History

The first Mirage 2000 to go into service was the single-seat Mirage 2000C interceptor, C stands for Chasseur (Fighter) variant. There were four single-seat prototypes, including the initial Mirage 2000 prototype. The first production Mirage 2000C flew in November 1982. Deliveries began in 1983. The first operational squadron was formed in 1984, the 50th anniversary of the French Air Force. A total of 124 Mirage-2000Cs were obtained by the AdA.
Info from Wikipedia

In the box

Hellers Mirage 2000C kit is your typical mid 80s offering, and features a basic cockpit, raised panel lines and moulded on control surfaces, but Pavla doing what Pavla do best have released 3 update sets for this aircraft.
Cockpit set and Vac-form canopy
Item No - C 72-127, Price £12.40 (Hannants)
Packed in a blister pack, and backed with a foam insert, the nine resin, one vac-form canopy and a small clear acetate sheet are well protected.
The resin parts are discrepancy free and are all attached to a small casting blocks.
The cockpit is a direct replacement for the kits basic offering, and is a lot more detailed, with a busy looking rear cockpit wall, side consoles and includes the nose wheel bay on the underneath.
The ejection seat is one piece and has the harness moulded onto the part, the kits seat is nowhere near as detailed, and is really just a lump of shaped plastic compared to the resin replacement.
A new instrument panel with hood and the HUD, which uses the acetate sheet. A bit of surgery will be needed to install the hood as Heller has the hood as part of the fuselage halves. No mention of cutting the kits hood off is mentioned in the instructions though.
Various throttle levers and the control column make up the rest of the resin parts, and are direct or added replacements.
The vac-form canopy is thin, clear, and once cut off the excess plastic will be in two parts, thus the canopy can be modelled open.
The canopy can be bought separately as reviewed here
A small set of instructions are included which cover where the various throttle levers go. Internal paint names are given.
This set really does improve the cockpit, and out of all the sets in this review I feel this is the most needed.

Mirage 2000 control surfaces
Item No - C 72-157, Price £7.10 (Hannants)
The resin control surfaces are packed in a resealable bag with a stapled header card.
casting for the parts is very good with no casting flaws.
the control surfaces are very thin and have a very nice recessed rivet detail on them.
The set comes with two control surfaces, and the actuators.
Surgery is required to fit these items, as the kit has moulded on control surfaces and actuators. No instructions are supplied, but as you are just replacing parts the need for any is not really needed.
Looking at the actuators it doesn't look as though the control surfaces can be modelled in the dropped position, without some cutting of the resin parts, which is a bit of a shame.
This is pretty good set for replacing the rather thicker surfaces found on the Heller kit.

Mirage 2000 engine air intakes with FOD covers
Item No - C 72-155, Price £5.35 (Hannants)
Pavlas engine air intakes with FOD covers replace the three part kit intakes, which don't have the FOD covers, and are much more detailed and refined then the kits parts.
A casting block is attached to the glueing surface of the intakes and will need to be removed and sanded down to insure a snug fit against the fuselage.
Two intake strakes are supplied to attach to the inlet exterior.
The FOD covers cover the intakes and have a moulded on handle.
This set is not an absolute must, but it is well cast with some nice detail, and will improve the look of a parked aircraft.


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