REVELL 1:144 DASSAULT RAFALE M (MARINE)
'INBOX Review'
Alternative Scale

Reviewer: Maneli Parsy (rec.models.scale)

ABOUT THE AIRCRAFT :Rafale is a twin jet combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short and long range missions including ground and sea attack, air defence and air superiority, reconnaissance and high accuracy strike or nuclear strike deterrence. The aircraft has been developed for the French Air Force and Navy. 76 have been ordered out of a total requirement of around 300 (60 for the Navy and 234 for the Air Force). The Rafale is produced in three variants, M,B and C. The Rafale M variant is a single seater carrier-based version for the navy, B and C are a two seater and a single seater for the Air Force. The Rafale M is scheduled to enter service on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in 2001, while the Rafale B and C will enter service in 2003. A two-seater Rafale BM version is to be developed for the Navy for delivery in 2006.

THE KIT: It’s the second time that I’m buying a 1/144^th kit and I shall say that I was amazed once I had opened the box! Five sprues gather 41 pieces in total plus one transparent canopy. The kit is highly detailed, including fine engraved panel lines, detailed cockpit (recessed instruments and detailed ejection seat!), detailed landing gear wheels bays …etc. Those who would think that their pleasure would be ’’ruined’’ once they had taken a look at the cockpit canopy may be wrong! The canopy is surprisingly well moulded and in my view one could hardly do better. The dorsal spine is separated from the main fuselage structure, this suggests the Rafale B will soon be available on the market.

THE ARMAMENT: The kit comes with a quite complete armament and pylons all finely detailed. Here’s a listing of the supplied armament.

4 x Matra mica AAM active radar variant

2 x Matra magic short range IR AAM

1x external under-fuselage fuel tank

DECALS AND MARKINGS: The decals are acceptable. Two versions of the Rafale are proposed. The first one is the existing prototype M02 and second is a Rafale M from Flotille 12F.

CONCLUSION. All in all this kit seems to be the reduced model of the existing 1/48^th Rafale edited two years ago by Revell. There’s nothing more to add when you know that the kit has been engineered by those who have designed the real aircraft. So I will highly recommend this kit!

Bon vol !

Maneli PARSY

Links:
http://ekiosk.nec.com.sg/dassault/
http://imbert.decollage.org/

Related INBOX Reviews:-

Revell 1/48 Dassault Rafale B

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