Hobby Boss 1/72 Rafale F3-R
The origins of the Rafale can be traced back in the late 1970s, when the French Air Force and French Navy sought to replace and consolidate their existing fleets of aircraft.
Dassault then went on building its own future fighter. Built as a technology demonstrator, the so-called Rafale A first flew in July 1986 as part of an eight-year flight-test programme, paving the way for approval of the project.
The Rafale is distinct from other European fighters of its era in that it is almost entirely built by one country, involving most of France's major defense contractors, such as Dassault, Thales and Safran.
Originally scheduled to enter service in 1996, the Rafale suffered significant delays due to post-Cold War budget cuts and changes in priorities. There are three main variants: the Rafale C single-seat land-based, the Rafale B twin-seat land-based and the Rafale M single-seat carrier-based versions.
Introduced in 2001, the Rafale is being produced for both the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations in the French Navy. It has been marketed for export to several countries, and, as of 2025, was selected for purchase by the Egyptian Air Force, the Indian Air Force, the Indian Navy, the Qatar Air Force, the Hellenic Air Force, the Croatian Air Force, the Indonesian Air Force, the United Arab Emirates Air Force and the Serbian Air Force.
In January 2021, Greece signed a contract with Dassault for the purchase of six new built and 12 used F3-R aircraft formerly used by the Armée de l'Air at a total cost of €2.4 billion, including armaments and ground support, followed by an additional contract in March 2022 to buy six additional Rafales, to be delivered from mid-2024.
Hobby Boss came in 2009 with the single seater Rafale C, followed one year later by the twin seater Rafale B (previewed by our Editor here) and the navalized Rafale M, periodically reissuing them with the exact same box arts and decals.
Should you wish to read the full build review, you may do so by visiting my beloved site Modelingmadness:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/21st/fr/penraf.htm
Happy Modelling!
Great Rafale, Spiros. That’s my favorite modern jet.
Thanks my friend @j-healy! Mine too!
Once again admiring the quality of your body and paint work, Spires. Very nice!
Thank you kindly, my friend @robgenev665!
That Rafale looks kind of racy, Spiros, I like it, happy modelling indeed.
Thank you kindly, my friend @chinesegeorge!
Excellent looking Rafale, Spiros @fiveten
Your quality build clearly shows the elegant shape of this aircraft.
Thanks so much, my friend @johnb!
Spiros, you have produced a beautiful model and very well done article. And as is ofter said here on iModeler, the photos do not give the impression that it is 1/72 scale.
Thank you kindly, my friend @russjurco!
Very nicely done..subtle weathering..looks great Spiros!
Thanks a lot, my friend @slyle!
Another beautiful entry and superb write-up, Spiros, The Marcel Bloch/Dassault lineage is very visible in your project. Thanks for another great post.
@fiveten
Thanks so much, my friend @bobd56az!
What a beauty, Spiros @fiveten. Very clean build, looks great! Switzerland should have bought this plane instead of the F35.
Thanks a lot, my friend @fxrob! Indeed, the Rafale is considered one of the most capable planes nowadays.
Nicely done - such an elegant aircraft. I didn't realize they had served with so many services.
Thanks so much, my friend @gkittinger!
Nicely done Spiros, well presented.
Thanks a lot, my friend @kalamazoo!
The model looks great, it’s a beautiful looking airplane . I didn’t know Egypt has those aircraft … I recently saw that Egypt opted to buy some new Chinese fighter. Apparently their F-16s are deemed obsolete ?
Thanks a lot, my friend @ssgt! While the F-16 cannot be considered an "obsolete" plane, it certainly does not have tge edge it had in the past.
Your build is as classy looking as the real thing. Well done, Spiros!
Thank you kindly, my friend @gwskat!
Another exceptionally well-executed modern Greek jet, Spiros (@fiveten). You have a real knack for these modern planes. Well done.
Thank you so much, my friend @gblair! Thanks for following along!
Excellent model and great finish. You're really pushing out these jets!
Thank you kindly, my friend @christopher!
Spiros Pendedekas (@fiveten)
Wow ! Where do I start ? This looks absolutely incredible !
You have done a fantastic job here, and we can tell that you have poured your heart and soul into building it. Since I believe you are a former Greek fighter pilot yourself, you know what to look out for to make this even more realistic. This gives it an edge over a typical jet fighter model that another builder would have assembled.
Or... maybe it's that QC1 and QC 2 have become even better at their job of keeping things on track. 😉
Either way, it is exceptional. I'm definitely clicking on several of the various like buttons.
The article was an enjoyable read. I was not aware this type was used in as many combat areas as it was, or just how many countries were currently using it. So I learned something new here, which I think is always cool.
What do you have in store for us next ? I have not been doing a lot of reading here on Imodeler lately. Instead I was concentrating on finishing up the Panther and Pershing tanks. So chances are I have missed a lot of things as they were happening. Sorry if I have missed some of your builds. It was not intentional if I did.
I want to thank you again for your continued support on my various projects.
Thank you kindly as always, my friend @lgardner! It is a real joy to follow your projects. Upon entering Imodeler a few years ago, tou were one of the key persons who motivated and supported me and keep doing do. I am always grateful for this.
Yes, QC1 and QC2 help me and slowly but steadily get involved in the builds. They frequently ask how "Mr Louis" is and to send him their regards, as they have just done now.
Various projects are on various stages on the bench, have some sort of commission builds for some friends here in Greece (typically Greek jets), so, a full bench!
Spiros Pendedekas (@fiveten)
It's been my pleasure to have you as a friend. I also consider you a very good friend.
Please tell your sons that Sandy and I said hello, and that we were asking about them too. We still remember the wonderful videos that you sent us of your family when Sandy was recovering from her battle with cancer. We still talk about them to this very day. It was a kind thing to do, and I believe things like this helped her to recover.
You have been blessed with a wonderful family, just as they have been blessed with a wonderful father and husband.
I can see why you have a full work bench, as you always do such a wonderful job with everything you build.
Take care brother.
You are a good friend too, Louis @lgardner and it is a blessing I met you here.
I'm not much of a jet guy, but I know what I like. That's a wonderful build!
Thank you so much, my friend @chasbunch!
That is an excellent model! The color scheme and markings enhance the aircraft's distinctive lines. Well done.
Thanks a lot, my friend @magoo!
G’day Spiros (@fiveten),
An elegant build of an elegant aircraft.
She looks pretty with the blue and white roundels.
Liked!
Thanks a lot, my friend @michaelt!
Very nicely done model Spiros..
congrats!
Thank you kindly, my friend @kodai!
That's a great build of probably the best looking modern jet out there Spiros and she certainly looks good in the Hellenic markings. 👍
Thanks so much, my friend @thom!
Great looking Rafale! It's a shame HAF did not choose F-4 and F-16 scheme on them.
Thanks so much, my friend @inflames! Indeed, the Rafale would look gorgeous in that scheme!
I was looking through older posts and suddenly there's a beautiful Rafale and a beautifully built one at that. You really know how to build jets.
Thank you kindly, my friend @milantesar!