arnobiz Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 Hello all! Being quite frustrated with the absence of any intake trunking in Revell's 1/48 Rafale kit and the price/level of detail of available options I decided to make my own using 3D printing. The objective is to capture the internal auxiliary intake and to make it easy to build as I have quite a few Rafales in the stash The real thing looks like this: 3D printed parts dry fitted into Revell's intakes: Blended with Tamiya Putty: I basically have two questions for the community: 1/ Would there be interest for this upgrade (i.e., should I setup for my own limited consumption or I should go a bit bigger)? 2/ Would you prefer to have the 3D printed parts and assemble them yourself or have the entire intake cast together as a drop-in part? I would estimate the 3D-printed part price around €15, the drop-in intake around €25 Thanks a ton for your inputs, it's the first time I take such a bold step in modelling! Best, Arnaud 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 Good news: design is now finalized, printed and assembled. Plan for the week end: Complete the master Make the molds Cast a first test I'll post pictures of the process as I go, stay posted! Arnaud 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertF Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 This almost makes me want to build a Rafale. Almost (so many beautiful aircraft kits, only one life). Would love to see you try your hand at the F-16 mouths, both small and large. Excellent work! Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 Thank you Robert, I hope this will convince you 😄 By the way what's the issue with Tamiya's F-16 intake mouths? Final mold is now ready, three sets cast 🥳 Here you can see both left and right intakes, with the added panel engraved on the left intake (the one without gun): Which colour do you find easiest to use, blackor cream? I tend to prefer black as it makes priming easier but I can adapt to your tastes quite easily A first set's primer is curing as we speak so I can post better pictures of them assembled on the kit, gloss resin is quite tricky to make good pictures of... Packaging is ordered and should arrive shortly, I'll let you know as soon as I get it - stay tuned! Arnaud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 And the inside, much easier to photograph with a bit of grey primer! I hope you like it, Arnaud 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 14 minutes ago, arnobiz said: I hope you like it, a lot! let me know when you have some ready to send over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty84 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Nice, like it a lot I even have a Rafale on which I could put your intakes to good use. The black cast looks good, the details are easier to see than on the cream coloured example. Cheers Markus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narciarz Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 (edited) Arnaud great work! When and how can we order your seamless intakes for 1/48 Rafale ? Thanks Arek Edited September 15, 2020 by Narciarz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted September 26, 2020 Author Share Posted September 26, 2020 Continuing to find areas to improve on my Rafales, I will add the lower fuselage rear RAM to the intakes, using plotter-cut vinyl parts. The Revell kit lacks the last row of RAM: With the vinyl parts in place: And a light coat of Alclad grey primer: Notice that there are more rivets on the vinyl parts, I followed the actual pattern. Cheers, Arnaud 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceone Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 hy I'm interested in the intakes, but I live in EE.UU, could you send to my country? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 @arnobiz great work! I'd take a set of the intakes and the vinyl pieces too if you're making more of those! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneheadff Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 I would also take a set 😃😃😃 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 got my 3 sets yesterday! I can only say they look fantastic! I just quickly put them on the most recent Revell single seater (not that it should matter which one ... ) and without any clean-up fit, detail and ease of use seem already be exceptional! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 Thank you Werner for your kind words, I'm very glad you like them. Looking forward ot your build now! 😃 Arnaud 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty84 Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 Got my set today too and I can only confirm @exdraken's impression. They are really nicely cast and a necessity if you don't want to look into the kit's innards. If you think about just a single upgrade set for your Rafale, this is it 👍 Cheers Markus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 On 10/6/2020 at 12:55 PM, Shorty84 said: Got my set today too and I can only confirm @exdraken's impression. They are really nicely cast and a necessity if you don't want to look into the kit's innards. If you think about just a single upgrade set for your Rafale, this is it 👍 Cheers Markus I would like to echo everyone else's praise. I have a set in-hand and they make me itch to start a Rafale right away. IF Arnaud ever produces a Rafale M extended boarding ladder, I'll definitely queue up for one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 I've just pre-ordered a set from the 48ers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted October 27, 2020 Author Share Posted October 27, 2020 Thank you all for your support, I was not quite expecting so much traction - the vacuum pump has been working more in the past month than in the year before!! Pre-ordered sets will be shortly at the48ers, you can also order directly from me. Another set to update your Rafale both in details and in standard (F3/F3R) is nearly complete too Best, Arnaud 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneheadff Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Oh boy...I feel more money leaving my wallet. The intakes are beautiful! Wish my desk and the shelf of doom were empty to start the Rafale immediately, but... Regardless...keep those great sets coming Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted October 31, 2020 Author Share Posted October 31, 2020 Thanks Alex! The detailing set is well underway and will cover the highlighted areas below (along with the rationale as to why I felt they are required): Under fuselage RAM panels, both the B/C and M versions - half missing in the kit Head-Up Display (HUD) - flat in the kit, and I will run a test on Monday to make a holographic, curved HUD Fuselage sides grills - wrong shape and location in the kit, New F3/F3R spine antenna - missing New DDM-NG on either sides of the vertical stabilizer - only the old version in the kit Flare launchers detail (3 versions) - just a flat, featureless area in the kit Auxiliary exhaust - just a hole in the kit Front fuselage slime lights - these get destroyed when assembling the kit as they are at the upper/lower fuselage joint More to come soon, Arnaud 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted October 31, 2020 Author Share Posted October 31, 2020 VHF antenna and attaching plate prototypes are ready: As are the fuselage grills: and the auxiliary exhaust: DDM-NG coming soon Arnaud 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 So essentially you mean I should wait a bit with starting my C Modell, no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 1 hour ago, exdraken said: So essentially you mean I should wait a bit with starting my C Modell, no? Not very long, I'm producing the sets now but waiting for packaging to arrive, I ran out of boxes 😄 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 Quick post to explain the BAM philosophy of making things as easy as possible for the modeller The Rafale updgrade set will not only contain the necessary parts to address what I see as the most visible shortcomings, but also provide the modeller with everything needed to make this painless: jigs! For example, the front formation lights are right on the kit's top/bottom fuselage seam, making it a pain to preserve while removing the seam. Using the set, it will just be a matter of fully removing the seam (including the lights), position the jig and set the lights - et voila! Some (bad quality, I'll do better ones for the set's instructions) pictures to explain: Original kit parts: Seam removed and adhesive jig in place, aligned with the panel on the right: Light in place, in the jig's clearance: Formation light perfectly located Arnaud 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 On 11/1/2020 at 11:07 AM, arnobiz said: Quick post to explain the BAM philosophy of making things as easy as possible for the modeller The Rafale updgrade set will not only contain the necessary parts to address what I see as the most visible shortcomings, but also provide the modeller with everything needed to make this painless: jigs! ... Formation light perfectly located Arnaud "C'est facile!" Maybe even for me. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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