Eduard 1/48 F-4J Exhaust Nozzles First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | April 2016 | Manufacturer | Eduard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | F-4J Exhaust Nozzles | Scale | 1/48 |
| Kit Number | 648254 | Media | Resin, Photo-Etch |
| Pros | Nicely detailed nozzle set | Cons | Nothing noted |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | MSRP (USD) | $34.95 |
First Look
Eduard from the Czech Republic is easily the most prolific producer of aftermarket details. Period. Their series of photo-etched detail sets have brought additional fidelity to otherwise bland subjects, and have taken even the best-produced models and kicked them up a notch or two with details that cannot be produced with injection-molded plastic. Many AMS modelers will collect the relevant Eduard photo-etch sets for a given project, but they'll also go out and gather specific resin enhancements as well. Eduard has stepped up with a new product line to complement their photo-etched detail series - Brassin. Brassin is a play on words with Brass and Resin, and in many sets in this series, the resin details also include a set of color photo-etch as well.
In this release, Eduard has produced some beautifully detailed 'long nozzle' J79 afterburner sections for the Academy 1/48 F-4J Phantom II kit. This set is cast in gray resin and replicates the turbine face, afterburner chamber, and nozzle for each engine. Also included is a set of photo-etched parts for the flame holder rings and the fuel injection afterburner spray bars. We've seen J79 aftermaket sets in the past but these are among the few that replicate the inner nozzle inside the main nozzle.
The nozzles are posed full-open which is typical for engine idle or full afterburner. When an F-4 (or other twin-engined afterburning aircraft) gets back into the chocks, the pilot will either shut one engine down at a time or both at once. When shut down individually, the first engine shut down will close its nozzle with the hydraulic power of from the other engine. When the second engine is shut down, the nozzle starts to close but once hydraulic pressure drops, the nozzle stops at that point. When both engines are shut down simultaneously, both nozzles will move slightly toward closing but both will stop with the loss of hydraulic pressure. That is why you see odd combinations of nozzle positions with parked Phantoms, Hornets, etc.
Eduard continues to produce a nice range of detail sets at a reasonable price which will make the job of detailing your next Phantom build much easier!
My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!