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 added the first resin bits.
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.
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.
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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.
And finally, it is done!
I hope you like it
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It looks like all the effort was worth it. I feel the same way about a lot of aftermarket. It adds a little more detail but is it worth the effort, especially when you look at all the work to mate it too the model without obvious joins where the new parts are. Thanks for showing your work!
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