Hobbyboss Rafale M

[Vultures1]

This is the Hobbyboss Rafale M, with some Eduard etch (destined for the Rafale C, but I’m taking a punt that the M cockpit is pretty much identical) and markings for an airframe decorated with fin markings to commemorate 1000 flying hours from the Model Alliance World Air Power Update No 2 sheet.  The Hobbyboss kit has beautifully fine surface detail, even though there is comment online that it is slightly underscale, and the fit is a bit ropey in areas (notably the intakes).  A fair bit of bodging was required to get the main landing gear together.  From the box, the kit only represents the F1 standard as it lacks the EO suite ahead of the cockpit; this also means only Mica EMs and Magic missiles should be fitted.  Replacement decals are a must to my mind as the kit markings (especially roundels and numbers) are not representative of an in-service machine.  Even so, the Model Alliance sheet has some issues; for example, the duck’s tunic should be blue not purple but I decided I could live with it.  There are also some compromises because the Model Alliance sheet doesn’t have some key airframe markings (eg rescue markings around the canopy) so I had to use the kit markings, which are too bright. Had I be starting again, I would have got some Syhart decals.

 

I’ve added some intake trunking from plastic tube and card, dropped the trailing edge surfaces and deflected the rudder, and made some mods to the wingtip launchers to depict an in-service machine.  The particular shade of grey the Aeronavale uses to paint its Rafales is hard to pin down.  I ended up with Gunze H308 FS 36320 over a base coat of Tamiya XF54 and a heavy wash of Paynes Grey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Brigbeale]

Absolutely brilliant result.

Well done👏👏👏

[reggie78usmc]

great work! i have one of these in the stash, how was the build?

[SAT69]

Excellent build of one of the most beautiful fighters ever made.

[exdraken]

nice result!

 

Rafales are always worth a look!

 

[Vultures1]

4 hours ago, Brigbeale said:

Absolutely brilliant result.

Well done👏👏👏

 

3 hours ago, reggie78usmc said:

great work! i have one of these in the stash, how was the build?

 

3 hours ago, SAT69 said:

Excellent build of one of the most beautiful fighters ever made.

 

3 hours ago, exdraken said:

nice result!

 

Rafales are always worth a look!

 

Thanks for your comments guys, very kind

 

Build was a mixed bag @reggie78usmc The parts are really well-moulded and detailed; however, the tolerances are really tight.  For example, there was a lot of bodging and superglue required to get the MLG to fit and the intakes fit where they touch so needed a lot of blending.  With a few simple mods and a decent set of decals I think it makes up into a reasonable F1 Standard Rafale M.