You  dream of it?  He did it!  The superb French Dassault strategic recon bomber definitively stopped its Atar engines in 2005.

Starting its career as atomic bomber, it finished it as strategic reconnaissance high speed aircraft. If the Mirage III family is close to it, this amazing aircraft with pure design is aside them, alone in the French power arsenal. Starting its career in NMF, the low altitude attack role and the final recon missions lead to camouflage the frames, in grey-green. To celebrate the official retirement, one aircraft receive a special and attractive scheme. While the forward were repainted NMF, the backward was left in camouflage pattern. The serial code CF amazingly correspond to C’est Fini ( meaning that’s the end), and the text in red was inserted between the big letters. As photographic aircraft, the designers painted a beautiful unfolded silver “film” sheet on the fuselage and the wing. The mention “1964-2005” give the service period and 337,000 flight hours counts the air service of the old soldier. Different insignias cover the rudder, while the FAS and Gascogne logos were reported in big size under the wing, painted red with a yellow comet for the occasion.

Printed with Alps machine, the decal is a complete one- piece sheet, requiring cutting around each items before applying on the 1/48 Heller model. The blue arrow on the top wing will also be painted (as the red underwing) following the excellent color notice. The stencils and national roundels are printed too, but you can also use the kit box parts.

My verdict is clear, for Mirage IV fan, this sheet is a MUST, the last livery for an exceptional bird, un-replaceable….
Exist also in 1/72 scale for Heller model. 

July 2006

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