Finished - Dassault Rafele M
Comments
44 12 April 2016, 18:59
Christian BruerStart this last weekend. Seems to be a good choice for an easy build. Just some minor modifications but most out of box - I guess😄
12 April 2016, 19:06
Christian BruerThank you for looking at this Clifford and Burkhard. Yep the redwood tree is still around😄
14 April 2016, 18:56
Christian BruerAfter detail painting the cockpit and seat I glued the parts in place. On the left side I cut out the hatch for the access ladder and closed it from the back side with a piece of styrene.
A quick dry fit shows that I have to sand down the underside of the cockpit to make sure the fuselage halves fit together well. May I do not control it correct, so I have some problems to get the halves together well, mainly in the area of the cockpit. Unfortunately I could not make a good pressure to allow the parts to fit without any gap, because of the fragile seat and already painted cockpit. A small seam line was visible and I have to close and clean it up with some panel lines need to be rescribbed because they'ret lost. The fit of the nose wasn't good because the diameter do not compare to the diameter of the fuselage. The nose diameter was larger and I have to sand it down completely. All panel lines on the nose are lost and I decide do not rescribe them because of the small size.
Anyhow, this is modelmaking. The rest of the parts fit together well. I already cleaned up some small parts and cut the rest of the needed parts out to prepare them for cleaning them up and for painting. I'm not sure about the Rafale's normal payload but I guess I will add a 2000 Ltr. Centre line drop tank, two 1.250 Ltr. Drop tanks on the inner pylons and Magic II and Mica rockets on the other pylons.
A nice and easy build so far, hope all look well after the first coat of paint.
Cheers, Christian
17 April 2016, 11:13
Ingmar StöhrThe seat looks huge compared to the aircraft. Otherwise I can just say: 👍
17 April 2016, 20:01
AckiOha, eine Brille, die ich dafür bräuchte, hab ich nicht. Ist mir ein Rätsel wie du das hinbekommst. 👍
17 April 2016, 20:40
Christian BruerThank you all for your interest and very kind comments🙂
A special thanks goes to Guido for the hint about the rails and drop tank configuration. 👍 The bobbles are easy to remove. Luckily the Trumpeter Rafale M comes with three 1.250 Ltr. drop tanks but just two 2.000 Ltr. Drop tanks. I will load the bird with three 1.250 Ltr. drop tanks and six Mica as shown in this under view.
Cheers, Christian
18 April 2016, 16:39
AlexGood Idea, and no Magic, please! Or you could do a "double nounou"-configuration, with 2 2'000lts-tanks on the inner pylons, and 2 1'250 on the outer pylon. You have to scratch build the refuelling pod. But yeah, six missiles and three supersonic tanks makes her look really mean!
18 April 2016, 16:47
Christian BruerHi Alex, I prefer the one without extra work and yep I think it will look quite nice with this configuration.
rafalenews.blogspot...weapon-load-out.html
I was close to a big mistake, but mates on Scalemates help - that's cool!
Cheers, Christian
18 April 2016, 17:21
arne vd burgWish i had that link 10 days ago😮
Already looking very nice Christian .
19 April 2016, 17:39
Christian BruerI fixed and sealed the cockpit with Micro Kristal Klear. It need some time to dry completely before I can sand the seam line. Seems to me the model is close to a first coat of paint. I just got Vallejos Dark Ghost Grey No. 71.120. The colour is a good match to FS 36320, what I think is a good choice for the Rafales special colour.
Cheers, Christian
2 May 2016, 12:45
AlexHonestly, I gave up trying to get the right colour. After reading two books on the Rafale (and cross-checked a few hundred pictures), I think that every Rafale looks different. I think the surface is a bit rough and attracts dirt rather well. I've seen pictures of repaired rafales where you can clearly see the difference between new and weathered colour! So, if it looks ok for you, go for it!
2 May 2016, 12:51
Christian BruerThank you Alex for you interesting comment. There is an article in May issue of Model Fan about a scale 1:72 Rafale and the author described mixing the colours to get the right touch. He described too, that Dassault does not use a RAL or FS serial colour, but an own one with no colour chips etc available. According to the photos I have seen I agree to you, the colour looks different and sometimes mixed and dirty. I guess FS36320 with its light blue grey touch for sure is a good match.
2 May 2016, 13:02
Christian BruerI'm not sure to add a preshading. My last attempt using oils after the basic colour was applied work very well with this scale.
