Zactomodels 1/32 MiG-29 Nozzle Set First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | October 2008 | Manufacturer | Zactomodels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | MiG-29 Nozzle Set | Scale | 1/32 |
| Kit Number | 32009 | Media | Resin |
| Pros | Corrects the Trumpeter 1/32 Fulcrum Nozzles | Cons | |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | MSRP (USD) | $45.00 + Postage |
First Look
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Zactomodels is a small aftermarket company that does some of the most incredible engineering and casting to correct selected beloved subjects. This time around, they've tackled another elusive problem - MiG-29 afterburner nozzles.
Trumpeter did an interesting a few years ago - they released kits of recent generation MiG-29s. In 2005, they released the MiG-29M which was significantly improved over the original Fulcrum A, but it never went into series production (though an updated version looks like it will finally see service). The MiG-29M was followed with last year's MiG-29K, the carrier-based Fulcrum that met the same non-production fate until recently.
Both kits featured some incredible detail, but one area that was needing some attention were the afterburner nozzles. From about 50 yards away, the kit's nozzles look spot-on, but you can see in the second image below the visual difference between the kit's nozzle assembly (left) and Zactomodels' replacement (right).
Actually, I don't know what is more impressive in this set. The two-part inner/outer nozzle assembly captures the look quite nicely, but then there is the turbine face and afterburner injector/flame ring. Look at the parts in the first image and the result at the bottom.
Those four disks on the left side of the top image (above and below the photo-etched flame rings) are actually jigs. Drop the photo-etch onto the hub of the upper disk, press one of the lower disks over the top, and you've correctly shaped the flame ring. Remove the upper disk, push the lower disk and photo-etch part over the turbine face hub and you've now installed the photo-etch. Add a touch of cyano to the assembly and the rest is history.
As usual, Zactomodels has turned out an incredibly nice detail set for the MiG-29 (that will look nice on Revell's Fulcrum A and Fulcrum B kits) that will make it nice to gaze upon your MiG from all aspects again.
Recommended for experienced modelers!
You can learn more about this and other project from the Zactomodels website at http://www.zactomodels.com.
My sincere thanks to Zactomodels for this review sample!