A rhinoplasty - the Mirage F.1 as it perhaps should have been?

[rickshaw]

I read some time ago, that the Mirage F.1 prototype originally flew with a Mirage III radome.  Well, one of the things I've never really liked about the Mirage F.1 has been it's "Pinocchio nose", so I decided to see what the prototype looked like.






What a difference a nose makes!  I wish the Mirage F.1 had gone into service with this nose instead of the one it had.  Much nicer!

The Model

An ancient Heller F.1B kit I picked up off Evilbay.  I had to scratch the undercarriage 'cause the Heller one was much too fiddly and weak.  Made it from bent paperclips. 

[kerick]

Nice as a two seater too. I built a single seat a long time ago. Maybe its time for a make over.

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice one - impressive how that different nose changes the overall look of the aircraft. Looks like the missing link between the Mirage III and a Super Étendard?

[NARSES2]

Yup, looks better with the new nose

[Weaver]

That does look good - I've always been amazed by how small the F.1's radome is.

[PR19_Kit]

Actually I LOVE the standard F1's long pointy nose, it's every kid's idea of a supersonic fighter. 

Having said that it's gooid to see other interpretations of the idea and it does looks good with the III nose radome too.

[rickshaw]

Actually I LOVE the standard F1's long pointy nose, it's every kid's idea of a supersonic fighter. 

Having said that it's gooid to see other interpretations of the idea and it does looks good with the III nose radome too.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  There is something about the "Pinocchio" nose which just annoys me when I see it at certain angles and so I decided to see what this was like.  Not enough Mirages on here anyway!