1:48 Dassault Rafale B - late cockpit set including ejection seats

Dassault Rafale B cockpit 1:48, the late guise (Aires)

This item is not a model of the aircraft but a detail resin set with which you replace the cockpit of a base Rafale B kit in 1:48 scale. The late guise in the name is an essential distinguishing detail - the manufacturer lists the Rafale B cockpit in two versions, early and late, and they differ in the instrument fit of the stations. Choose according to the machine you are building.

The real subject

The Rafale B is the two-seat variant of the French multirole aircraft meant for the land-based air force. That is exactly why the plural in the name makes sense: the cockpit has two stations in tandem and two ejection seats. Power comes from a pair of M88 engines. The single-seat land-based version carries the designation C, and the carrier variant M.

Building and painting tips

Try the fit dry before gluing - a resin tub tends to be fuller than a plastic one and the inner walls of the fuselage usually have to be thinned. Cut the casting blocks off with a modeling saw and level the surfaces with a file; do the sanding wet and with respiratory protection. Wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water to rid them of the mold release agent, and use a primer. Paint and shade the interior completely before you close the fuselage up. On a two-seat cockpit do not forget the rear station - it is seen just as well as the front one, especially with the canopy open.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the Rafale B model in 1:48 scale who want a well-rendered interior.
• Modelers building the machine with the canopy open.
• Experienced builders used to resin and to fitting parts.
• Those who need precisely the late guise of the cockpit, not the early one.

This is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.