Finished - Rafale - Hobby Boss - By CDW - 1:48 Scale

[CDW]

Besides model kits, I also collect decal sets. Often, I buy a decal set and then wait until later to find a model kit appropriate for the decals. That's the case here as I bought a beautiful set of decals from Syhart that replicates a particular French Rafale aircraft as it appeared in the Tigermeet 2013 markings. These decal sets tend to be limited production items that disappear before you know it...you have to get them where/when you can.

Anyway, I'll get started on the model kit and look forward to the finished aircraft with these beautiful (to me) markings.

 

Edited January 7, 2020 by CDW

[Old Collingwood]

Please build a Rafale  to put  them on  - would be Superb,    one of  my fave planes  and they look and sound  so good inflight.

 

OC.

[CDW]

Just now, Old Collingwood said:

Please build a Rafale  to put  them on  - would be Superb,    one of  my fave planes  and they look and sound  so good inflight.

 

OC.

They are definitely going on a Rafale, but mine is an "M", not a "C". Don't think it will make much difference in the end, it will be a Rafale model with the markings I want.

[Old Collingwood]

1 hour ago, CDW said:

They are definitely going on a Rafale, but mine is an "M", not a "C". Don't think it will make much difference in the end, it will be a Rafale model with the markings I want.

"Oh  Yessss"   had two weeks with  Rafale M's  doing  bombing practice near a  place we visted  a  few years  back  -

 

 

Here's a  few piccies  -

 

OC.

Edited December 31, 2019 by Old Collingwood

[CDW]

OC

 

Looks like there are some graphics on top of the external wing fuel tanks? Interesting.

[Old Collingwood]

2 hours ago, CDW said:

OC

 

Looks like there are some graphics on top of the external wing fuel tanks? Interesting.

Yep  I was told they were inter changes from a Tiger meet scheme  version  (possibly had a few special scheme tanks knocking around)

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

This one I understand  no 15   - 

 

Internet  photo, not mine.

 

OC.

[CDW]

OC

Those landing gear look to be a silver-gray color. Photos on the net are rather inconclusive to me so I am going to wing-it for the colors on some of the features such as the gear. Did you ever get a close look at one at an airshow or anything?

The cockpit colors are easy...it's all black from what I can tell. 

Edited December 31, 2019 by CDW

[Old Collingwood]

Try this  - 

 

http://walkarounds.scalemodels.ru/v/walkarounds/avia/after_1950/rafale_m/

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Off white I would say for the landing gear  - 

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

28 minutes ago, CDW said:

OC

Those landing gear look to be a silver-gray color. Photos on the net are rather inconclusive to me so I am going to wing-it for the colors on some of the features such as the gear. Did you ever get a close look at one at an airshow or anything?

The cockpit colors are easy...it's all black from what I can tell. 

Last  time I was close up to a Rafale  in a static  was about  23 years ago  and no pics  survived.

 

OC.

[CDW]

The landing gear on this plane are massive. Look like they could support a commercial airliner.

[Canute]

Here's a link to Cybermodeler for info: https://www.cybermodeler.com/aircraft/rafale/rafale_all.shtml

[mtaylor]

I think you're right on the off-white.  I was thinking an unshiney steel.... 

 

[CDW]

Just now, mtaylor said:

I think you're right on the off-white.  I was thinking an unshiney steel.... 

 

 

The instructions called for silver on the landing gear. I didn't think it was silver from the photos I saw, but more of a silver-gray. I ended up using a white/gray that looks real nice I think. 

You just can't trust the color call-outs on instructions much of the time, but at the same time, colors are hard to distinguish from photos sometimes. 

[CDW]

The Hobby Boss Rafale goes together quickly with no major fit issues. Not perfect, but acceptable. The cockpit is simple, and all the photos I saw of it, everything is black.

I'm now ready to start laying down some paint. For the main finish colors of yellow, blue, and a little gray, I'll be using Mr. Hobby Acrysion paints with Mr Color leveling thinner.

I need to figure out these paint masks that come with the decal set...they are used to separate the gray from the yellow and black at the nose section. 

 

[popeye the sailor]

I have some catching up to do..........you've already got a head start on this project!  with those graphics,  you will have one sharp looking model.     to me,  for the landing gear,  it looks like white mixed with a little silver or aluminum.......kinda like a baked on finish.

[CDW]

Here is a video walk-around where the landing gear look more silver. Probably a a powder coated finish of some kind.

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

that's what I'm thinking  

[CDW]

The major portion of masking and painting is now complete. She's ready to get some panel line treatment and touch ups before applying decals. 

 

[Tigerdvr]

It's going to be a knockout. Is the stand a commercial product?

Thanks, Harley

[yvesvidal]

This paint job is superb. We all know how glossy paints can be difficult to spray correctly and regularly.

 

Yves

Edited January 3, 2020 by yvesvidal

[CDW]

1 hour ago, Tigerdvr said:

It's going to be a knockout. Is the stand a commercial product?

Thanks, Harley

 

10 minutes ago, yvesvidal said:

This paint job is superb. We all know how glossy paints can be difficult to spray correctly and regularly.

 

Yves

Thanks for the comments gentlemen. The paint stand is a Tamiya offering. Two stands come in the box for around $20, available at Hobby Lobby for maybe a little more (or less if you use their 40% off coupon). 

[Old Collingwood]

I agree  with Yves  -  not easy to get a  decent  coverage  with gloss  without it  looking to  thick, but you have done a great job.

 

Happy new year to you and the family.

 

OC.

Edited January 3, 2020 by Old Collingwood

[CDW]

The wing/spine that's received a panel line treatment stands in stark contrast to the side that hasn't received the treatment.

 

[yvesvidal]

Could you elaborate on how you did that treatment?

Thanks

Yves

[popeye the sailor]

the paint job looks great    coming along very nice!  

[CDW]

Just now, yvesvidal said:

Could you elaborate on how you did that treatment?

Thanks

Yves

To accent the panel lines, I use these three items: Tamiya black panel line accent, Mr. Color 110 solvent, Q-tips

For this method/materials, you need to begin with a glossy paint surface, either acrylic or lacquer. I'm not sure how enamel paint would react to the Mr. Color 110 solvent, but I would not try it on enamel paint unless it had a good clear coat of acrylic over it.

Apply the Tamiya panel line accent over the panel lines and give it time to dry.

 

After the panel line accent is dry, dampen a Q-tip with the Mr. Color 110 solvent and gently wipe the panel lines with the solvent. Once it's had a few minutes to do it's thing, resume a gentle wiping of the panel lines with the dampened Q-tip to remove the excess accent color and leave just the highlighted panel lines. If you rub too hard, it will remove the shading inside the panel lines. If this happens, it's easily fixed. Just repeat the process to achieve the level of panel line accent you want. The solvent will not harm a dry acrylic (nor a lacquer one) surface at all. But it's important the painted surface is glossy. if not, the panel line accent will become embedded in the pigment of a rough/flat surface giving undesirable results.

 

 

 

[lmagna]

Thanks for the explanation Craig, but one of your more stupid students (ME) has a question.

 

If one was to paint the main color in flat acrylic and coat it in a clear gloss would he still be able to apply this technique successfully?

 

[CDW]

Just now, lmagna said:

If one was to paint the main color in flat acrylic and coat it in a clear gloss would he still be able to apply this technique successfully?

Yes. That would work perfectly well.