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For the 1/72 scale Starfighters the Hasegawa is the best one - not by a huge margin but still best all around kit with best details. Now, Hasegawa only does CF-104, F-104G and F-104S - and not the early A or C models. But there are several early Starfighters I would like to do - so I wanted to try that how viable it is to backdate a Hasegawa F-104. This is my starting point, a Hasegawa CF-104. The F-104G and F-104S packings are very similar but with few notable differences. This kit has the correct wheel well covers for both A and C and if you want to do a F-104C in South East Asia configuration, this box has the RWR receivers as they were fitted on late CF-104's too. As normal with Hasegawa, they have a million reboxings, but I think all CF-104 boxings are the same apart from the decals. And they also have atleast one boxing with CF-104 and F-104G/S in the same package. Just something to take note, as Hasegawa has a bad habit of cutting away parts of a sprue that are not needed in the specific version that comes with the box. The sprues. Let's take little closer look on what we need to take into consideration when backdating this kit. Wheels and rims, the F-104A&C wheels are narrower than F-104G wheels with different rims. The real CF-104 most likely has the narrower wheels as it comes with the non-bulged wheel well cover, but that doesn't really matter as the kit only has one set of wheels for all the version. So they are the same for all Hasegawa F-104G and CF-104. Not that it matters hugely as the difference in width in this scale is most likely not a huge deal. But the rims are different, so that's something we need to take into consideration. In the picture, there's F-104C rims, and as compared to the kit part there is noticeable difference. Aftermarket parts are available so that is the most likely route I will take. Though I might try putty & hand drill first as the rims are quite simple. We will see. Wheel well covers. F-104G wheel covers have bulges, but as these are CF-104 covers they don't have them so they are correct for this build as is. But even with F-104G covers, they would be rather easy to sand the bulges away. Exhaust nozzle, the kit part is not hugely detailed but it resembles the one on the right more - which is incorrect for this build. We want the one on the left. Aftermarket parts are available, which is a good route to take especially if you want some extra details. I might have a go at trying to add some details for the existing kit part, though. Nothing to lose. Cockpit - now I'm not hugely well versed on the F-104 cockpit so I don't know the differences. There must be some but I'm trusting that Eduard has done the research for me and I am using a PE set to add (hopefully correct) details. But again, not that it will probably make a huge difference in this scale, atleast with a canopy closed build. Now the most noticeable difference is the tail - F-104A and C have smaller tail. But it doesn't look terribly hard to cut away part of the Hasegawa tail and rescribe. I mean - (with Jeremy Clarkson's voice) how hard can it be? Right, there should be the main differences (the ones that matter for this build atleast). While I have huge interest in the Starfighter I am by no means authority on all the differences on all the versions - so if you have something to share about this matter, please do so Now as with the specific version I will be doing, I am still undecided whether it will be a Pakistani F-104A or USAF F-104C in SEA camo. Differences are rather small with those two versions, but the SEA F-104C would require adding an refueling probe which I would probably need to scratch build. We can go into details once I'll decide what I will do, there probably will be some small things that I have forgotten here. Let's see how it goes

Hi all I finally finished a build Not great but just happy to finish something Finished very much OOB with Tamiya acrylics and a model master flat clear I would have liked more colour separation on the camo but live and learn The kit is basic but went together okay Decals were terrible Out of registration and absolutely like leather so plenty of Micro Sol and Micro Set to try and settle them down as best as possible but many still silvered up Just a few photos Cheers Thanks for looking

All bets are off ! It is rumoured to be a - money maker - unpreviously announced kit. Source: https://www.facebook.com/Kineticmodel/posts/1244366542397121 V.P.

