1:72 F/A-22A Raptor exhaust nozzles

The real subject

The Raptor is an American twin-engine fighter whose rear fuselage differs at first glance too: instead of the usual circular nozzles it has flat ones of rectangular section, vectoring in the vertical plane. It is precisely this part of the aircraft that tends to be the weakest on a model. In a kit it is a deep, broken-up space made up of several parts, where the seams are hard to sand and where you can see inside, so any shortcoming cannot be hidden.

What the set contains

Replacement exhaust nozzles in 1:72 scale for a Raptor model. The replacement part brings the shape of the nozzle with three-dimensional relief on the plates and with thin edges at the opening, which a plastic assembly made up of several pieces cannot reach; it also does away with filling seams in a place a file barely gets to. The parts are not polystyrene, so solvent cement has no effect on them.

Building and painting tips

Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little short of the part and sand off the rest; leave the edges of the opening as thin as possible, because it is their thickness that decides the impression. Wash and degrease the parts before painting. Paint the nozzles separately before fitting, otherwise you will reach their interior with neither a brush nor an airbrush. Apply metallic shades in thin coats and set the inside apart from the outer surface; add scorching and light heat marks only at the end, lightly and over small areas. Check dry that the part sits in the opening in the fuselage and fill any play.

Who it is for

The set is meant for modelers who are building the Raptor in 1:72 scale and want to remove the most conspicuous weakness of the rear fuselage. The aircraft model, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.