Extreme appreciation to Eduard for their having once again provided a sample copy of a long-awaited product, the F-8E Crusader, and the usual wave of thanks to the IPMS USA leadership for ensuring I received it!

This upgrade provides additional detail for the recently re-released Hasegawa F-8E crusader under the banner of Eduard, in the form of a detailed Exhaust nozzle for the afterburner section.

I begin by spray priming all the parts with Tamiya spray gray primer to allow the color paints and weathering to commence.

Installation steps: Paint the turbine blades and cone burnt iron, as well as the burner can and nozzle sections. I then like to weather and run a deep black wash into the turbine to bring out the detail. Remove the PE flameholder grid parts from the fret, then cement to the exhaust turbine cone. I found the larger grid part (the actual flameholder) was a very tight fit, and determined it was best dropped into the tube, then the turbine bucket section installed, with superglue used to attach the grid to the extreme end of the burner central cone. The spray bar section was best superglued to the cone about halfway down and did not have any issues with installation. This is then glued to the augmentor tube, and the nozzle parts themselves are glued to the extreme aft end.

The kit requires minimal modification in the aft interior of the fuselage, in the form of slight cut relief of the mounting bulkhead and removal of the stabilator retention socket. I have marked these in red on one of the installation pictures

Once you have installed it you continue to finish the model… mask off the afterburner before finish painting and you are done!

Another fine score for Eduard; Thanks to them for extending the lead, and again to my bosses in IPMS for trusting me to produce in a timely manner…