Mirage 2000 MSModel 1/33 - Page 3

**ricleite** · #21 04-10-2024, 07:09 AM

The first two pictures show the main landing gear bays. The following show the lower fuselage skin. I opted to join all the skin parts before gluing them to the frame. They must be shaped carefully, one by one. Joining those parts and ensuring that the joints close was much easier than mating them in sequence to the frame. Moreover, as the skin assembly is long, the risk of misaligning it to the frame is negligible. I kept making dry fit checks to the frame all along the process. It was fortunate to see that the assembly length matches the frame length very well. A good point to the kit quality!

**Erik Zwaan** · #22 04-10-2024, 09:51 AM

Exactly, accurate mating of the skins takes precedence over installing them on the frames!

Nice work, Ricardo.

Cheers,
Erik

**ricleite** · #23 04-12-2024, 07:00 AM

Precisely, Erik. The better news is that the frame needed no correction at all!
As the lower fuselage skinning method worked well, I applied the same to the upper fuselage skin, which has a much more complex shape. The result is satisfactory. As you can see in the last pictures, the engine exhaust assemblies are still off. Access from inside was indeed helpful in the rear fuselage skinning task.

**rmks2000** · #24 04-12-2024, 08:06 AM

Great tip on assembling the skins together prior to attaching to the frame. Of course your skillful cutting of the pieces helps.

**ricleite** · #25 04-15-2024, 07:07 AM

@rmks – as you know, cutting the pieces carefully is very important. Irregularities mean that the parts take more length than foreseen by the designer and the effect is cumulative…
With the nozzle already in place, the pictures show the vertical tail. The rear part of the dorsal spine has a peculiar shape, with concave and convex surfaces. Yet again, the skin parts fit very well. Spare parts are provided for the more problematic brake chute fairing and aerials above the rudder. They were not needed but having them is relieving.