1:72 FAdeA IA-96A “Quique” (a.k.a. IAI “Kfir” C.9), Argentinian Air Force, 2016

[Dizzyfugu]

The next one, I am currently about to "work down" a list of ideas I have collected in the course of the last years, trying to reduce the stash... Here comes one with a certain political brisance, the Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (also known as IAI "Kfir" C.9 in certain circles...) of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016. 


The kit and its assembly:
This what-if model was inspired by a short entry about the IAI Kfir I had found at Wikipedia: a proposed C.9 variant for Argentina, as a revamped and re-engined C.7, even though the entry lacked any further details and I was not able to dig anything about the C.9 up in the WWW. However, I tried to interpret this scarce basis and deduct a model from it, because the story was/is so good. Having recently read a lot about the Argentinian Mirage III/Nesher fleet and the Malvinas/Falklands conflict helped a lot, too. With many import limitations imposed by Great Britain and the USA as well as Argentina's highly restricted budget, I eventually settled upon the idea of a rather simple, re-engined Kfir of C.7 standard, so that outwardly not much had to be changed – a better radar would have been desirable (Kfir C.10/Block 60 standard), but I'd assume that this would not have been possible with Argentina's highly limited funds that already prevented updates to the existing and rather vintage (if not outdated) aircraft fleet.


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The basis for the model is a Hasegawa Kfir, which I bought without box (and it turned it to lack the dashboard). The Hasegawa Kfir is a C.2 and the model is very similar to the Italeri kit (a C.7, but it is virtually identical), but it has a much better fit, goes together more easily and calls for considerably less PSR. As another bonus, the Hasegawa kit comes with a wider range of ordnance and also has the construction benefit of a connecting ventral "floor", which makes the fuselage more stable and therefor suitable for my modification (see below).

The different engine for the C.9 variant was the biggest challenge – the Kfir's rear fuselage is wider and shorter than the Mirage III's with the Atar engine. These are just subtle differences at 1:72 scale, but not easy to realize: I needed a completely new rear fuselage! As a convenient solution, I dug out a PM Model Nesher (which is no Nesher at all, just a poor Mirage III at best) from the donor bank, and let the saw sing. This kit is horrible in many ways (really, stay away!), but it's tail section and the jet nozzle, pimped with an afterburner interior, were acceptable as conversion fodder.


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Blending the (crappy!) Mirage III parts into the crisp Hasegawa Kfir took some serious PSR, though, including the need to fill 3mm wide gaps along the delta wing roots and bridging disparate fuselage shapes and diameters at the implant's intersections. The Kfir's fin was re-transplanted and lost its characteristic auxiliary air intake for the J79 engine, so that the profile became more Mirage III/V-esque. Due to the longer afterburner section, the brake parachute fairing had to be extended, too. The longer (just 3-4mm), more slender tail section and the cleaner fin change the Kfir's look markedly – for the better, IMHO, and the model could also depict an Atlas Cheetah E!


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Further minor mods include an in-flight refueling receptacle, scratched from wire and white glue for the tip, the modified windshield (the OOB part was simply sanded smooth and polished back again to transparency) and the ordnance; the Gabriel ASMs were created on the basis of a photograph, and they once were AIM-54 Phoenix AAMs from a Matchbox F-14, modified with new wings, a blunted tip and a pitot made from thin wire. Their pylons were once parts of F-14 wing root pylons from an Italeri F-14, with launch rails made from styrene profiles. The Derby AAMs are heavily modified Sidewinders (Academy, IIRC) with an extended, pointed tip, mounted onto the OOB pylons. The ventral drop tank comes from the Hasegawa kit.


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

More coming soon. 

[PR19_Kit]

Have you changed your putty brand Thomas, or do Presto make it in white now?

The Kfir looks VERY promising anyway. 

[Dizzyfugu]

It's a second putty type I frequently used; Presto is still in (heavy) use, as seen here in the lower layers. The white stuff is an acrylic putty for carpenters, typically used to fix dents in wooden doors or furniture. It's a lot softer than Presto, dries quicker and can be applied in thicker layers. On the donwside, it tends to clog sand paper - but due to its softness and different color it is a good medoium to control surface quality (instead of using primer). 

[PR19_Kit]

I've tried using DeLuxe Putty as a 'fine finish' filler, but I may have had a duff tube as it was rubbish.

[NARSES2]

I've tried using DeLuxe Putty as a 'fine finish' filler, but I may have had a duff tube as it was rubbish.

If you mean their PPP Kit, then in my experience it's a great gap filler, but not so good for "constructional work" the likes of which you and Dizzy do a fair bit of. I use it for seams, but go back to my usual brands for anything requiring heavier work.

[Martin H]

Oh dear I seeam to have had a similer idea back in 2016......................

