F-14A Exhaust Nozzles
for Fujimi kits
 

Aires, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

Aries has released a set of intricate exhaust nozzle for Fujimi’s 1/72 scale F-14A Tomcat kits.  The parts are perfectly cast in grey resin.

Detail right from the turbine through to the flaps of the exhaust nozzle aperture has been faithfully reproduced.  The exhaust flaps are so thin they are almost transparent and will need to be handled carefully during removal from the moulding block. 

One closed and one fully open nozzle are supplied as this is how the nozzles appear after the engines have been shut down.  The cooling liner area within the afterburner has the fine detail showing the different liner sections, and the length of the afterburner looks to be to scale.

Two nicely etched metal flame holders are included to be inserted just after the turbine and will add to the exceptional detail already provided. 

Interestingly the Aires set requires the use of the shrouds supplied with the Fujimi kit, so I don’t think that this set would be able to be used on any other manufacturer’s F-14 Tomcat.  

Assembly will be straightforward, but moderate modelling skills will be required to use this detail set as there is some thinning of the plastic required for these exhausts to drop in.   I thought that the detail on the Fujimi kit nozzles was good until I compared the Aires nozzles against them. Aires’ detail is much finer and far better.

Thanks to Aires for the review samples

Text and Images Copyright © 2008 by Mick Evans
Page Created 12 October, 2008
Last updated 12 October, 2008

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