Well let's have a look in a few days. Guess I will spent some time in the garden instead of working at the modelling bench😉
Cheers, Christian
2 May 2016, 16:40
Christian BruerMhhh, Micro Kristal Klear does not work to fill the seam line between the fuselage and canopy, because it does not dry hard enough to sand it. I tried it a second time but used Schmincke high gloss acrylic gel. That worked quite well and I could sand it after just a few hours drying time. I just sand it with grainy sanding paper, it does not look bad, but I will sand it with finer sanding paper to get it as smooth as possible.
Taking a look to Revells Rafale it seems to me the fit between the fuselage and canopy was much better than Trumpeter?!
Cheers, Christian
4 May 2016, 10:47
Christian BruerWell, nearly three years later I come back to this WIP. The paint is on and the Rafale is ready for a weathering, some detail work and final assembly. I used Vallejo Model Air 120 Dark Ghost Gray. Hopefully it will not take another tree years 😄
A base is also in progress and some add-ons. But first the plane, I will post the rest later - in three years hahaha.
Cheers, Christian
3 May 2019, 18:01
AugustoI`m working on a 1/72 Rafale and have been going through the same color problem! I noticed that most of references bring Rafales in 2 diferent shades of grey, and I can`t quite find the lighter one (wich was the one I chose to represent) in Revell colors. And it is driving me nuts! hahaha
6 May 2019, 16:12
Christian BruerThank you all for looking around 🙂
Well Augusto, IMHO you'll never ever match exacatly a colour. Light conditions, age, weather effects, all of this has an influence to the colour and look of the original, plane, ship, whatever. The basic tone you choose should match, the rest will be done in the weathering process. I use oils to darken and / or highlight the colour. You can control the effect very nice and corections can be done easily.
Cheers, Christian
6 May 2019, 19:03
AugustoYou are right, Christian!
I gave up thinking too much about it, chose a color and moved on. hhahaha I realize it was slowly taking away the fun of building. So f#$& it. If it doesn't work, there is always the next kit...
6 May 2019, 20:17
Christian BruerAll parts are painted. Next to the detail painting I start working on the base, the port aft end of the French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle.
Cheers Christian
19 May 2019, 17:27
Christian BruerThank you all, glad you like it. @Lode, there will be just one camo, a friendly gray with some touches of light and dark gray 😉
Cheers Christian
20 May 2019, 19:27
Christian BruerSome additional photos from the already painted Rafale and some progress on the scratch build base, representing the aft port end of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
Cheers, Christian
30 May 2019, 20:48
Christian BruerTo bring more life to my Rafale diorama I also wanted to add a tow tractor to the scene. The French Navy use a SEPMA K35 tow tractor. Unfortunately there is no model kit in scale 1/144, so I have to scratch built the tractor.
SEPMA K35 deck tow tractor (L'Arsenal 7202, 1:72)
There are less information in the WWW, so Scalemate Alain Courouge, who has the L'Arsenal scale 1/72 kit in his stash, was so kind to send me the main dimmensions - many thx again Alain 👍
Bulding the kit was quiete easy, I use styrene plates in different thickness and cut our the wheel houses and drivers seat compartment. Once done I glued the halves together and started sanding and filling and sanding the basic structure. For the wheels I used white metall parts from a GHQ scale 1/285 lorry kit. They are quite a bit to small but IMHO it does not matter. There is still some detail work to do, but so far I'm quite happy with the current result.
Cheers, Christian
2 June 2019, 10:17
Alec KAwesome, just awesome. I am always amazed at how clean your assembly work is. I mean, the edges on the styrene work are sharp, there are no melted areas from too much glue, no discoloration from anything. How the heck did you do the cuts on that tractor (wheel wells, drivers compartment)?
3 June 2019, 13:56
Patrick HagelsteinHow could I have missed this??? Incredible as ever! Brilliant scratch building on that deck section and tractor, simply amazing! 👍
3 June 2019, 14:16
Christian BruerThank you for your kind comments Alec and Patrick.
Alec, I used several layers of flat styrene and cut out the wheel wells in the outer layer. To cut out the drivers compartment I left the drivers side piece separate. The cutout was made drilling wholes along the contour and than to cut out the contour with a sharp knife. The rest was carefully scribbing and sanding with different tools. Hope that explain the steps I have made.
The wheels are on. In comparison to the real thing the wheels are a bit to small, but I don't care about it.
Cheers Christian
3 June 2019, 14:53
Greg BakerOh, now that's good stuff. I love seeing brilliant 1/144 work like this.
3 June 2019, 23:56
Chris GreathouseThat is a super tiny scale! 1:144 is insane! You are making it look good! The world must look so big to your little man 😛
4 June 2019, 07:10
Christian BruerThank you all for looking around and your very kind comments.