[Dizzyfugu]

Yep, the Kfir C.9 story is too good to be neglected with hardware... 

Nice couple! 

[PR19_Kit]

I've tried using DeLuxe Putty as a 'fine finish' filler, but I may have had a duff tube as it was rubbish.

If you mean their PPP Kit, then in my experience it's a great gap filler, but not so good for "constructional work" the likes of which you and Dizzy do a fair bit of. I use it for seams, but go back to my usual brands for anything requiring heavier work.

I do, yes, but my tube just wasn't up to scratch I reckon. I'll try another before I pass full judgment on the stuff though.

[rickshaw]

I invariably use PPP for small gaps/dents stuff like that.  I use Milliputt for larger construction work.   PPP works fine but it is a bit clumsy for large quantities and it is a bit difficult to keep clean in the mouth of the tube.

[Dizzyfugu]

News flash from virtual Argentina...

Painting and markings:
This was quite a challenge, because I wanted to apply something modern and plausible, yet avoid standard paint schemes. In fact, a realistic Argentinian Kfir C.9 from the late 2010s would probably have been painted in an overall pale grey or in two pale shades of grey with little contrast (as applied to the very late Mirage IIIs and the A-4ARs), with subdued low-viz markings and no roundels at all. I found this boring, but I also did not want to apply a retro SEA scheme, as used on the Nesher/Dagger/Finger during the Falklands War.



After turning over many options in my mind, I settled upon a two-tone grey livery, somewhat of a compromise between air superiority and attack operations, esp. over open water. The pattern was inspired by the livery of late Turkish RF-4Es, which were supposed to be painted in FS 36118 over an FS 36270 (or 36375, sources are contradictive and pictures inconclusive) overall base with a rising waterline towards the rear and the light undersides color spilling over to the wings' upper surfaces. This scheme is simple, but looks pretty interesting, breaks up the aircraft's outlines effectively, and it could be easily adapted to the delta-wing Kfir.
However, I changed two details in favor of an IMHO better camouflage effect at height. Firstly, the fin's upper section was painted in the light grey (it's all dark grey on the Turkish Phantoms), what IMHO reduces the strong contrast against the sky and the horizon. For a similar reason I secondly raised the underside's light grey waterline towards the nose, so that the upper dark grey area became an integral anti-glare panel in front of the windscreen and the aircraft show less contrast from a frontal point of view. On the Turkish F-4s, the dark grey slopes downwards for a wrap-around area directly behind the radome.


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


I used Humbrol 125 (FS 36118, a pretty bluish interpretation of "Gunship Gray") and 126 (FS 36270, US Medium Grey) as basic colors. The Gunship Gray was, after a light washing with black ink, post-shaded with FS 35164 (Humbrol 144), giving the dark grey an even more bluish hue, while the Medium Grey was treated with FS 36320.
The cockpit was painted in Camouflage Grey (Humbrol 156), the landing gear with the wells as well as the air intake ducts in standard gloss white (Humbrol 22). The Derby AAMs became light grey (Humbrol 127) with a beige radome tip, while the Gabriel ASM received a multi-color livery in black, white and light grey.


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Decals and markings are purely fictional - as mentioned above, I'd assume that a real-world FAA Kfir would these days only carry minimal national markings in the form of a simple fin flash, no roundels at all and just a tiny tactical code (if at all), and everything toned-down or black. However, I wanted the model to be identified more easily, so I added some more markings, including small but full-color FAA roundels on fuselage and wings as well as full-color fin flashes, all procured from an Airfix Pucará sheet. The "Fuerza Aérea Argentina" inscription on the nose came from a Colorado Decals Mirage III/V sheet. The tactical code was taken from an Airfix sheet for an Argentinian Mirage III ("I" for interceptor, I would have prefered a "C" for Caza, which is more common for multi-role fighters); it's actually "I-016", just turned upside down for a (much) higher/later number. 😉


1:72 Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) IA-96A "Quique" (IAI "Kfir" C.9); "I-910" of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Grupo 5 de Caza; Aeropuerto de Villa Reynolds (Argentina), late 2016 (Whif/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


After shading effects, the model only received little weathering in the form of graphite around the jet nozzle and the guns under the air intakes. Then it was sealed with matt acrylic varnish.

Reminds a little of the late Chilean Mirage 50s?

[buzzbomb]

Man, you are a machine 
Nice work again

[Old Wombat]

Liking that camo scheme, Dizzy!

[ChernayaAkula]

Nice! 

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you. Nothing new to show, but the Kfir-thing has been finished and waits for pictures, hopefully next weekend. Next project has already started.

[Dizzyfugu]

Still nothing new. Weekend was too busy for pics, and in the meantime the next project has been finished and has been queued for pictures, too.