Mirage III aerospace plane

by Stephen Thrum of Scaledown

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Silly Week 2006

 

Here is my model of NASA's collaboration with the European Space Agency to build a true ATO (Aircaft-To-Orbit). Based on an old Mirage III airframe, NASA added additional tankage, reaction control system, thermal protection system, new variable inlets for the air-breathing engine ("borrowed" from a disused Mig-23) and a new cockpit. The ESA (who supplied the original airframe) added the rocket engine and associated upper body, plus replumbed and strengthened the wing structure. The ground trolley/launch cradle was a simple structure comprosing a sturdy frame and undercarriage, with two rocket engines for added boost on take-off.

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I built this model a few years ago for our model club's yearly "Mongrel Model" competition. As with previous entries I have built, this was started and finished in one afternoon of frantic model building - painting and decalling included! (Decals going on to quite wet paint - not the preferred technique of my fellow ARCers, I am sure!

I started with a horrible 1/72 Pioneer Mirage III, then added various scraps of plastic for the reaction control system. Devotees of my Scaledown range will see a good use for the undersize Academy 1/48 F-111 fuel tanks, these form the basis for the tanks and upper fuselage of the spaceplane. Not to be left out, the EF-111A canoe fairings (several kits!) went to form the launch platform, as did a 1/72 Shuttle undercarriage, Twin Otter skis, Apollo Saturn V engines, and many spare decals.

Stephen

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Photos and text © by Stephen Thrum Scaledown