Greek 1/48 Revell Rafale

[Aircav]

Hi Eveybody
started the Rafale at the weekend, mainly cutting parts off the sprues and gluing sub-assembles together.
She be done in the scheme below with two of the large drop-tanks and two 2000lb LGB's.



The decals are a Albatros set for the Mirage F1



Now here's a question,
what is the thing ringed in yellow and if I fit a AN/AAQ-14 Targeting Pod do I leave them off and do I have to fit a AN/AAQ-13 Navigation Pod as well?.



What I has done so far

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Steve,

Nice WHIF you have planned so far.  

Now here's a question,
what is the thing ringed in yellow

I believe the item you have high-lighted with the yellow encirclement is part of the Thales SPECTRA electronic warfare system.  

SPECTRA Description from Greg Goebel's "Air Vectors" page on the Rafale:

SPECTRA's elements are all built into the airframe, ensuring that all stores pylons are free for carriage of stores. Receiving antennas are mounted alongside the engine intakes and in a module on the top of the tailfin, with the module also incorporating laser warning sensors. Jammer antennas are also fitted in the canard mounts, and laser warning sensors are mounted on each side of the fuselage below the cockpit. The upward-firing chaff-flare launchers are fitted on the fuselage, just forward of the engine exhausts, in the wing roots.

More links for the Rafale:
Dassault Aviation.  Rafale
avions-militaires.net. Rafale
fighter-planes.com. Rafale
airforce-technology.com. Rafale

[Aircav]

Ah, right ECM fit, in that case they stay, ta very much 

[Jeffry Fontaine]

if I fit a AN/AAQ-14 Targeting Pod do I leave them off and do I have to fit a AN/AAQ-13 Navigation Pod as well?

(Image source: Lockheed-Martin larger image of the above at this link)
Lockheed-Martin LANTIRN (PDF File)

The Low Altitude Navigation Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system is based on the two pods but it is not necessary to carry both to perform the mission.  The AAQ-13 pod contains a FLIR and TFR (Terrain-Following RADAR) while the AAQ-14 pod contains the targeting systems.  Since the Rafale has a FLIR mounted in front of the cockpit windscreen the FLIR on the AAQ-13 would be redundant.  The TFR that is installed in the AAQ-13 pod is intended for aircraft that do not already have an effective TFR type system. 

(From Wikipedia) LANTIRN consists of a navigation pod and a targeting pod mounted externally beneath the aircraft.

The AN/AAQ-13 navigation pod provides high-speed penetration and precision attack on tactical targets at night and in adverse weather. The navigation pod also contains a terrain-following radar and a fixed infrared sensor, which provides a visual cue and input to the aircraft's flight control system, enabling it to maintain a pre-selected altitude above the terrain and avoid obstacles. This sensor displays an infrared image of the terrain in front of the aircraft, to the pilot, on a Head-Up Display. The navigation pod enables the pilot to fly along the general contour of the terrain at high speed, using mountains, valleys and the cover of darkness to avoid detection. The pod was the USAF's first wide-field, forward-looking infrared navigation system for air-superiority fighters.

The AN/AAQ-14 targeting pod contains a high-resolution, forward-looking infrared sensor (which displays an infrared image of the target to the pilot), a laser designator/rangefinder for precise delivery of laser-guided munitions, a missile boresight correlator for automatic lock-on of the AGM-65 Maverick imaging infrared missiles, and software for automatic target tracking. These features simplify the functions of target detection, recognition and attack and permit pilots of single-seat fighters to attack targets with precision-guided weapons on a single pass.

F-16.net: LANTIRN
JANE'S: "Targeting: in the hands of the pods"
Federation of American Scientists: LANTIRN

[Aircav]

Didn't like the FLIR turret in front of the cockpit canopy anyway. 

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Didn't like the FLIR turret in front of the cockpit canopy anyway. 

It would look rather lop-sided without both pods installed so in the interest of balance and symmetry, you may as well incorporate both pods on your project.

[Gary F]

Aircav,

 Nice project and camo scheme.  Is that the 2 seater you're doing?
 I'm working on a SAAF Rafale and the Revell kit is pretty nice.  Any chance you'd want to part with any (or all ) of the SAAF markings on that decal sheet you've got?  I've got spare plastic, decals, or $'s ...

regards,
Gary F

[Aircav]

Hi Gary
yes its the two seater and I've got plans for all the national markings on that sheet, sorry.
Steve

[ChernayaAkula]

Oh, this is gonna be beautiful!

[Gary F]

Aircav,

  Thanks, had to ask

Gary F

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Likin' this already, Steve.

Ian

(Strange how we both chose to do our Rafales' in the colours of air-forces' who used to fly F1's...... Hmmmmmm  )

[Aircav]

Got a bit more done, sanding the drop tanks that sort of thing and I've just sprayed the ejector seats Humbrol Satin 85, Coal Black, ready for the detailing tomorrow. The diverter valve on the Combi boiler started leaking on Saturday so I've had to get a new one and fit it but back to normal tomorrow 

[NARSES2]

What your fitting a combi-boiler to a Rafale  Even the Arme d'Air is going green I see 

Seriously good to see you at it again Steve

[Gary F]

Hi Aircav,

  How's the Rafale coming along?

regards,
Gary F

[Shasper]

How did I miss this one???

Cant wait to see it finished Steve!



Shas