Well Stephan, the pencil is still there, maybe the next time😉
Mhh Chris, so far he is in his own world it seems to be ok for him. Handling the big stuff I support him😄
So, more details added, but still some work to do.
Cheers, Christian
4 June 2019, 11:04
Augusto1/144 is such an underrated scale! You are doing a great work with it and for sure will be an inspiration for my future works!
4 June 2019, 14:57
Patrick HagelsteinWow, that tractor is really coming to life! The guy is actually able to drive it around in his big bold world!
4 June 2019, 16:11
Christian BruerThank you all for your interest🙂
Well Patrick, nettings and catwalks all around so he should be safe.
4 June 2019, 18:46
Christian BruerTow tractor is done, now back to the hull section.
Cheers, Christian
4 June 2019, 20:26
Peter HardyUnfortunately my invitation hasn't arrived so I will only be there in spirit! Someone please take pictures?
19 June 2019, 21:06
Martin OostromAnother great small build by CB. Truly inspirational.
Pete, tag along in spirit. Will you be buying drinks?
19 June 2019, 21:34
Patrick HagelsteinIn that case, I'll be tagging along in spirit as well! 😄 Sorry to say but Peter, you're missing out on a truly fabulous event.... 🙁
19 June 2019, 21:49
Christian BruerI made some progress on the catwalk, radar, plattforms and the wooden base.
Cheers Christian
17 November 2019, 20:29
Chris GreathouseLooks great for such a small scale 🙂 Question, what airbrush do you use?
17 November 2019, 22:35
Moritz FentzahnGreat work Christian. Looking forward to see this in Real. Keep on the good work
17 November 2019, 22:46
Christian BruerThank you all for your kind comments and your interest🙂
@Chris, I use a Gabbert Triplex with 0.25mm, 0.35mm and 0.50mm nozzles. The Gabbert system is great IMH. When just pushing the trigger the airflow starts without any paint. Move the trigger back (without pushing) and the paint starts to flow. The more you move the more paint will flow.
I much like the Gabbert, the airbrush is easy to handle and easy to clean and works perfect with acrylics.
Cheers Christian
18 November 2019, 20:04
Christian BruerWell back to some old WIPs to finish in 2021. I am nearly there with my Rafale M and the Carrier Deck section of CV CDG.
Happy Modelling, Christian
11 March 2021, 19:15
Christian BruerThank you all for yout interest and kind comments 🙂
Happy Modelling, Christian
12 March 2021, 17:26
Christian BruerWell I call this one done. Took only five years from the first cutout of a part out of the sprue, but anyhow how long it took, it is done and I am quite happy with the final result 🙂
Happy Modelling, Christian
15 March 2021, 17:39
Daniel Klink"Saugut Ding will Weile haben usw..."😭Y)
Vielleicht sieht man sich ja mal live in Siegen ...wohl eher nächstes jahr, wenn überhaupt.
Modelmarine warste doch dabei oder vertu ich mich?
15 March 2021, 17:40
Christian BruerDas stimmt Daniel.
In Siegen war ich des Öfteren, aber immer mit anderen Modellbaufreunden.
15 March 2021, 17:56
bughunterMal sehen, ob und wann Wilnsdorf wieder eine Option ist ...
Great model in this small scale! The only critics: some of the late pictures are a bit bright, due to the dark background. I recommend to use the EV setting of your camera, set it to the negative range, something like -2 (The camera's automatic system can't know that you want to take a shot of black, so it tries to make it much brighter than it should be. This is how you give it a little hint😉 )
15 March 2021, 18:07
Christian BruerThank you bughunter and Spanjaard🙂
bughunter, Let us hope that Shows can start this year. I miss to hang around with friends and visitors at modelling shows.
Well about the brightness of some photos. I noticed that I had to much light from above when I finished the photo session, but had not the time to make new ones. But thank you very much for the hint 👍
15 March 2021, 18:51
Peter HardyChristian thank you so much for letting me come along for the ride! Wonderful to watch this coming together and I share the "thrill" of seeing the project finished! Most of us cannot posses the abilities to complete a project on this scale however, from one who works at a "lower" level, thank you again for enthralling us with what can be done. Pete
15 March 2021, 22:30
Norbert SteffensKrasses Teil. Again very impressive Dio. I looks like that your new favourite is 1:144
18 March 2021, 06:45
Stephan H.Those carrier deck displays... excellent! There are two birds in my cabinet that scream "We want to be presented like that!" Fantastic job 👍
18 March 2021, 08:02
Album info
Trumpeter's Rafale M, the Naval version of France Multirole fighter, in a more or less out of the box built. I only cut the canopy to present it in open position an try to add the access ladder.
