Thoughts for that new engine, depending on who's doing the modifications, F404/F414, RM12, EJ200, M88. Personally, I'd go with the EJ200 just to be contrary. If it's the Israelis doing the modifying, the F404/F414 would be most likely, the Swedish, as in my thought, the RM12. any other European country, the EJ200, and, finally, France, the M88. I could see it as an upgrade of the Spanish ones with them installing an EJ200 as part of the upgrade.
I love your idea
I have one similar with a F-1B and some part of Kfir :
- nose of C-10
- IFR probe of Kfir
- cockpit instrument panel from C-10 (both seat)
- one piece front canopy (like modern kfir an M2000)
- new engine (but which one )
- modern weapons load
Not realistic sure, but it's this of the KH MF1B will be a scrap in a boneyard (like my KH F-1C in progress)
I had a similar idea a few years ago and came up with this...
To the model...
It's a standard Italeri/ESCI 1/48 Mirage F.1 with Eagle Designs 1/48 Kfir C.7 parts (air scoops & camera bit under the tail), a dome made from a cut up LANTIRN and a PW1120 engine made from a 1/72 PW F100 from a 1/72 F-16 kit. The decals are from a variety of sources - the roundel is original, cobbled from US & French insignia. The TX flag on the tail was a pain - it is created from some US Bicentennial markings. If you look close at the tail the aircraft has a US style tailcode but with an "AC" number for Texas Army Air Corps. She also has some combat markings. The South African-inspired scheme is Field Green, Dark Tan and Light Ghost Grey over Air Superiority Grey - the vague outlines in the camo are accidental. I had painted out an older top camo with dark grey before coming up with the current scheme; some of the dark grey shows through. I liked the look and didn't repaint - it gives it a bit of an "operational" aircraft look. After arming it, I decided that it looked rather overloaded but haven't changed anything. When I get around to it, I think I'll keep the 2 LGB's, wingtip AAM's, the Maverick & the CBU.
The backstory...
The Texas Army Air Corps has been a long-term user of Dassault products and (as is it’s national defense policy) has built the Mirage F.1 under license. In Texan service, the Mirage F.1 built by General Dynamics (Texas designation F-9 Mirage 2) was used as a multi-role light fighter. With its rough and primitive airfields capability, ease of maintenance, good performance (payload, speed, range, multi-role capability and diversity of missions); the Mirage F.1 had been found particularly useful in “colonial” and other “primitive” settings. In the early ‘90’s the TX Dept of War had decided that the best replacement for an old Mirage F.1 was a new build, updated Mirage F.1. The latest incarnation of the Mirage F.1, the Texas Army Air Corps F/A-9E Mirage 2 Plus, incorporates a number of improvements. The late production Mirages most notably have new high-performance PW1120 engines (13,550 lb st dry) vs. the old Atar 9K (11,023 lb st dry), a lightweight modified version of the APG-73 radar, a strike camera – giving (limited) photo-reconnaissance capability, improved ECM & IRCM, a FLIR/laser ranging turret, a wider range of armament options and a number of other improvements.
F/A-9E Mirage 2 Plus #02-0375 “Margaret” is regularly stationed at Antanarivo IAP/AAF as part of the Texan Madagascar Garrison – Air Component.
Cheers & happy modeling, Bryan