1:32 Grumman F-14A Tomcat open & closed exhaust nozzles

The real subject

The Grumman F-14A Tomcat was an American two-seat carrier fighter with a variable-geometry wing. Its pair of engines is set far apart in separate nacelles, so the exhaust nozzles are among the most striking places on the rear end. It is exactly here that the eye goes on a model standing on a shelf and on one in a diorama, because the circular opening of the nozzle gives away every simplification.

What the set solves

Nozzles from an injection-molded kit tend to be shallow, with a thick wall and a hinted interior that after fitting looks blanked off. The replacement parts have a thinner edge and a well-worked internal wall, so the opening reads with depth. The set contains both positions, open and closed; on the real machine the position of the nozzles changes with the engine setting, so pick the one that matches the situation the model captures and check it against photographs.

• 1:32 scale, an accessory to a plastic kit
• the subject is the exhaust nozzles of the F-14A Tomcat
• the open and the closed form in the set
• a thinner edge and a deeper internal wall than the kit part
• the scope of the set and the procedure are given in the manufacturer's instructions

Building and painting tips

Cut excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remainder down, so that the nozzle seats into the nacelle without a step. The parts are not polystyrene, so cement for plastic has no effect on them; use cyanoacrylate and apply it only to the seating face. Wash and degrease the surface before painting. Paint the interior of the nozzle before you seat it; afterward you will not get a brush in there. Apply the metallic shades in thin layers, otherwise they flood the fine longitudinal division.

Terms of supply

The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.