This model is a HobbyBoss 1/72 Dassault Rafale M from French
Navy flottille 12F based at Landivisiau and at sea on the only
French nuclear carrier Charles de Gaulle. This unit was the first Navy
unit to adopt Rafale fighter in 2001 and to be operational in 2004, it had
been joined by flottille 11F in 2012 and will be joined if budget will not
cut by flottille 17F in 2015. This squadron is very popular with is sailor duck
badge. This plane coded 2 is the second Rafale M produced (navalized
version with specific reinforced landing gear compatible with steam catapult and
stop cross). The tail decoration was to commemorate this machine's 1000th
flight hour in automn 2005, the accurate decals come from Model Alliance World
Air Power update n°2. The kit is from the box 87247 HOBBYBOSS, regarding
colors, the camouflage is grey FS36320 Gunze acrylic H307 70% with FS3675
H308 30%. I added a light weathering on paint scheme to show time wear
(sun, salt and sea are not good for paint scheme) and the beautiful engraved
panels of the kit (stealth jaw teeth shape on wings, flaps, panels and gear
doors).
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This plane at this period was a F1 standard (only air to air armament was
possible to use) with no front optronic sensors. Now Rafale are updated to F3
standard able to use optronic TV/IR sensors, guided laser or GPS air
ground weapons, anti ship missiles, cruise missiles, nuclear missile, reco pod,
laser designation pod, refuel pod for other plane. Next step for Rafale will
be an AESA radar with long range air to air missile Meteor. To enhance
the model I keep the possibility to open the canopy and I decided to
add some armaments two MICA IR guided air-air missiles on end wings, two
radar MICA guided on back fuselage pylons and one SCALP-EG cruise missile on
center pylon. I also added two 2000 liters fuel tanks. This specific
configuration was used for deep strike against hardened shelters of Libyan
airbase during operation Harmattan (Odyssey dawn for USA) in March 2012 from
Charles de Gaulle carrier. The flottille 12F was also engaged in 2007 and
in 2010 in operation Agapanthe and Pamir for CAS mission from Charles
de Gaulle in Indian ocean over Afghanistan. Rafale M did also exercises with US
Navy and was able to land and catapult from US super carrier in 2007 USS
Enterprise, in 2008 USS Harry Truman and USS Theodore Roosevelt.
I hope you will like my model and
patches, this kit is very easy to mount and detail, I found enough pictures of the real plane on the web to help me. I only corrected
a little the shade of blue shirt from my friend sailor duck. I'm very
proud of this plane it represents the head of the spear of France
technology and defence and received fire baptism in Agapanthe
operation French naval part of Enduring freedom operation in Afghanistan.
At the end of 2013 French navy will have 25 Rafale M and at the horizon
2017 42 Rafale M. I hope Dassault could sell this very polyvalent
fighter/bomber on the export market (India in good way, perhaps
Brazil, Malaysia, Qatar, Kuwait or UAE) to see other colors and roundels
and to add new ideas for modellers.
As Mr Dassault said a lovely plane must be good.
Take care of vilain little
duck!! Nicknamed "Les LASCARS"
Beautiful vids from 12F http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN_d0St2EHQ
Jean-Charles Goddet
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