1:72 Dassault Mystère IVE, Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana, 1981

[Dizzyfugu]

1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr



Some background:
When Marcel Dassault started work on jet-powered fighters after WWII, the development evolved in gradual steps instead of quantum leaps, leading to a long line of aircraft. The Mystère IV was an evolutionary development of the Mystère II aircraft. Although bearing an external resemblance to the earlier aircraft, the Mystère IV was in fact a new design with aerodynamic improvements for supersonic flight. The prototype first flew on 28 September 1952, and the aircraft entered service in April 1953. The first 50 Mystere IVA production aircraft were powered by British Rolls-Royce Tay turbojets, while the remainder had the French-built Hispano-Suiza Verdon 350 version of that engine.

France was the main operator of the Mystère IV. In April 1953 the United States government and the United States Air Force placed an order for 223 aircraft to be operated by the French, and at the peak usage the Armée de l'air operated 6 squadrons. Most of the aircraft were purchased under a United States Offshore Procurement contract and many were returned to US custody after they were retired. The Mystère IVs were used in the 1956 Suez Crisis and continued to remain in French service into the 1980s, even though they were quickly relegated into second line duties as more capable types like the Super Mystère SM2B or the Mirage III entered service.
Other international operators included Israel (using about sixty Mystère IVs in large-scale combat during the 1967 Six Day War), India (104 aircraft procured in 1957 and extensively used in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965) and Ecuador.


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (FAE, Ecuadorian Air Force) was officially created on October 27, 1920. However, like in many other countries, military flying activity already started before the formal date of birth of the Air Force. By 1939 the Ecuadorian Air Force was still limited to about 30 aircraft, though, and a staff of about 60, including 10 officers. Military aviation did not start in earnest until the early forties when an Ecuadorian mission to the United States resulted in the delivery of an assortment of aircraft for the Aviation school at Salinas: three Ryan PT-22 Recruits, six Curtiss-Wright CW-22 Falcons, six Fairchild PT-19A Cornells and three North American AT-6A Harvards arrived in March 1942, considerably boosting the capacity of the Escuela de Aviación at Salinas.

The 1950s and 1960s saw a further necessary buildup of the air force, gaining more units and aircraft, while efforts were made in enhancing the facilities at various airbases. In May 1961 the "First Air Zone" with its subordinate unit Ala de Transportes No.11 was founded. The "Second Air Zone" controlled the units in the southern half of Ecuador, Ala de Combate No.21 at Taura, Ala de Rescate No.22 at Guayaquil and Ala de Combate No.23 at Manta as well as the Escuela Superior Militar de Aviación "Cosme Rennella B." (ESMA) at Salinas.

It was at this time that the FAE was looking for a capable (yet affordable) jet fighter that would replace the vintage F-47 "Thunderbolt" piston engine fighters of American origin that had been operated since 1947 as well as the ageing fleet of Gloster Meteor jet fighters. After consulting various options, including the British Hawker Hunter and the American F-86 Sabre, Ecuador settled upon the French Mystère IV. A total of 32 aircraft were ordered in 1958 and delivered until early 1963 in two tranches, subsequently outfitting two combat squadrons.


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The Ecuadorian aircraft resembled the early French Mystère IV standard and were powered by the British Rolls-Royce Tay 250. However, they differed in small details and incorporated some updates, leading to the individual designation Mystère IVE (for Ecuador). This included a modified instrumentation and a British Martin Baker ejection seat in the cockpit. On the outside, a fairing for a brake parachute at the fin's base was the most obvious change, and there were small oval boundary layer fences on the wings' leading edges that improved the aircraft's handling. The front landing gear was slightly different, too, now outfitted with a mudguard.

To improve the aircraft's capabilities in air-to-air combat, an American AN/APG-30 range-finding radar was fitted, mounted to the center of the air intake (under a slightly enlarged radome) and linked with the gyroscopic gunsight in the cockpit. It was effective at a range of up to 2.750 m, but only covered a narrow cone directly in front of the aircraft. Initially the aircraft were operated as pure fighters/interceptors, but soon they also took over ground attack and CAS missions with iron bombs and unguided missiles, even though the Mystère IV's ordnance capacity was rather limited. But the aircraft had a good handling at low altitude and were a stable weapon platform, so that the pilots operated them with confidence.