The Wikipedia summary: The Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (CF-111, CL-90) is a modified version of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter supersonic fighter aircraft built in Canada by Canadair under licence. It was primarily used as a ground attack aircraft, despite being designed as an interceptor. It served with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and later the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) until it was replaced by the McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet. I've wanted to build a Canadian Starfighter for a while now, but hadn't gotten around to it yet... so this GB is the perfect excuse to get into one! The polished aluminium with white wings and red tail will look absolutely stellar on my shelf if I can pull off a good finish. Until now I've been a strictly 1/72nd guy, mostly due to space constraints, but also because of my glacial building speed, and I don't really think my skills are up to par for larger models. However, I've written a loophole into my own rules: Canadian subjects can be 1/48th. (I've set a long-term goal to eventually build at least one of each major aircraft type that Canada flew in 48th. At the rate I build we may be retiring our F-35 fleet before I'm ever done.) Ubiquitous box shot: Of course I got some canopy masks from Eduard... but I also picked up their Löök set for the CF-104, which includes a 3D printed instrument panel and some nice PE parts for the cockpit. I'm eager to see how that goes together. It looks like it'll be a nice upgrade though. What the heck, I need to get another display cabinet from IKEA anyways...

Avantgarde Model Kits (AMK) is reported by MMCT Facebook Group as working on a 1/48th Lockheed F-104G Starfighter kit - ref. Considering the MMCT support to the project I guess we can expect soon or later a RoCAF "long nose" F-104G with the HIAC-1 LOROP system - http://www.916-starfighter.de/F-104_ROCAF_LOROP_H.Prins.pdf To be followed Sources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilitaryModelingSRG/permalink/2374473086101901/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilitaryModelingSRG/permalink/2374473086101901/ Original box art as anonymously published on January 4th, 2019. Note the two - wrong and now disappeared - characteristical F-104S additional ventral fins. Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilitaryModelingSRG/permalink/2209396522609559/ V.P.

Hi, guys ‘n’ gals, I just read on the Warthunder Wiki that the F-104DJ didn’t have the radar fitted? Or it was removed later in it’s JASDF service? Can anyone confirm this? Cheers, Erik.

Another braille scale Starfighter announced! AFV Club is to release a new tool 1/32nd Lockheed F-104G(S?) Starfighter kit - ref.AR32104. Source: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.619334004778789.1073741859.236926266352900&type=1 V.P.

I present the latest model completed this year. Lockheed F-104G Starfighter in 1/48 scale built from the Revell Monogram kit. The model received a modified MB GQ-7A seat and made elements of the cab cover frame. Model Maker decals, 25th Anniversary of JaboG 34 and 50 Memminerberg Bases, May 5, 1984.

I'm working on Kinetic's 1/48 F-104G, and the instructions for the wing tip tank fins are more along the lines of interpretive dance than technical manual. I've looked at photos of the real thing but keep second-guessing myself as to the orientation of the fins, particularly the short outer fin. I'd appreciate if the local brain trust could take a quick look and tell me whether my geometry is correct or if I have some recalibration in my future. This is a top down look at the port wing tip tank. Thanks for any assistance! Chris Baer

EDUARD Eikó 1/48 - F-104J Starfighter F-104J was a version of the F-104G specifically built for interceptor role for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. F-104J was armed with cannon and up to four sidewinders but lacked any strike capability. A total of 210 were built, most of them under license by Mitsubishi. A dual-control trainer version F-104Dj was also produced. The kit is Eduard 1/48 special edition box set which comes with some extra goodies. Also multiple paint schemes to choose from. Plastic parts are from Hasegawa - which should be a good kit apart from some excessive riveting. Not sure whether I will let that bother me. Hasegawa kit is fair bit older than the rather new Kinetic Starfighter but we will see how it holds up against it. I have built the Kinetic kit before but not Hasegawa. Some of the extra stuff that comes with the kit. Paint masks, resin ejection seat, PE cherry blossom and PE parts for the cockpit. Ejection seat is rather nice - even more so after some paint and PE harnesses. Some aftermarket stuff I got. Not sure whether the 'remove before flight' tags are correct for the Japanese machine but if not I will just leave them out. I also have some extra PE parts and resin pitot tube to spice things up. The kit not only comes with brilliant full color instruction booklet but with a reference book also. While I could do any of the paintjobs that come with the kit, these two catch my eye the most. High quality photos in the reference book. Pretty handy! This truly is pretty inspiring kit and I can't wait to do one of those Air Combat Meet -paintjobs on a Starfighter

