Revell (Matchbox) 1/72 Dassault Mystere IVA

REVELL (MATCHBOX) 1:72 DASSAULT MYSTERE IVA

Reviewer: Richard Stracey (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 20 February 2004

Kit Details:

REVELL # 04320 1/72 -- DASSAULT MYSTERE IVA

Aircraft History:

The Mystere IVA was the third Dassault aircraft to serve with the post war French Air Force after the Ouragan and Mystere IIC. They first flew in Sep.’52 and went supersonic in Jan.’53. Two hundred and fifty one aircraft entered French service starting in 1954. Sixty one examples served with Israel and also saw action with the Indian Air Force where one hundred and ten fought against Pakistan in ’65 and ’71. The first fifty aircraft were powered by licence built Rolls Royce Tays, the rest by Hispano-Suiza Verdon 350s. The IVA was, in most cases replaced by the Super Mystere B2. Although Dassault developed radar equipped IVB and IVN aircraft neither entered service. Basic armament consisted of two DEFA 30mm cannon and provision for rockets, bombs or drop tanks. Wingspan was 11.12m and length 12.85m.

The Kit:

This 2003 Revel kit consists of only thirty parts in grey plastic, decals for two aircraft all sealed in a plastic bag enclosed in a stout box with eye catching artwork. The seven page instruction sheet is comprehensive but, as usual, only Revell colours are quoted.

Construction:

In case this kit reminds you of something, you would be right as it is a re release of the 1987 Matchbox kit #PK47. In those days the kit came in pale green and white plastic and decals for a French machine from Escadrille 2/12 in 1955 and an Israeli aircraft in camouflage. Being a very basic kit there is nothing in the cockpit except a seat that would be more at home in a dentist’s surgery. Aeroclub make a suitable Martin Baker Mk.III (EJ008) or Hispano Mk.4 (EJ024) and also a vac form canopy (CO16) and undercarriage set (VO63). I used the Aeroclub seat and added a joystick. More could be done but as the entire interior is matt black, I didn’t bother. As Revell point out, nose weight is necessary. The fuselage halves fit very well but the only way to tackle the nose ring (15) is to smooth the front of the fuselage and paint it matt black. The inner surfaces of the nose ring can then be painted aluminium before being fitted and masked by means of damp tissue. Although the upper and lower wing halves fit well as do the wings to the fuselage filler is needed for the wing roots and under wing joints. The undercarriage is rather basic, the nose wheel and undercarriage being in one. Obviously Aeroclub think so too! Revell show the inner wheel doors to hang down. In fact they were only open when the undercarriage was operating but I have seen photos of them down when parked so, I presume that, over time, they tended to droop. I am not sure what parts #17 and 18 (X2) are, small drop tanks or rocket pods. All photos that I can see show much bigger tanks complete with fins and end plates. I replaced the pitot (4) with wire and the over scale blade ariel with plascard (or removed if making the Patrouille de France aircraft). Matchbox/Revell have, quite sensibly, not attempted to provide the whip ariel on the upper nose. It is easy enough to add it using a toothbrush bristle or whatever.

Decals:

The decal option caters for a “work horse” from Escadre de Chase (EC) 1/7 “Languedoc” at Nancy-Orchey airbase in ’66 or a “show pony” of the Patrouille de France aerobatic team in ’61 (they used the IVA from ’57 to ’63). Both are basically all over painted aluminium but the P de F example has red white and blue wings and horizontal tail surfaces. Revell suggest Fiery Red 330 / Humbrol 60 and a mixture of 80% Lufthansa Blue 350 and 20% White 301. It is probably easier to use Humbrol 109 WWI Blue or 14 French Blue. I am confused as I was originally “Sold” on the show pony but landed up making the” work horse”. I used Testors Aluminium (Buffing) 1401 rather than my usual Testors Aluminium (non buffing) 1418. Again, I am not sure why but was not too happy with my effort so will revert to “non buffing” next time. Finally! Revell have found a top quality decal printer. The decals are as good as any that I have used including those expensive specialised sheets. Certainly they are of far greater quality than the kit. Fine as they are I did cut up the red wing walkway lines so as to eliminate the large area of decal film.

Conclusion:

As I have said “a basic kit that certainly looks like a Mystere” although I have doubts about the upper nose contours forward of the canopy. If this kit was Hasegawa price (they have a bad habit of issuing antique kits with new decals and charging premium prices) I would be yelling from the rooftops but Revell are asking a very reasonable “pocket money” price, good value in fact!

Heller have made the MD450 Ouragan (1981) and Airfix the Super Mystere B2 (1972) and Graphy-Air a limited run IVA. I am tempted to make a “show pony”(paying more attention to the nose contours) and a Heller (80257) P de F Alpha Jet to go with it. The Matchbox kit was reviewed in Scale Aircraft Modelling of Sep.’87 and good photos go with their Graphy-Air review of Feb.’00 issue and “Inside Story #14” in the Sep.”92 issue. Modelart decal sheets 72/012 and 72/036 both cater for the IVB and the Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft V6 p.1316/7 have useful details.

RHS/96

web hosting • domain names • video sharing
free online games • photo sharing
free blog • short URLs