A new 3D printed F-104 Starfighter Exhaust Nozzle set in 1/48^th scale is provided by Fab Scale as a drop-in replacement for the Hasegawa kit utilizing the “Early” J79 engine.

Note: There is no official website for Fab Scale at the time of this review, but a few foreign hobby websites were selling this product.

In the Package and Product Notes

The sample review came in a small cardboard box and parts were individually wrapped in Ziploc bags.

There are three (3) parts of this exhaust nozzle set printed with pink salmon-colored resin. These parts replace kit parts R26, R27, U6 (2X), and K3. The printed resolution of the exhaust nozzle is very fine with no visible build up layers and the print quality is excellent.

Review Process

I started by separating the parts from their base by using side-cutting nippers. Next, wet sanding removed the remaining support nubs.

I went straight to painting using Tamiya XF-63 German Grey as a base primer coat for the afterburner, piping, and interior side of the exhaust petals. After that, I used Alclad Stainless Steel for the exterior nozzle petals. This was followed by a pin wash mixture of Future-water-Vallejo Black. The interior of the nozzle and afterburner areas were weathered using ground-up charcoals and pastels.

The strength of this 3D set is the minute detail displayed throughout the parts when compared to the Hasegawa boxing. To make these details pop will require the right color highlights and weathering.

Conclusion

This is a great 3D-printed set to add more detail to your F-104 Starfighter, especially for those who may want to take a flashlight to peek inside the engine exhaust. The details are finely printed and there are no build up layers. An excellent choice for any modeler to add to their F-104 kit with early J79 engines.

I want to thank Warspite Model Company and Fab Scale for providing the 3D printed set and IPMS/USA for allowing me the opportunity to review it.

Highly Recommend for everyone who wants to add more detail to their F-104 Starfighter!