1:72 F-A-18 E/F engine nozzles (Hasegawa kit)

The real subject

The F/A-18E/F is an American carrier-borne multirole aircraft, an enlarged and reworked configuration of the older F/A-18. The rear of the fuselage with its two exhaust nozzles is among its most conspicuous places, because the nozzles show on a finished model from behind and from the sides and their shape and depth strongly affect the overall impression.

What the set contains

Replacement engine exhaust nozzles in 1:72 scale for the Hasegawa kit. Against the parts from the kit they have thinner edges and a better worked interior, so you cannot see through them into the fuselage and you do not have to deal with the vertical seam left by joining two halves. The list of parts and the fitting procedure are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

The parts are not polystyrene, so cement for plastic does not apply to them; use super glue. Cut excess material off with a sharp blade a little off the part and sand the rest back, so that the nozzles seat in the tail straight and both to the same depth. Try them dry before painting. Before spraying, wash the parts, degrease them and lay on a primer. The inside of the nozzles is usually painted differently from the surrounding finish and it pays to finish it before the nozzles are fitted.

Who it is for

For the modeler who builds a Super Hornet in 1:72 scale and wants the rear of the fuselage without simplification. Even a less experienced builder can manage the fitting, as the work is concentrated in two places.

The package holds replacement parts only. The model, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.