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32nd Cheetah E (ScaleWorx resin conversion set)


Mistral

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This is my first post of a build work in progress on Large Scale Planes. I’ve been lurking for a while now. So now time for my first post which will be the South African Cheetah E.  I’ll be using the Italeri 32nd scale Mirage IIIE kit with the ScaleWorx resin conversion set. John from ScaleWorx (Renegade on this forum) has kindly entrusted me to do a test build of his new conversion set. John has a separate thread on the Works In Progress forums pertaining to his conversion set.

 

Here’s the kit box art which I’m sure you’re all familiar with :

 

50218217888_3f9de10553_c.jpg20200812_183113 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

Here’s the resin conversion set – box art and parts breakdown :

 

50219447687_ccccfbc321_h.jpgSW32-06 Box Art SAMPLE Only by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

50219271201_983b015e5f_c.jpgIMG-20200812-WA0051 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

The ScaleWorx set is very comprehensive in providing all parts required to construct a Cheetah E. The resin set also includes the corrected length intakes, corrected diameter main wheels and correct length main undercarriage legs, correctly detailed main undercarriage doors and the Atar 09C exhaust, all of which can be used to correct / upgrade the base Mirage IIIE kit i.e. not Cheetah E specific.

Edited by Mistral
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Here are some photos of the Cheetah E. This is #842 at the South African Air Force Museum at Swartkop Air Base in Pretoria. It was the only Cheetah E painted in this experimental two tone grey camouflage scheme :

 

50218908616_bfb1e8250f_c.jpg125_2527 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

50218908561_56be510551_c.jpg125_2568 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

50219128367_6fcb5e114e_c.jpg125_2575 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

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First some information on the Cheetah E for those of you not familiar with the aircraft. This was a project in the 1980’s to upgrade the South African Air Force’s (SAAF) fleet of Mirage IIIEs to a configuration more or less similar to the Kfir C2. 16 SAAF Mirage IIIEs were converted to Cheetah E standard. The aircraft was operated for a relatively short period by 5 squadron until the more advanced Cheetah C entered service. Conversion work on the Mirage IIIE fleet was undertaken at the Atlas Aviation facility in Johannesburg. The Cheetah E retained the Mirage III Atar 09C engine. The following is a list of modifications done to the Mirage IIIE to make a Cheetah E :

·      New wings a la Kfir with dog teeth leading edges. Small wing fences were added just inboard of the wing dog teeth.

·      Canard foreplanes – these were approximately 70% the size of the Kfir canards. 

·      New nose configuration similar to Kfir C2 with strakes at the forward end and ranging radar.

·      Revised rear ventral fairing accommodating integrated chaff/flare dispenser.

·      Fixed inflight refueling probe.

·      Various Cheetah E specific avionics antennae and intakes / vents.

·      Installation of MB.Mk.10 ejection seat and updated instrument panel.

·      Reinforcement of the intake area to accommodate the canards and new intake weapon pylons. The E was not equipped with the rear ventral fuselage pylons.

 

Thanks in advance to Nick Scheltema (Cheetah11 on this forum, who is a former Cheetah pilot) and Daan Conradie (former Cheetah E pilot) for providing input and information including photos. I’m also lucky enough to have access to the one remaining Cheetah E (#842) at the SAAF Museum at Swarkop Air Base in Pretoria. Madmax (also on this forum), who is also a former Cheetah pilot and consummate builder of fine models, will also no doubt weigh in with a comment or two – go easy on me Sean :rolleyes:

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I’ve received the first tranche of resin from John. Parts are separately bagged and contained in a stout box  :

 

50218217848_994e78b60c_c.jpgIMG_5922 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

Some close-ups of the resin bits :

 

CheetahE nose :

 

50219092987_9387792b9f_c.jpgIMG_5923 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

50218873186_7c3a1ca796_c.jpgIMG_5924 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

Wong dog tooth heading edge inserts :

 

50218873081_9bcdd29d06_c.jpgIMG_5927 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

Neat single piece intakes - these are the correct length for the Mirage IIIE and Cheetah E. The kit parts are around 2mm too long :

 

