DaveJL Posted September 15, 2021 Author Share Posted September 15, 2021 2 hours ago, modelling minion said: Looking very good Dave, those replacement exhausts look very nice indeed, a big step up from the kit ones. Thanks mate. The exhausts are very good indeed! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted September 19, 2021 Author Share Posted September 19, 2021 More done. Firstly, the curved HUD as provided in the BAM set was fitted. The coamings were cleaned up with another coat of NATO black prior to this: I then popped on the windscreen and fitted the mask. The canopy was also masked up and the frames of both were given a squirt of NATO black. Once dry, I fitted the refuelling probe: The probe is probably the weakest point of this kit. It's not quite the right shape or dimensions and 'leans' a bit too far forward. But I can live with it. I'm always puzzled that Dassault made this wonderful, sleek looking jet, then bolted a bloody big probe to the front, but of course, I'm no aeronautical designer Just needs a once over before priming. More soon and stay safe Dave. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 5, 2021 Author Share Posted October 5, 2021 Need to get a move on with this, so over the last few days I've been working on the sub assemblies. Exhausts were painted and weathered: Undercarriage (aluminium but looks grey in the pictures!): Ejection seats: Finally, the Damocles pod, GBU-12s and Mica missiles. All decals are from the Syhart sheet: Hoping to get the airframe painted over the weekend. Stay safe Dave 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlin Posted October 6, 2021 Share Posted October 6, 2021 Stunning work Dave, look great. /Bosse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 6, 2021 Author Share Posted October 6, 2021 Thanks Bosse! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted October 6, 2021 Share Posted October 6, 2021 great updates! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 6, 2021 Author Share Posted October 6, 2021 35 minutes ago, exdraken said: great updates! Thanks Werner! I'm looking forward to bringing it all together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 7, 2021 Author Share Posted October 7, 2021 Everything primed and pre-shaded. All looking good for some paint! Even the fuel tanks don't look terrible! Paint at the weekend. Stay safe. Dave 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 10, 2021 Author Share Posted October 10, 2021 More done over the weekend. Airframe painted MRP Dark Gull Grey - this is the closest match I can find for the Armée de l'Air Rafales without having to mix and match paints. A few light coats on and then I added some details across the airframe with a mixture of Tamiya and MRP colours. The radome was oversprayed with Dark Gull Grey as this area seems to darken down - I'm led to believe this is due to the emissions from the AESA radar. Fuel tanks were painted, weathered stencilled, before being given a flat coat. Turned out ok: GBU-12 racks also done: Will get a few coats of gloss on the airframe over the next couple of days in preparation for decals later in the week. Stay safe Dave 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Color looks great! Will be noted! Regarding the radome, this is of course made from a different, di-electric material maybe not even painted, that absorbs dirt differently than the rest if the airframe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 11, 2021 Author Share Posted October 11, 2021 1 hour ago, exdraken said: Color looks great! Will be noted! Regarding the radome, this is of course made from a different, di-electric material maybe not even painted, that absorbs dirt differently than the rest if the airframe. Thanks mate! I hadn’t planned on painting the nose a different colour but looking at operational airframes, it’s definitely darker. Will add some weathering to it later on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 14, 2021 Author Share Posted October 14, 2021 Decals on. The Syhart sheet is very good indeed, though a few smaller stencils silvered ever so slightly but this should hopefully settle down under a flat coat. I ended up having to use the Revell decals for the non-slip walkways either side of the cockpit as the masks provided by Syhart weren't overly great and tore quite easily, which is a shame as the Revell decals are their usual horrible matt effect. I had to butcher the fuselage codes from others in the sheet to get 4-HA. The bomb tally is also a bit of creative licence, made up of some GBUs and ASSMs, based on a variety of images that I've looked at of various 'Chammal' Rafales. I was just about to apply a gloss top coat but noticed the 308 on the tail is a but wonky, so will try and correct that first! Will get a panel wash and hopefully a flat coat on tomorrow. Stay safe Dave 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 15, 2021 Author Share Posted October 15, 2021 Good progress today. I had added a panel wash first thing this morning and then had to pop into work for a few hours. Luckily the Flory wash comes off easily! Once done and flatted, I added some weathering with a mixture of Abteilung oils and Tamiya pastel sets. I've seen a mixture of 'Chammal' jets, some clean(ish), some not. I went for somewhere in the middle Canopy masking off, liquid mask peeled off the fuselage and wingtip lights then I popped on the bomb racks and remainder of the lights: I think it has really come alive with the weathering. I'm pleased with it. Hoping to get the landing gear fitted around work over the next couple of days. More soon and stay safe Dave 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 decals make the grey Rafale go live! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 16, 2021 Author Share Posted October 16, 2021 1 hour ago, exdraken said: decals make the grey Rafale go live! I would be inclined to agree!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 She's looking pretty special Dave and as you say the weathering really does bring her to life. Sorry to inundate you with all the 'likes' at once but I've been having trouble replying for the last couple of weeks. You have inspired me to start looking at mine again and I'll be ordering the BAM bits soon, I have the original 'M' release so will need all the help I can get. Cheers. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 17, 2021 Author Share Posted October 17, 2021 1 hour ago, Biggles87 said: She's looking pretty special Dave and as you say the weathering really does bring her to life. Sorry to inundate you with all the 'likes' at once but I've been having trouble replying for the last couple of weeks. You have inspired me to start looking at mine again and I'll be ordering the BAM bits soon, I have the original 'M' release so will need all the help I can get. Cheers. John Thanks John! Much appreciated! The BAM sets are excellent and I’d also recommend getting the Wolfpack seat, a must in my opinion. I’ve picked up an M and C boxing myself 🤐 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 Looks ace Dave. Your work with oils and pastels is really effective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneheadff Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 Great looking Rafale Dave!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 18, 2021 Author Share Posted October 18, 2021 10 hours ago, Dansk said: Looks ace Dave. Your work with oils and pastels is really effective. 27 minutes ago, coneheadff said: Great looking Rafale Dave!! Thanks chaps! Looking forward to getting the stuff that goes bang added tomorrow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted October 19, 2021 Author Share Posted October 19, 2021 A couple of hours over the past 2 evenings followed by a few hours today has seen this one completed. Everything just fell on, with minimal effort needed. The only area that needed care was the canopy. I'm quite pleased with it. The Rafale is certainly a very photogenic aircraft and Revell have done a lovely job with this kit. Pity that wasn't extended to their Eurofighter Typhoon! As always, thanks to all who commented/followed the build. More photos in RFI shortly. Cheers and stay safe Dave 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 I’d be pleased with a result like that too. Well done. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneheadff Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 Really well done Dave 👍👍👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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