1:48 Rafale B cockpit (Basic edition with 3D decals) for Revell/Academy kit

Two seats, twice the work

The two-seat variant of the French multi-role machine arose as a fully capable combat aircraft, not as a mere training derivative. The second crew member has his own workstation with a complete set of displays, which makes the cockpit a markedly more involved space than on the single-seat version. For a modeler that means twice the instruments, seats and side panels, and it is just here that the factory parts of a kit usually fall short.

What three-dimensional decals do

The description with three-dimensional decals refers to a method which in recent years has transformed the building of cockpits. Instead of a flat print, a layered decal with real thickness is applied to the panels, so the frames of displays, buttons and instrument covers have genuine depth and cast a shadow when seen from the side. The result comes close to what could once be reached only by combining etched brass with patient hand painting, but it takes a fraction of the time.

The basic rendering and compatibility

The designation basic edition says that the set covers above all the visible surfaces of the cockpit. More demanding variants from the same brand go further and add more separate parts. This rendering is therefore suitable for modelers who want a noticeable step up in quality without extensive work on the build. The set allows for kits from Revell and Academy; with other molds alterations have to be counted on. Before setting about the work we recommend going through the instructions and laying out the order of painting, because some surfaces cannot be reached once assembled.