1:48 Dassault Mirage 2000D exterior

Photo-etched set for the exterior detail of the Mirage 2000D in 1:48 scale

This set from Eduard contains photo-etched metal parts for a model of the Dassault Mirage 2000D in 1:48 scale. The exterior designation means that it concentrates on the outer parts of the airframe rather than on the cockpit. It is neither a kit nor a set of masks but an accessory that replaces plastic features with finer metal ones. Check that it matches the model you are building before buying.

The real subject

The Mirage 2000D is the two-seat version of the French combat aircraft with a delta wing, intended for attacks on ground targets. The tailless layout with a thin delta wing means a great many covers, airbrake and drainage features and small sensors on the surface of the airframe. It is precisely these features that often look too thick in plastic and are the main reason an exterior photo-etched set is bought.

Building tips

First go through which plastic details have to be sanded away; a photo-etched part is meant to sit on a smooth surface, not on the remains of the original molding. Cut them free with a scalpel on a hard surface and make the bends in a bender or between two razor blades. Glue with a really small amount of cyanoacrylate glue, as an excess dries into a white haze that is hard to remove from the surface of the airframe. Degrease the metal before painting and use a primer intended for metal surfaces. Attach the fine exterior parts only after the main sanding of the fuselage, otherwise they will bend while you work.

Who the set is for

• Builders of modern combat aircraft in 1:48 scale
• Modelers bothered by the thickness of plastic exterior detail
• More experienced builders with experience of photo-etched parts
• Those preparing a model for a display case or a competition

The set is an accessory for a kit, not a standalone model. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package.