1:48 Rafale C 4-GY 'Rafale Solo Display 2024'

The code 4-GY and the year 2024

The solo performances of the French Rafale machines have a long tradition and each time they are bound up with one particular airframe. The 2024 edition fell to the single-seat example with the tail code 4-GY. Such a machine differs from the ordinary equipment only temporarily: the artwork comes about at the start of the season, after its end it disappears under a new layer of standard gray, and the only thing left of it is photographs and models.

The layout of the print

Inside lies a printed film with two large side compositions, with the decoration of the vertical tail, with the national insignia, the tail code and smaller lettering. The enclosed plan shows where each piece belongs.

The format is prepared for single-seat forms of the Rafale C in 1:48 scale. The shades of the base finish remain up to the modeler; the film completes the graphics alone, not the color of the airframe.

Advice on the work

Proceed from the largest pieces to the smallest, otherwise you will damage the small lettering while handling the sizeable film. Trim the carrier film with a sharp knife close to the artwork, so that no glossy frame shines once dry. Apply water under the decal with a brush as you go, so that it does not dry before you align the piece. At the transitions onto the rounded spine let the softener act without touching it; the film will draw itself into shape. Store the rest of the sheet flat and dry; moisture spoils the adhesive. And one small thing at the end: do not throw the offcuts of the carrier film away at once, they will serve as a sample on which to try out how the chosen softening solution acts on this print.