1:48 Mirage IVP n°31 BD 30ans FAS 1964-1994

Three decades at readiness

A carrier that is to be ready for takeoff at any time spends most of its life on the ground and nevertheless fundamentally affects the policy of its country. That was exactly the role of the French strategic air forces from the middle of the 1960s. For the thirtieth anniversary one of the Mirage IVP machines received a commemorative coat, and its carrier was aircraft number 31 with the code BD, whose 1994 guise this sheet transfers into plastic.

The subject up close

A two-seat cabin with two separate canopies, a slender fuselage and a substantial delta give the type an immediately recognizable silhouette. In a large scale it also shows how long the nose section ahead of the air intakes is, which gives the commemorative artwork an exceptionally large area. Besides the festive motifs the print also includes the national insignia and registration numbers.

Procedure and tools

Surprisingly little is needed for a good result: a dish of lukewarm water, a flat brush, cotton swabs and patience. After taking the motif out of the water, let it lie for a while until the adhesive dissolves, and only then transfer it. Push with a cotton swab from the center outward and keep checking that the artwork is not turning. Finally unify the surface by clear-coating in a degree of sheen matching the rest of the model.

An accessory to the anniversary series

The brand has worked up several commemorative finishes of this type from different years, so a complete group of machines from one unit can be built. The version from 1994 represents the middle of the 1990s in it.