50219092772_1143bd3c1a_c.jpgIMG_5928 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

50218872996_43516b473a_c.jpgIMG_5929 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

Rear bulkhead with details specific to Cheetah E and very nice Mk.10 seat. There are three small resin boxes which need to be attached to the bulkhead. Electrical wiring particular to these boxes must be added by the modeller as these could not be cast in resin - they stand proud of the surface :

 

50219098637_4ec7da4128_c.jpgIMG_5935 ed by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr 

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John has corrected (increased) the diameter of the main wheels and has corrected the main undercarriage leg length - the kit parts are too long. Adjustments were made by shortening the lower leg as well as the oleo. He has also added reinforcing brass rod in the legs. Additional ribbing has been added to the inside of the main landing gear doors. The rear ventral fairing incorporating the South African chaff / flare dispenser is rendered very neatly :

 

50218884171_2d7fd28737_c.jpgIMG_5976 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

50218886336_17a484e8fe_c.jpgIMG_5954 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

Nicely detailed 09C exhaust :

 

50219104022_11ffcbe640_c.jpgIMG_5980 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

Cheetah E specifically instrument panel and shroud - very different from the Mirage IIIE :

 

50218228523_48e67a98e6_c.jpgIMG_5977 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

50219104077_72afa12ea4_c.jpgIMG_5979 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

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Rear bulkhead hydraulic plumbing and electrical wiring details have been added using thin lead wire :

 

50219101207_c0801438e1_c.jpgIMG_5942 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

50218222993_fb5a22df9e_c.jpgIMG_5939 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

John provides a really neat replica of the throttle lever. This is installed by drilling a small hole in the bottom of the part and gluing a 10mm section of plastic rod. This is then fed through a hole drilled in the throttle slide. Note that the throttle lever sits at an angle. John has also provided nice replicas of the map holders which are located each side of the cockpit just ahead of the control stick :

 

50218222993_fb5a22df9e_c.jpgIMG_5939 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

Everything then primed with Tamiya fine grey primer, decanted from the rattle can and airbrushed on :

 

50219101072_d4c2651def_c.jpgIMG_5944 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

The only items added to the seat are the two upper harnesses - these hang from the head box and stand proud of the seat - and the foot restraint straps.

 

The Cheetah E cockpit was painted in an attractive light blue-grey colour unlike the black interiors of the Mirage IIIs - I used a mix of Tamiya XF-25/XF-66 greys to replicate this colour. Details were painted using Revell acrylic paint - I find these have a nice consistency for brush painting. Additional interest was added using AirScale cockpit placards :

 

50218232508_a2cb007128_c.jpgIMG_5983 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

50219108102_7c61841882_c.jpgIMG_5985 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

 

50218887991_61c43c1839_c.jpgIMG_5988 - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

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hi

wow !! excellent work !!!! the resin parts look very nice , with " sharp" details , John did a good job !!!!! is there another option in matter of paint scheme , I think so !!!  , same AC , but different scheme , isn't it ?  ..I will follow this thread with interest , i like "exotic " mirage !!! ......could we have a close picture of the rear bulkhead  , i am intrigued by this "stuff " on the right side 

Alain  

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Thanks for your positive comments :)

 

Alain, to answer your question, the standard Cheetah E camouflage was overall medium grey. Not sure of the exact spec yet. I much prefer the single grey to the two-tone version used on #842.

 

One minor mod for the Cheetah E cockpit is the removal of the radar control lever located just aft of the throttle lever. Italeri provides this lever as a separate part (25a) as it was a Mirage IIIE feature. Simply blank off the hole with plastic card. The other item still missing from my seat is the ejection pull ring located on the seat pan. This will be added when I receive the remaining resin goodies from ScaleWorx.

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Welcome Malcolm, it's about bloody time! :thumbsup:  Looking forward to seeing lots of your work here.

 

You are off to a great start on this lovely canard-delta. Although I am very much a Cheetah C fan, the E had something going for it. As with the old Mirage III BZ, it had no radar to weigh it down and thus accelerated beautifully.

 

Lekker, bakgat en iets moers,

 

Sean

 

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