1:144 F-15 I/K PW Exhaust for Revell kit

Pratt and Whitney engine nozzle for the F-15I and F-15K in 1:144 scale

An accessory for builders of two-seat strike Eagles in 1:144 scale. The set by Rise144models replaces the plastic engine tailpipes with a part carrying more finely rendered nozzle petals and it is cut for the F-15 model by Revell. The form matches aircraft with Pratt and Whitney engines.

The real subject

The F-15I and the F-15K are two-seat strike versions derived from the F-15E Strike Eagle. The Israeli F-15I flies with Pratt and Whitney engines of the F100 series, while the Korean F-15K was delivered in two batches and part of the fleet likewise has a Pratt and Whitney powerplant. The engine nozzle is a clearly visible feature on Eagles: it consists of a row of overlapping petals that open and close in service, and its shape is one of the few places where the engine fit of a particular aircraft can be told even on a finished model. In 1:144 scale this part is necessarily simplified on plastic models, so replacing it with a separate part brings an immediately visible difference to a model.

Usage and painting tips

Wash the part in lukewarm water with detergent to get the remains of the mold release agent off it. Cut the casting block away with a fine saw, level the surface with sandpaper and work with your airways protected as you do so. Use cyanoacrylate glue for gluing. Start the painting with a metallic shade inside the duct, then add darker toning toward the bottom and finally fine heat discoloration on the outer petals. Because it is a twin-engined aircraft, paint both nozzles together and by the same method, so that they do not differ from one another in color.

Who the set is for

• builders of strike versions of the F-15 in 1:144 scale
• modelers who want to bring out the rear of the aircraft on a small model
• anyone interested in the Israeli and Korean forms of the Eagle
• collectors used to working with small resin accessories