1:144 Exhaust Open/Close Version (Trumpeter Kit)

Why the nozzle gets replaced

The exhaust nozzle is the first thing a viewer looks at from the rear on a model aircraft. In reality it is made up of an array of movable nozzle petals that change the cross section according to the engine setting: on a machine on the ground it tends to be open, in flight closed. A kit usually deals with such a part in one shape and with a solid or merely suggested inner wall, so a replacement is one of the few changes that can be seen even from a meter away.

What the set offers

According to the name it holds an open as well as a closed rendition, so you can choose the state in which the model is built. It is intended for a kit from the Trumpeter brand in 1:144 scale. In this scale it is a part a few millimeters across, yet it makes all the greater difference against the plastic original, into which in a small scale there is nowhere to look.

Building and painting tips

• Cut the original kit part off and level the mating surface so that the nozzle sits on the axis of the fuselage.
• The part is not polystyrene and an ordinary modeling cement will not join it; use super glue or epoxy.
• Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little clear of the part and sand the rest off carefully.
• Wash and degrease before painting, as metallic shades stain on a greasy surface.
• Inside, a dark base works well, with a transition from heat-stained tones at the throat to a lighter metal at the edge of the petals.
• Check the particular seating procedure in the manufacturer's instructions and against your own kit.

Terms of supply

The nozzle itself is supplied as described. The kit of the aircraft, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.