this time I thought of a backing story! (usually I wouldn't know what story to invent, because the things I do are a bit abstract, but this time I have something, although short, but plausible, kind of ...)
Budget cuts are severe, all over the world, and in every activity domain, including defence : aircraft carriers are a luxury, and alternatives have to be explored, while still maintaining missions, in this case : air presence at sea.
The french Aéronavale therefore studies floatplanization of its aero-fleet, and here are small scale (1/400) representations of floatplanized Super Etendards (single, central float) and Rafales (twin-floats, one with the prototype sturdy mounts, the other with a more refined strut assembly). As a complement, a Panther helicopter also wears pontoons.
the original kits come from the Heller 1/400 Charles de Gaule,
and floats from 1/350 Ar196 and Fairey III, as well as japanese floatplanes.
