With the recent release of a proper Mirage IIIE family of kits by Kinetic, Caracal Models has decided to provide a full selection of markings on the type in RAAF service. This is part 2.

The set covers some schemes not addressed in the initial set as well as some special markings and some experimental schemes. There are more than ten markings possibilities in this set  and the first two are with 2 OCU. The first of these is from 1967 and has the larte black and yellow sunburst on the fin with the red intake markings. The second from 1970 has the smaller fin marking with the intake markings now yellow.

From 1973 is a 76 Squadron plane in silver, like the second of the first two options, with a fin marking in greys.

#4 is from 3 Squadron in the gren/grey camo scheme.

The fifth and sixth option are the RAAF Williamstown base commander's plane with different tail markings, also in the green/grey scheme.

In a very colorful yellow and black scheme is an ARDU aircraft from 1981.

Then we have three experimental low viz schemes. #8 is with 75 squadron in 1981, #9 is with 3 squadron in 1983, and #10 is with 3 squadron in 1983 as well.  The first of these three has low visibility insignia as well.

Next we enter the grey era. This sheet does not include the several experimental grey options, only the solid scheme of a darker over a lighter grey. For this we have several options including a 75 Squadron plane from 1986, a 77 Squadron plane with two different tail markings from 1987 and a 79 Squadron plane from 1986. A nice one for those who like color is a plane from ARDU the test unit.

The set includes three sheets with one sheet being serials in various colors and fonts so you could literally do any aircraft of which you have a photo. Caracal Decals includes a nice full color decal placement guide, but such is the scope of the set that all the upper and lower views as well as the profiles of several of the options are on-line and you'll need to print those out if you wish to have them. When I printed out the upper and lower schemes for the green/grey aircraft, the green and grey were so close to each other that on my printer, they almost look like a single color so you may wish to copy that sheet and adjust the colors before printing it. 

The decals themselves are superbly printed by both Cartograf and Microscale. I dare say you could do several aircraft from this set if you choose wisely. Those of you who have MMP Books' "Mirage IIIEO Camouflage and Markings" book will find a lot more in the way of standard and experimental camo schemes which will prove useful if you want something different.  

June 2016