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


In the early Seventies, Ecuador had plans to upgrade its Mystères with Pratt & Whitney J48-P-5 engines, a license-built version of the Rolls-Royce Tay from the USA and outfitted with an afterburner. With reheat the J48 delivered 8,750 lbf (38.9 kN) of thrust, but continuous dry thrust was only 6,350 lbf (28.2 kN), markedly less than the old Tay engine. The high fuel consumption with operating afterburner would have markedly limited the aircraft's range, and this engine switch would have necessitated major modifications to the aircrafts' tail section, so that the upgrade eventually did not come to fruition due the lack of funds and the rather limited and only temporary improvement in performance.

Nevertheless, in course of their career in Ecuador, the Mystères' still underwent some modifications and modernizations. In the early Seventies an MLU program was carried out: the retractable pannier for unguided missiles was deleted in favor of an extra fuel tank and upgraded navigational and weapon avionics. The latter included wirings for IR-guided AIM-9B Sidewinder AAMs on the outer underwing pylons, what greatly improved the aircraft's air-to-air capabilities. The original DEFA 552 guns were replaced with more modern DEFA 553s, which had a new feed system, a nitro-chrome plated steel barrel (which was longer than the 552's and now protruded visibly from the openings), a forged drum casing, and improved electrical reliability. During this upgrade phase the machines also lost their original natural metal livery and they received a less conspicuous tactical NATO-style grey/green paint scheme with metallic-grey undersides.


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


In this form the Ecuadorean Mystère IVEs soldiered on well into the Eighties, with a very good reliability record. During their active career they even saw "hot" action on several occasions, for instance in a continuous border dispute with Peru, the so-called Paquisha War. This brief military clash over the control of three watch posts flared up in January 1981 and the Mystères became involved. The first incident was a dogfight with an A-37B of the Fuerza Aérea del Peru (FAP), launched from Guayaquil to intercept it – with no casualities, though. Several similar interception incidents happened until early February 1981, and the FAE Mystères also flew several CAS missions to repel the Peruvian Jungle Infantry and to support Ecuadorian ground forces. Despite their age, the aircrafts' ruggedness and simplicity proved them to be reliable, and its high roll rate and good handling at low altitude made it a versatile platform that was still competitive, even though its rather sluggish acceleration turned out to be a serious weak spot, esp. in the country's typical mountainous terrain. Its relatively low range with internal fuel only was another operational problem.
The Mystère IVEs were finally retired in 1988 and replaced by Mirage F.1C fighters from France and IAI Kfir C.7 fighter bombers from Israel.



General characteristics:
    Crew: 1
    Length: 12.89 m (42 ft 3 in)
    Wingspan: 11.12 m (36 ft 6 in)
    Height: 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in)
    Wing area: 32.06 m² (345.1 sq ft)
    Empty weight: 5,860 kg (12,919 lb)
    Gross weight: 8,510 kg (18,761 lb)
    Max takeoff weight: 9,500 kg (20,944 lb)

Powerplant:
    1× Rolls-Royce Tay 250 centrifugal-flow turbojet engine with 34.32 kN (7,720 lbf) thrust

Performance:
    Maximum speed: 1,110 km/h (690 mph, 600 kn) at sea level
    Range: 915 km (569 mi, 494 nmi) with internal fuel only
                 2,280 km (1,420 mi; 1,230 nmi) with drop tanks
    Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,000 ft)
    Rate of climb: 40 m/s (7,900 ft/min)

Armament:
    2× 30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA 553 cannon with 150 rounds per gun
    1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of payload on four underwing hardpoints, incl. bombs, rockets or drop tanks



The kit and its assembly:
A very simple project, and basically just an OOB kit in the colors of a fictional operator. The whole thing was inspired by the question: what could have been a predecessor of the Ecuadorean Mirage F.1s? Not an existential question that might pop up frequently, but I quickly decided that the Mystère IV would have been a good/plausible contender. I found this idea even more attractive when I considered a camouflage paint scheme for it, because you only get either French or Indian machines in a uniform NMF outfit or IDF Mystères in desert camouflage (either in brown/blue or the later sand/earth/green scheme).

