1:72 F-16 GE Exhaust Close for Tamiya kit

General Electric engine nozzle in the closed position for the F-16 in 1:72 scale

An accessory that replaces the plastic engine tailpipe on an F-16 model in 1:72 scale with a separate part with the petals in the closed position. The set by Rise144models is cut for the F-16 model by Tamiya and matches the General Electric engine fit. The manufacturer also offers the same form with the nozzle open, so you choose by how you want to present the aircraft on a base.

The real subject

The F-16 Fighting Falcon was built with two powerplants. Besides the Pratt and Whitney engine of the F100 series, a large part of the later blocks carried a General Electric of the F110 series, including the machines the 1:72 models by Tamiya tend to be issued for. The nozzles of the two engines differ in build and in the number of outer petals; it is one of the few differences that are visible on a finished model without knowing the serial numbers. The petals also open and close according to the engine setting, so both positions are entirely common in photographs of real aircraft.

Usage and painting tips

Wash the part in lukewarm water with detergent before gluing. Cut the casting block away with a fine saw, level the surface with sandpaper and protect your airways when sanding. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Start the painting with a metallic shade inside the duct, add dark toning at the root and create fine bands of heat discoloration on the outer petals. Dry pigments help to suggest settled soot around the rim. Paint the part separately and fit it to the fuselage only once it is finished, so that the paint around it is not soiled.

Who the set is for

• builders of the F-16 in 1:72 scale who want a more faithful rear of the aircraft
• owners of F-16 models by Tamiya
• modelers who prefer the closed position of the nozzle
• anyone interested in the later F-16 blocks with the General Electric engine