1:72 Mirage IIIO Royal Australian Air Force

The real subject

The Dassault Mirage III is a French supersonic fighter with a delta wing and one of the most widespread European jet types of its day. The IIIO version was intended for the Royal Australian Air Force, which flew it for many years as its main supersonic machine. A delta wing with no horizontal tail surfaces gives the aircraft an unmistakable silhouette, which is paid for with a higher landing speed and a longer run required, something that in Australian conditions carried over into the training of the crews as well.

Workmanship and classification

This is a collector model in 1:72 scale. At this size a whole collection of the machines of one period can be lined up on a single shelf and the differences between the individual versions still remain clearly apparent. Whether the model is supplied assembled and painted is something to check against the packaging, because the form of collector ranges differs from one item to the next.

Placement and care

A closed display case protects the model from dust, which is hard to remove from the broken-up surfaces and from around the cockpit. Avoid direct sunlight, which shifts the shades of the finish and clouds the clear parts. Wipe the dust off with a soft brush, and for other dirt a lightly dampened cloth is enough; solvents and cleaning agents have no business on the finish.

Who it is for

The model will be appreciated by collectors who line up the foreign users of one type side by side and compare how the same design was put to work at the other end of the world. A display case and scenic accessories are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.