. Hermann Oestrich in Rickenbach, Switzerland, under the name of Atelier Technique Aeronautique Rickenbach (ATAR). This group was later moved to France to be incorporated in SNEMCA.
Twin 30mm cannons of the type pioneered by Mauser, which were later developed into the Aden (UK) and Defa (France) gun platforms.

While this may appear a flippant assertion - credit has to be given to Marcel Bloch in combining these three innovations with incredible Gallic flair to produce one of the most successful jet fighter designs of all times. Indeed, the use of designs of German origin are very ironic in this instance, in that Marcel's story is in itself remarkable and a proud testament to this visionary person. Well known for his pre-WW2 designs, Marcel was transferred to Germany after the fall of France, where it was felt that his technical skills could be put to good use. However, this was not to be, and after categorically refusing to assist the Nazi war effort, by acting as director of the Frankfurt Focke-Wulf plant, Marcel was sentenced to death and interned in Buchenwald. Here his life was saved by the cunning of his fellow inmates who exchanged his prison ID number with that of a deceased inmate.

Mirage Genesis

Upon his return to post-war France, Marcel adopted the pseudonym that his brother had used in the French resistance "Dassault" and in 1947 formed the company "Groupe Marcel Dassault". Immediate post war activities included the successful acquisition of a licence to build the DH Vampire powered by the reliable and excellent centrifugal flow Rolls-Royce Nene Jet engine. The limitations of the DH design soon, however, became evident (the “Spidercrab” was not one of de Havilland’s more aesthetic designs) and Marcel's crew designed a much more aerodymically pleasing aircraft which fitted the superb Rolls-Royce engine like a glove, the MD 450 Ouragan, for which 350 orders were secured. This design formed the basis for Mystere family of aircraft, which in 1954 became the first European aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight.

In 1953 Dassault was awarded a contract to develop a new lightweight interceptor for the France Air Force, who requirements included an all weather weapons system and speed in excess of Mach 1.3. Initial designs included the delta-winged Myster -Delta MD 550, later dubbed Mirage 1, powered by 2 MD 30R Armstrong Siddely Viper jet engines with afterburners (980 kp thrust each), which reached Mach 1.3 in 1956, and with rocket assistance, Mach 1.6. This design was, however, soon found to be lacking in many aspects, especially in that it was too small to incorporate the required weapons systems, and although a slightly larger Mirage 2 was considered, the Mirage III was born.

The most significant contribution to this 30% larger aircraft without a doubt was the single SNEMCA Atar 101 G-1 afterburner equipped turbojet engine with 4400 kp thrust. In addition the protoytpe Mirage III design also included a SEPR 66 rocket engine with a further 1500 kp thrust. On its first flight in 1956 the prototype reached Mach 1.52 and with rocket assistance Mach 1.8. Encouraged by these results, a pre-series of 10 Mirage lllA were ordered, with an almost 20% larger wing and reduced camber, with which speeds in excess of Mach 2.2 were achieved. One of these aircraft was test fitted with a Rolls Royce Avon 67 jet engine with 7258 kp thrust, as was tested as the prototype for the Mirage IIIO in Australia. These aircraft formed the basis of the Mirage IIIC (single seat interceptor) and the IIIB, a two-seat trainer, whose test-flight program was initiated in October 1960. Aircraft were delivered to France (95 Mirage IIIC), Israel (72 IIICJ), South Africa (16 IIICZ) and one IIIC to Switzerland for evaluation. It was in Israelli service, who were already familiar with other Dassault products, such as the Ouragan and Mystère, that the Mirage really blazed a trail into aviation history, attaining a combat record not equalled by any of its peers. These exploits are described in the superb series of books by Amos Dor (IAF Aircraft Series/AD Graphics) as well as in the new Opsrey Combat series.

Mirage III in South African Service

Although the SAAF Mirage IIICZ's were never involved in any air-superiority combat activities (this role being performed by the younger brother, the Mirage F1CZ), the CZ was extensively used in the "Border Conflict in Angola", where one of its most memorable feats was the destruction of a column of Angolan T-34 tanks and BRDM armoured fighting vehicles in 1978. These endeavours are described in "The South African Air Force at War" by Martin Louw and Stefaan Bouwer.