Rafale M tigermeet, Revell 1/48

I added the first resin bits.

I tried to simulate the air intakes channels with both preformed metallic foils.

I added weight in the nose with a few bearing rollers.

Later, I scratch build the integrated ladder and the footrest.

Added some details in the fuel probe, drain tube and fotrest well.

I added hidraulic hoses in the landing gears.

The resin sets are quite accurate and add nice details, mainly the french L'Arsenal set for the GBU-12 with the french bombs body (quite different witn the mk 82 body) and the

Damocles pod, different with an old french targeting pod.

Finally I applied grey Ammo MiG one shot primer, and made some preshading with black. Later I applied the monochrome scheme, Tamiya's dark sea grey XF-54. Later I applied Aqua gloss clear barnish for the decals. I think this made a little bit dark the base colour.

I decided to represent the Rafale M number 15 at 2014 Tigermeet. This particular machine has a few "kill marks" on it, they are from bombs dropped in Operation Harmattan, Libya 2011. 

The fuel tanks tiger scheme was a real challenge, because I found some pictures where I noticed this white and black stripes were in some places hard edges and in some place. soft edges. I decided to mask with Uhu tac putty.

Decals were applied without issue.

I sealed the whole model with Testor's acrilyc matt barnish and maked the panel lines with Ammo MiG products. Later I painted with a lighter grey the anti-slip stripes on both sides of the cockpit helped with the mask included in the Syhart's decals set.

It looks like all the effort was worth it.  I feel the same way about a lot of aftermarket.  It adds a little more detail but is it worth the effort, especially when you look at all the work to mate it too the model without obvious joins where the new parts are.  Thanks for showing your work!

 Really nice work!

Stay safe.

Jim