Rafale M tigermeet, Revell 1/48

[PaulN]

Hi to all.

I started several years ago this Revell kit, (n° 04517). I finished it a few days ago.

It is a nice kit of a beatiful modern aircraft. I decided to add some extra detail from aftermarket accesories and scratch build.

When I noticed, I realized I added too much extra detail on it...

This is the (extense) list of aftermarket added:

Resins:

Wolfpack 48175 (Dassault Rafale C/M Cockpit set)

Wolfpack 48190 (Rafale SNECMA M88-2)

Wolfpack 48034 (Dassault Rafale B/M Standard F2 set (for Revell 1/48)

L’Arsenal AC-48-29 (Multi task designation pod Damoclès for Rafale jet fighter)

L’Arsenal AC 48-58 (Bombe GBU 12 avec corps CBEMS 250 pour Rafale 1/48)

PE sets: Eduard 48284 and Eduard FE958

Decals: Syhart 48-079 Rafale M n°27 Tigermeet 2014 Flotille 11F

 

When I added the resin sets, I realized the plastic oarts replaced was as good as the resin aftermarket. It was too late to regret.

 

I hope you like it.

Regards,

Pablo

 

Edited June 30, 2023 by PaulN
Pic resolution

[PaulN]

I added some plumbing with wires in the whells wells and an hydraulic reservoir in tne nose gear well.

 

I tried to simulate the air intakes channels with both preformed metallic foils.

 

I added weight in the nose with a few bearing rollers.

 

I painted and detailed up all the cockpit with my old Rotring 0.1 mm with white ink.

 

I added details to the rear of the fuselage like reinforcements and sawtooth panels missing in the kit.

 

Then I replaced the main landing light in the leading edge of the left wing.

 

Greets,

Pablo  

 

 

[PaulN]

Later, I scratch build the integrated ladder and the footrest.

 

Added some details in the fuel probe, drain tube and fotrest well.

 

I added hidraulic hoses in the landing gears.

 

The resin sets are quite accurate and add nice details, mainly the french L'Arsenal set for the GBU-12 with the french bombs body (quite different witn the mk 82 body) and the

Damocles pod, different with an old french targeting pod.

 

I hope you like it.

Regards,

Pablo

Edited July 1, 2023 by PaulN

[arnobiz]

Nice scratch work, you would have saved a ton of effort using BAM Models' update sets though

 

Arnaud

[Biggles87]

Nice work so far.

I also have one of these which I started about a year ago and work on occasionally when I become bored/frustrated with other projects, so I shall be watching closely and hoping to pick up some tips.

 

John

[Karearea]

Looking forward to this- hands down my favourite modern fighter. Have a C in the stash that I was going to pick up Syhart decals for, so likewise interested to see how the build goes and pick up some pointers.

[PaulN]

19 hours ago, arnobiz said:

Nice scratch work, you would have saved a ton of effort using BAM Models' update sets though

 

Arnaud

I wish that ladder would have been available back in 2017 when I built it.

[PaulN]

Ataching the air intake pieces, please take care of a prominent gap. I filled with a plastic strip and putty.

 

Also you must take care of a little gaps between fuselage and wings, the APU exhaust zone, the Wolfpack's resin nosecone and a pair of shrinkage on the wing's slats and the arresting hook.

 

I added a pair of plastic as a bumper guard because I was affraid the resin exhausts pieces could pass inside.

 

I detailed up the external fuel tanks with plastic and metal as drain valves or something like that.

 

I tinted the canopy and windshield with a mix of Tamiya's smoke and translucent yellow.

 

[PaulN]

Finally I applied grey Ammo MiG one shot primer, and made some preshading with black. Later I applied the monochrome scheme, Tamiya's dark sea grey XF-54. Later I applied Aqua gloss clear barnish for the decals. I think this made a little bit dark the base colour.

I decided to represent the Rafale M number 15 at 2014 Tigermeet. This particular machine has a few "kill marks" on it, they are from bombs dropped in Operation Harmattan, Libya 2011. 

The fuel tanks tiger scheme was a real challenge, because I found some pictures where I noticed this white and black stripes were in some places hard edges and in some place. soft edges. I decided to mask with Uhu tac putty.

Decals were applied without issue.

I sealed the whole model with Testor's acrilyc matt barnish and maked the panel lines with Ammo MiG products. Later I painted with a lighter grey the anti-slip stripes on both sides of the cockpit helped with the mask included in the Syhart's decals set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PaulN]

I finally finished it a few weeks ago, after a long, long time. I hope you like it! Let me know if you see any flaw. I promise later take better pictures.

 

 

Greets!

Pablo

[Biggles87]

Very impressive finish, especially the weathering.

I will be very pleased if mine eventually looks something like that.

 

John