Cutting Edge 1/32
F-4B/C/D/N J79 Engine Nozzles

In the world of the F-4 Phantom II, there were only two kinds of J79 engines - short nozzle and long nozzle. These were the only visible distinctions between a group of early generation J79s and late generation versions. The F-4s actually did use a variety of J79 variants, but from an observer or modeler point of view, there were just two.

In the world of 1/32 F-4 Phantom IIs, there were the early Revell F-4E and F-4J kits, there were the much nicer (and more contemprarary) Revell F-4E, F-4F, RF-4C and RF-4E kits, and the nicest of the lot - the Tamiya F-4C/D, F-4E (early) and F-4J. The Tamiya kits introduced a whole new level of molding technology to the hobby world with those one-piece fuselage sections that were alway molded in halves previously.

Then along came Cutting Edge with a 1/32 scale conversion to render either the Tamiya F-4C/D or F-4J into an F-4B/N. The conversion involves two conversion sets out of these three:

• CEC32180 is common to both Tamiya kits
• CEC32185 provides all of the parts necessary to transform the Tamiya F-4C/D into the Navy F-4B/N.
• CEC32187 provides those parts for the Tamiya F-4J to backdate the airframe into the F-4B/N

Of course, if you're going to all of the time and effort to create the F-4B or F-4N, you're going to want these:

• CEC32183 seamless intakes

So now we have the missing link in the conversion process. If you're doing the F-4B/N conversion from the F-4C/D, then you already have the characteristic short-nozzled J79s in your kit. If you're starting from the F-4J however, you have the wrong nozzles - this set provides the proper engine nozzle set with some nice details that even the F-4C/D builders might want to consider. In addition, this set provides the corrective panels next to the nozzles with the vents.

This set will look great on the aft end of the Tamiya F-4C/D and must be combined with the other sets listed above to complete the F-4B/N conversion from the F-4J. These were not designed for the Revell kits and I do not know if they are close enough in diameter to work with the RF-4C kit.

Definitely recommended!

My sincere thanks to Meteor Productions for this review sample!