1:48 Mirage 2000N nose cone for Kinetic/Italeri kit

The real subject

The Mirage 2000N arose as the two-seat strike version of the French Mirage 2000 aircraft for penetration at low altitude. A crew of two occupied the cockpit and a terrain-following radar found its way into the nose, to which a shape of nose cone different from that of the single-seat fighter versions corresponds. The difference is most noticeable in a side view, on the curve where the cone runs into the fuselage.

What is in the box

One replacement nose cone in 1:48 scale shaped according to the 2000N version, with a mating surface prepared for the kits from the firms Kinetic and Italeri. The cone comes in one piece, so no lengthwise seam is left on the rounded surface which would have to be filled and sanded over, and the tip stays sharp.

Fitting and painting

Cut the corresponding plastic parts off according to the manufacturer's instructions and level the cut on a file or on abrasive paper laid on a flat base. The part is not made of polystyrene, so the joint is held by super glue or by two-part epoxy resin. Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand the remainder down. Before painting, wash and degrease it, otherwise the paint peels off the smooth surface.

Who it suits

For a modeler who is building the Mirage 2000N in 1:48 scale and does not want to be held up by filling and sanding the nose cone over. Try the part dry before gluing it, because a small adjustment of the mating surface according to the particular molding tends to be needed. The package contains a replacement cone only; the kit, paints and glue are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.