M4rk Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Hi chaps I am quite interested in doing a model of a Dassault Rafale soon, IMO the nicest looking modern aircraft, the French certainly know how to make pretty jets. I've been looking around at the options and would quite like to do a Rafale M, which I think I'm correct in saying is the version used by the Aéronavale, 'M' standing for Marine? As for kit options, there appears to be a choice of either the Hobbyboss offering or the Revell one (although the only Revell kit I can find is the two-seat Rafale B available new). What is the general consensus on the two kits? Is one better than the other? Are they actually the same kit? Should I actually hand myself in for treason for wanting to build a model of a French plane? Any opinions/advice welcome, cheers. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousER99 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Mark If you want to do and M or a B your best bet is the Revell offering. They are far better tooled than the Hobbyboss offering which suffer from soft detail but are in effect a near 100% direct copy of the Revell kits. Hobby Boss is the only one offering a Rafale C at the moment. The issue with all the kits are the see through intakes and the way the canopy attaches. The canopy attachemnt point leaves a huge void where it slots in the fuselage and there is virtually no opening mechanism. The exhausts on both kits also suffers from thick and soft detail and I am not a fan of the huge X shaped sprue on the inner lining. It is a chore to remove and an even bigger chore to clean up and prep for metal paint. That being said, the kits seem to all pan out shape wise. I am basing that on Revells overall accurate shape and Hobby Boss's copying it. The weapons, MICAS I believe in the Revell kit are quite nice as are the tanks and landing gear. Revell Germanys recent release of the updated Rafale B has an even better weapons suite and I believe they added the new targeting pods. Overall I would try and source Revell first as they did it right and Hobby Boss second as they used someone elses tooling to make thier kit. HTH Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthewbacon Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I made the Revell kit a long time ago, and it was an outstanding kit. There are a few issues with the intakes, but as long as you clean up, test fit, test fit, and test fit, they're OK... I don't think the HB kit is any better - it's just a tricky area to engineer. I can't remember at this remove, but I think it's possible that Revell numbered the parts on the instructions wrongly, and the intake fit problems mentioned in some online reviews are just the result of them being the wrong way round... You can't fault the surface detail for finesse, though IIRC early issues were modelled on pre-production aircraft. Again I think that at some point in the derivative kits' runs, Revell did correct various things. There are some great builds in issue of "Wingmasters" that I have. In the end, both the Revell and the HB produce great looking models, and it being French, there'll be few people at shows in the UK to tell you that you're wrong! bestest, M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Roberts Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Also the current Revell 'B' has been updated to current specs ECM and Chaff fit-wise. The M (and the HB kits) are very early standards, think Tranch 1 Typhoons. Still not bad kits but the Revell one is the one to go for. Probably much cheaper than the HB kits outside of the Hong Kong shops. Skyraider models has aftermarket and decals IIRC for the Rafales. HTH Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 The first Rafale delivered were Rafale M standart F1 for the Aéronavale (They didn't have A/G capabilities, or if so very limited) Then were the Armée de l'Air B/C standart F2, and latter, Aéronavale started to get them as well, cocooning the old F1. And now, all the fleet in both Services is in the process of introducing the F3, both new aircraft and retrofitted ones. Should I actually hand myself in for treason for wanting to build a model of a French plane? Yes, I think so. +1 about Skyraider models, but look also for Wolfpack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfpack Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I looked at the Hobbyboss kit before buying the Revell one. It does have a boxfull of weapons if you need to spam up a French a/c. The Revell kit builds up well and looks the part. Leave the lid shut as the cockpit detail is a tad on the sparse side. W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M4rk Posted August 7, 2009 Author Share Posted August 7, 2009 Thanks fellas, looks like I'm going to have to hunt down a Revell kit then. Sounds like its not exactly a 'shake and bake' kit but then I do get the impression sometimes that I'm spoilt with the design and engineering that comes with the Tamigawa stuff that makes up 99% of all the kits I make nowadays. I always tell myself that aftermarket stuff is only required if the kit parts are either total or if I find them going cheap, but I'm sure I'll end up looking at whats available for this kit shortly Antoine, thanks for the quick rundown of the Rafale versions, do you know off hand what version of the M is represented by the Revell kit? Also, while searching around for kits I did come across the Wolfpack stuff, I'm not familiar with this brand so are they just another resin parts manufacturer and are their sets for the Rafale any good? As for the treason thing, I have to admit I admire French engineering when it comes to aerodynamic technology. Aside from the fact my university aerodynamics lecturer is French and as such sings their praises a lot about their work with Airbus etc, I do think modern French aircraft - fixed wing and helicopters - are by-and-large fantastic looking machines which generally means their aerodynamic qualities are equally good. I've also had a lot of use of the CAD package CATIA, which was created by Dassault Systems to aid their aerodynamic design work when (I believe) working on the Mirage III. Its gone through a number of evolutions since then but is now one of the industry-standard CAD packages, and is superb for creating complex profile parts and assemblies. So they obviously have the tools for the job and know what to do with them. I bet I'm very unpopular now lol Wolfpack - nice model, I did look at the Revell B two seater but I want to do a single seater. Still a great looking plane though Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takamota Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Another vote for the Revell offering here.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousER99 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Great builds fellas!! You know the M variant while cool just loses its luster with that massive nose gear for me. I know it needs to be on there for carrier ops but it almost looks like putting truck tires on a Ferrari!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
entlim Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Forget not , there are all manner of AM gear for both H/B /Revell from Wolfpack and WM gears from SAC ................ Spam away............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Antoine, thanks for the quick rundown of the Rafale versions, do you know off hand what version of the M is represented by the Revell kit? Also, while searching around for kits I did come across the Wolfpack stuff, I'm not familiar with this brand so are they just another resin parts manufacturer and are their sets for the Rafale any good? Sorry Mark, I'm no Rafale specialist though. The revell M is an early one, standart F1. Check Wolfpack webapage. For the M standard F1, you'll need this: Pardon me, you don't really NEED this, it is just a nice improvement, with some new parts (Chaff dispenser for exemple). You can as well build the revell kit OOB. And for a M standart F2, this one: Wolfpack is a very good resin part manufacturer, but little inaccuracies in their Rafale set are possible. And by the way,, Mark, Airbus is not French, but a European consortium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M4rk Posted August 8, 2009 Author Share Posted August 8, 2009 Thanks Antoine I'll have a closer look. And by the way,, Mark, Airbus is not French, but a European consortium. Yeah I know, my university have a lot to do with them at Bristol. Rolls Royce send some research work to the uni and they've done a lot of stress analysis work on the wing spar designs too for the A380. What I was saying is that my lecturer makes a big point about how a lot of the aerodynamic work was done by the French part of the consortium. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Areos Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Hello all, If I may add something. The only thing you would have to modifiy on the Rafale M from Revell is to tone down the roundels that are on the decal sheet as they're normally from the low viz type. Otherwise, the kits from Revell are very good. Best regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 The Revell Rafale is a GREAT kit, i made the "B" (old box Revell). Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calum Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Agree with most above that the revell Kit is probably the one tog et But I had no real trouble with the Hobby Boss C model Check my web site (sign line for the URL) for a bit of a review and build article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark 64 Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Me likey that Rafale very much. Fantastic paint job. Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
entlim Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Nice Whiffer Calum......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now