The kit is the venerable Matchbox Mystère IVA, even though in its Revell re-boxing. It's a very simple affair, with partly crude details like the landing gear or the dreaded "trenches" for engraved surface details, esp. on the wings. But it goes together quite well, and with some corrections and additions you get a decent model.
The kit was basically built OOB, I just added underwings pylons with some ordnance for a fighter bomber mission: a pair of drop tanks and two SNEB missile launcher pods (tanks leftover from a Sword F-94, IIRC, and the pods from a Matchbox G.91Y). A complete tub with a floor and with side consoles (origin is uncertain, though – maybe it came from an Xtrakit Supermarine Swift?) was fitted to the cockpit and the primitive OOB ejection seat was replaced with something more convincing, pimped with seatbelts (masking tape) and ejection trigger handles (thin wire).


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The flaps were lowered for a more natural look, and I added small oval boundary layer fences from a BAe Hawk as a personal twist. The clumsy front wheel, originally molded onto the strut as a single piece, was replaced with something better. The main landing gear covers were replaced with thinner styrene sheet material (the OOB parts are VERY thick) and pieces from hollow steel needles were implanted into the respective fairings as gun barrels.
A thinner pitot, created from heated sprue material, was used instead of the rather massive OOB part. The ranging radar fairing in the intake was slightly enlarged with the help of white glue. And, finally, a piece of sprue was implanted into the fin's base as a brake parachute fairing, reminiscent of the Polish Lim-6/7, license-produced MiG-17s.


Painting and markings:
Actually quite conservative, with a typical Seventies paint scheme in dark grey/dark green. I even considered a more exotic three-tone scheme but found that – together with the colorful national markings – this would look too busy. Since there is no reference for a Mystère IV in such a guise, I simply adapted the standard pattern from a Royal Air Force Supermarine Swift. For a different look than the standard RAF colors – after all, the fictional Ecuadorean Mystère IVs were painted with domestic material. I used Humbrol 75 (Bronze Green) and ModelMaster 2057 (FS 36173, USAF Neutral Grey) for a good contrast between the upper tones, with Humbrol 56 (Alu Dope) underneath.

The tail section received a burned metal look, using Revell 91 (Iron) and some graphite. The cockpit interior was painted in a very dark grey (Revell 09, Anthracite) while the landing gear became silver-grey and the wells zinc-chromate primer (Humbrol 81). For some contrast, the drop tanks became shiny aluminum (Revell 99).

The kit received a light black ink washing, primarily for the recessed panel lines, and a subtle panel post-shading – for a less uniform surface than for true weathering, I'd imagine that the aircraft would be looked after well. However, some gun soot stains around the weapon ports were added with graphite, too.


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The Ecuadorean roundels and unit markings came from an Xtradecal Strikemaster sheet, the tactical codes from a Croco Decal sheet for various South-American trainers. The flag on the rudder was, due to its sweep, painted, and most stencils were taken from the Mystère's OOB sheet or procured from an Ecuadorian Mirage V on a Carpena sheet.
Finally, the kit was sealed with matt acrylic varnish, the ordnance was added and the position lights on the wing tips were created with silver and clear paint on top of that.




1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Dassault MD.454 'Mystère IVE'; aircraft 'FAE 663' of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combate 2312 'Halcones'; Latacunga Air Base (Cotopaxi province), Ecuador, during the 'Paquisha War', early 1981 (Whif/Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Well, this was not a spectacular conversion build, rather an OOB travesty with some cosmetic changes. However, the rather classic grey/green camouflage suits the tubby aircraft well and the bright national insignia really stand out on it – a pretty combo. The whole package as fictional Mystère IVE looks surprisingly convincing!

[NARSES2]

It certainly does suit that scheme and markings 

I built an Ecuadorian AF aircraft many moons ago and the scheme certainly stands out.

[Pellson]

Nice! And that old kit actually does look the bit. 

[su27rules]

 

[sandiego89]

nice work Dizzy.  I do hope we can get a "South" GB going some day. 

[comrade harps]

That is lovely 

[Old Wombat]

 

[zenrat]

 

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you, glad you like it.  Not a spectacular whif, but a very conclusive and convincing one, isn't it?

[NARSES2]

but a very conclusive and convincing one, isn't it?

Certainly is

[NARSES2]

nice work Dizzy.  I do hope we can get a "South" GB going some day.

Well I'll be calling for nominations shortly 

[DogfighterZen]

I like that very much! Simple but good looking airplane with a nice scheme.

[zenrat]

I got hold of a Chinese knockoff of the Matchbox version of this.
I thought the soft fuselage detail was down to it being a knockoff but it looks pretty soft on this one.
It was so bad I relegated it to spares.

[chrisonord]

Absolutely marvellous,  as per.