Having already released the Mirage 2000C in 2021, the Ukrainian firm has now taken the leap in offering the upgraded 2000-5F variant, as CHRIS CLIFFORD reports.
For many years, fans of the Mirage 2000 had to soldier on with ageing 1/72 kits by the likes of Airfix/Heller and Italeri… which were poorly detailed and inaccurate in some areas. Modelsvit changed the playing field with its release of a stunning Mirage 2000C around two years ago. It raised the bar massively with its exquisite detail and fine panel line/rivet engraving.
Modellers with a fancy for the type, or French Air Force machines in general, should be pleased to know that extra parts and new decals have been added to Modelsvit’s original 2000C, so you can now replicate the more modern 2000-5F with kit 72027. This involved the C-model receiving a new synthetic aperture radar, ‘glass’ cockpit and the ability to launch MICA air-to-air missiles. In Modelsvit terms, this translates to new runners carrying an upgraded instrument panel, cockpit bulkhead and coaming, and replacement inlet/outlet fairings for the upper and lower fuselage. Other 5F-centric tasks will be to remove the existing radome from the fuselage and replace it with the new halved item provided, and employ the freshly moulded vertical stabiliser.
Read a review of Modelsvit’s original Mirage 2000C
Modelsvit’s 2000 oozes refinement, with fully ‘boxed-in’ and busy undercarriage bays, separate elevons and their actuator fairings (you can pose these neutral or down). Despite the perceived limited-run nature of the kit, the fuselage does have locating pins, while the wheel hubs feature convincing brake detail and the tyres are flattened to denote weight effect. Other nuances such as Spirale countermeasure dispensers are present, too. As in the original boxing, there’s also a fret of photo-etched metal parts comprising seatbelts, VOR antennas, details for the instrument panel coaming, small blade aerials, fuel tank fins, canopy details and other items.
While the older Matra Super 530 and Magic 2 missiles are present, the model’s -5F format also ensures new MICA IR and EM missiles (with their ‘shoulder and wing pylons). Centreline RP-522 1,300 lit and RP-541/542 2,000 lit fuel tanks are also supplied. And note that Modelsvit also offers a sheet of self-adhesive paint masks for the glazing, wheels and special tail art outline on one of the airframes. Three of the machines wear the standard French Air Force air defence colours of blue-grey and pale grey (one sporting a sharkmouth), while the fourth has interesting anniversary low-visibility grey camouflage. The schemes are:
• 55/188-EU, EC 3/11 ‘Corse’, BA 188 ‘Colonel Massart’, Djibouti, 2014
• 40/102-EX, EC 1/2 ‘Cigognes’, Souda Bay, Crete, March 31, 2011, Opération Harmattan
• 70/2-FD, EC 2/2 ‘Côte d’Or’ 50th anniversary, BA 102 Dijon, 2000
• 2-EQ, EC 1/2 ‘Cigognes’, Mirage 2000-5 tenth anniversary, BA116 Luxeuil, 2019
On studying the runners in the company’s original 2000C kit, it was obvious that a -5F sub-type would appear eventually… and now it’s here in all its glory. It offers all the quality of the C-model boxing, but updates the 2000 appropriately and provides excellent colour scheme choices. It costs €38.16 direct from Modelsvit or at Hannants in the UK for £33.80.
