1. History

The "Shachak" number 70 ( CJ – 57 ) as it appeared after the ‘ Six Day War ‘, with two aerial combat kill roundels painted under  the canopy windscreen,relating to a Syrian Air Force MIG-21 aircraft shot by Uri Gil during the first day of the ‘ Six Day War ‘ and the second by Ehud Henkin, on June 9, 1967. Two additional aircraft were shot down by pilots with this aircraft during the ‘ War of attrition ‘.The Mirage IIICJ was given the Hebrew name ‘Shachak’ (Skyblazer) due to its very inspirational Mach II performance and highly polished metal finish.

The French-built Dassault Mirage IIIC (known as “Shahak”, or “Skyblazer”, in Israeli service) was the principal front-line fighter used for Israel’s air campaign in 1967. Specially developed Israeli anti-runway bombs and local modifications to the gunsight made it devastatingly effective in the hands of Israeli pilots for both strike and air combat roles.

Operational history

IAF Mirages are best known for their conduct during the 1967 Six Day War. Mirages spearheaded the decisive pre-emptive strike against Arab airfields, operation "Moked", decimating Arab air forces, and completely overwhelmed the few enemy aircraft that survived to challenge the IDF. Israel entered with war with 65 airworthy examples and all but 12 participated in the strikes launched on the morning of June 5, 1967. Four by four, the entire IAF fighter inventory descended on Egyptian Air Force bases, destroying the majority of its aircraft on the ground. Mirages, the IAF primary fighter of the war, were tasked with attacking the farthest and best defended air bases: Abu-Sweir, Cairo West, Helwan and more. When operation "Moked" was turned against other Arab nations, Mirages were once again in the forefront of the fighting, attacking Jordanian, Syrian and Iraqi air bases as well. Having destroyed dozens of enemy aircraft during the first day's activities, 4 Mirages were also lost. More Mirages were lost during the remainder of the war, one of them in a disastrous sortie against Iraq's H3. By the end of the war, Mirages had also shot down 48 Arab fighters, some of those aircraft that had survived the initial strikes. The "Shahak" has also been credited with keeping Lebanon out of the war by downing a Lebanese Hawker Hunter near its border on the morning of June 5.

 

2. The Kit

This kit is based on the Mirage IIIC Shachak 1/48 – Limited Edition N. 11128

I have used the following accessories:

• SBS Model 1/48 Mirage III C Detail set (cockpit & wheel bays)

• Eduard Mirage IIIC wheels 1/48 – N. 648541

• Eduard Mirage III C PE-set 1/48 N. 8103 – LEPT

• Eduard Brassin set - French missile Matra R-530 in 1/48 scale. N. 648324

 

 

 

4. Colors and paint guide

*  Sand and clean very well the model before painting.

Colors used step by step:

1. Mr. Surfacer 1200 ( only some panels )

2. Mr. Surfacer 1500 black

3. AK 479 Aluminium

4. Weathering panels with : AK 476 steel - AK 478 white aluminium - AK 481 polished aluminium

 

5. References.

*  IsraDecal Publications Israeli Air Force Mini Photo Album #2: The First Jet Squadron - Mirage IIIC/B 1962-79 - Ra'anan Weiss

*  Illustrated Guide to the Israeli Air Force [Bill Gunston]