Revell 1:48 Rafale M with bomb racks

[Shar2]

Dassault Rafale M

Revell 1:48

The Dassault Rafale is a new-generation ultra-modern twin-jet combat plane. It meets the combat requirements for the next century, combining in a single plane the multiple roles that otherwise would be carried out by many different types. The Rafale M is the carrier-borne naval version equipped with a reinforced undercarriage for catapult launching. Equipped with two SNECMA M88-2 engines (each with 75 KN thrust) the Rafale reaches a speed of Mach 2. Its long range, enormous load-carrying capacity, precision fire control and survivability give the Rafale exceptional mission effectiveness. In addition it is claimed one of the best combat aircraft in the world that can engage in simultaneous ground attack and air defence missions. The first production plane went into service with the French navy in 1999. The French Navy have since ordered 48 for the navy of which ten aircraft are operational on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

The model

The kit comes in the standard Revell end opening box with a great picture of the Rafale M, tooled up for a bombing mission. This kit has been released before by Revell, but since being used on bombing missions helping the Libyan rebels during the Arab Spring uprisings the FN Rafale model has also been upgraded to include the GBU-12 laser guided bombs and their respective pylon adaptors.

The kit itself looks superb on the sprues with finely moulded panel lines and screws and the excellently done flying controls which are only attached to their hinge line, leaving a fine, but perhaps slightly too large a gap at each end of the ailerons and rudder. The five sprues of grey and one of clear styrene are held in two separate poly bags, unfortunately that has meant that the clear parts have been slightly damaged, but this should be able sorted with a dip in Klear or other clear solution. There is no sign of flash, just the usual moulding pipson many of the parts. Due to restriction in moulding technology, the main canopy is slightly deformed on one side, which while annoying, may not be seen if the canopy is posed open. Having looked closely at the parts there is a tremendous amount of detail, both on the surface and with the undercarriage bays which will look great with some careful painting and weathering. The only real fault found was a sink mark on either side of the tail hook, in an awkward position which will require filling and rescribing.

The build begins with the MB Mk16F ejection seat, which comes in four parts, the back panel, with associated black boxes and oxygen bottle, the two sides, centre section, with seat and back pads, plus moulded seat belts, and finally the head box. The next assembly is the cockpit, with the rudder pedals, instrument panel, HOTAS stick and throttle attached to the single piece tub. Into this the completed seat assembly can be fitted. Onto the completed cockpit tub the front coaming and rear decking are fitted, with the option of adding the canopy support strut if posing the canopy open. The whole completed cockpit assembly is then glued to the underside of the upper fuselage section. With the detail painting of the undercarriage bay interiors completed these parts are then glued into the lower fuselage section, at the same point, the two holes for the arrester hook part must be opened up. The forward canards are effectively in one piece, with a moulded rod attaching the aerofoil section. The canards are sandwiched, unglued, between the two fuselage sections as the whole fuselage is buttoned up. The exhausts are really well done with some fantastic looking detail within and without the exhaust petals. The final stage fan disc is moulded at the bottom of the exhaust tube, which will make for an interesting paint job. Once the exhaust tubes are painted they can be fitted to the rear fuselage along with the inter-fuselage structure, and rear sensor units. It may be an idea to leave the exhaust petals off until the rest of the painting is complete. On the upper fuselage, the spine aft of the cockpit is fitted, as is the vertical tailplane, made up of two halves and the two ILS aerials.

The build continues with the addition of the nose cone with suitable weight fitted first, the intakes are then added, with two parts making up the main assembly, with the addition of two auxiliary intakes and a SPECTRA sensor on the starboard intake. Turning the fuselage upright, the two halves of each wing are assembled, with the addition of further SPECTRA sensors on the wing tip launch rails and fuselage spine and clear parts for the wing root lights. On the underside of each outer wing what look like actuator fairings are fitted along with two more SPECTRA sensors. On the underside of the rear fuselage the arrestor hook can be added to the previously opened up holes along with the fuel dump pipe.

Moving onto the undercarriage, the mains are fitted first with the main leg, actuators, locking arm scissor links and the main wheels, made up of two very well detailed parts. The nose leg is fitted with the nose wheel steering unit, light unit, actuator and locking arm. To this assembly the scissor link with its associated recoil springs and catapult arm are attached. The two nose wheels are moulded in two halves, again with very nice moulded detail. The main and nose undercarriage doors are moulded with location pins for open display, the nose doors will need to be split into its three component parts. To pose the doors closed; these pins will need to be removed first.

Nearing the end of the main build the nose sensors, in front of the cockpit are fitted along with the refuelling probe and pitot probe. The canopy consists of the windscreen, main opening canopy with its central and rear bulkheads and internal mirror support. On the underside of the nose the last four aerials are added. The final parts to the build are the options for the various weapons supplied. These are the two 2000l drop tanks, wingtip mounted Magic or Mica EM/IR missiles and either launch rails for further Mica EM/IR missiles, or the reason for this re-pop up to six GBU-12 LGB’s, their associated pylon adaptors and MER’s. To most significant part missing from this kit is the Damocles targeting pod as the Atlis pod included in the kit is not used on the Rafale.

Decals

The single, quite small decal sheet contains insignia for the following:-

Rafale 28 of the DET-CEPA, (Test and Experimentations), 100 Years of Aeronavale – BAN Hyeres-Le Palyvestre July 2010.

Rafale 32 – The first Rafale of Flottille 11F BAN Landivisiau – February 2012.

Rafale 15 of Flottille 12F – R91 Charles de Gaulle used during Operation Harmattan – Libya 2011

The sheet also contains a full selection of stencils, warning signs and weapons markings. The sheet is very nicely printed with good register and quite matt in appearance.

Conclusion

This is a fabulous looking kit which from what I’ve seen on the web can be built into a superb model of an amazing aircraft. Without building it I can’t see any real problem areas during construction and have only heard of a couple of difficult fitting parts. The missing targeting pod is a shame considering there are quite a few pictures of the aircraft fitted with the pod on missions over Libya. Still, I’m sure the aftermarket companies will soon come to the rescue.

Review sample courtesy of

[KiwiSteve]

Hey dave thanks for the review she looks really good. L'Arsenal do a Multi task designation pod Damocles for Rafale jet fighter in 1/48 part number AC 48 29 for €5.95 in the bag you get three pieces of finely detailed resin with very nice engraved panels lines and various cooling inlet and exhaust ports as well as the electrical connection points. You get the main body of the pod, the seeker head which can be displayed in the deployed or stowed position and the pylon for attaching the pod to the underside of the right engine intake.

[Shar2]

Thanks for that info Steve, just a shame the pod wasn't included in the kit.

[LT Motta]

Actually the targeting pod Damocles is there.

Check the bottom left corner of 4th sprue photo.

[Antoine]

Also still with the long-gone Magic II....