F-14 Tomcat ECS Heat Exchanger Exhaust Grills

Published on
Review Author(s)
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$3.10
Product / Stock #
QB 72 648
Base Kit
Fujimi F-14 in 72nd Scale
Company: Quickboost - Website: Visit Site
Provided by: Aires Hobby Models - Website: Visit Site

This set is designed to be used on Fujimi’s F-14 Tomcat kits. The set consists of 2 resin ramps, replacing the kit’s molded on ramps. The title states that the parts are the ECS (environmental control system) exhaust grills, however, in reality they are the fixed bleed doors which allow excess air to be vented out of the intakes, especially at higher airspeeds when the movable ramps deploy to restrict the airflow down the intakes and keep the air subsonic when it hits the front of the engines.

The parts are exceptionally thin and crisply cast. However, as the bleed doors are molded as part of the upper fuselage on the kit, you will need to break out a razor saw or a new Xacto blade to remove the kit parts and install these replacements. I recommend the removal surgery be completed before you join the upper and lower fuselage halves, but you should hold off on installing the doors until right before painting to avoid damaging them.

As expected from Aires/Quickboost the bleed doors are very well molded and thin and could be a nice upgrade to your Fujimi Tomcat. My only concern is how difficult it will be to remove the molded-on doors from the kit.

Thank you to Aires for the review set and to IPMS-USA for letting me review it.

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