Reini's Century Series - F-104G Starfighter One of the many Hasegawa's Starfighter boxings. Here's the box contest. Hasegawa is my favourite F-104 kit in this scale. Some aftermarket is a must. These 3D printed ladders just seemed so nice that I couldn't resist. I usually make mask clear parts myself but for this I have ready made masks. Master pitot tube is a must, some PE to add some cockpit detail and resin wheels. I might still add a resin ejection seat, a Lockheed C2 seat in this case. And then this little innocent 'special' bomb. I think this is from Trumpeter's Vigilante kit. I won't be using the kit decals, I have Xtradecal set for Netherlands F-104. And as the decal set is lacking all the small markings, I'll be using a set from Armycast. This is my reference, a Dutch F-104 in 1984, carrying a dummy B43 nuclear bomb. Photo is taken from here: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/foto-s/detail/edb2f47b-9a02-85e1-56ea-8b23609cc71e/media/00a62de9-dfb8-db2c-7679-10d4fcab765a I've made several F-104 in different scales already, here's one of them - a Norwegian CF-104 made from Hasegawa kit: I like all the Century Series fighters - but it's not hard to pick a favourite, it has to be the F-104

I have a decal sheet for Starfighters that includes a “USAF Artic Camo” option of white with international orange trim and tail number 52955, so presumably serial 55-2955. Looks an unusual scheme but I can’t find any pictures of it. Is it real? Is it a drone scheme? Chris

SHi all, I'm in the mood for scanning and so have now pulled out a few from my day around Villafranca in April 1986. I had secured a tour of the base and was escorted by Tne. Domenic Taglieri and Tne. Flavio Mucia. They were extremely generous with their time and imposed no restrictions on photography. However, I did have to leave all film with them for processing and I finally got the slides via the UK Embassy in Rome a few weeks later. The day wasn't the best, with the majority of the tour being during the morning which was grey with the odd spot of rain. The afternoon, after I left, was sunny!!! Hey ho. I had wanted to visit Villafranca for a long time, having had a couple of aborted approaches to there while riding the jump seat on our charter flights. Twice we diverted due to fog :(. At that time I worked for Dan-Air and we had regular winter/spring flights to Verona and so eventually I found a day when I could take a morning flight out and an evening flight back. That gave me a day there to watch the activity from the fence. That was December 1984 and it gave me the inspiration for my 1986 trip. Anyway, here are a few shots: The base flight, the 603 Squadriglia Collegamenti, flew this little SIAI: The fire dump contained this Thunderflash and a couple of T-33As: The 603 Squadriglia Collegamenti fleet of MB.326s: The 132 Gruppo ramp: This 132 Gruppo machine had recently acquired the "new" style codes and had just been up on a local flight: Storage/Maintenance: The 28 Gruppo ramp: Sorry about the quality but my Olympus OM-1 loaded with Kodachrome 25 struggled in the gloom Martin

Hi gang, After announcing what my second build would be for the GB I thought it was time to actually make a proper post for it even if I won't start it for about a week until my F-7 is closer to the finish line. I have chosen what I consider (and many others) to be one of the true icons of the Cold War, the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. When it comes to the 1980's in the geographic scope of this GB there are only two options open, namely either Japan or Taiwan. having built a JASDF F-104J a couple of years ago I decided that this build would be in the colours of the ROCAF (Republic Of China Air Force) and you can't really have a collection of F-104's without a ROCAF one in it as they operated every version of the F-104 with the exception of the C and F and scored the first ever kills for the type when 4 f-104's engaged a formation of PLAAF J-6's and Major Hu Shih-lin and Captain Shih Bei-puo each shot down one of the J-6's over the disputed island of Qemoy. The kit I will be using is the Eduard NATO boxing of the venerable Hasegawa F-104G which comes with a couple of resin extras (basically just one each of the Martin Baker or Lockheed ejector seats) and a very nice decal sheet which will be of no use whatsoever for this build, here is a shot of the box top; And the contents to prove that the plastic is as yet untouched; A shot of the resin extras along with a couple of other resin bits I have that should find their way into the build and the etched fret that Eduard add to the box; The lovely, but useless for this build, decal sheet; And a look at the sheet I have ordered from Bestfong in Taiwan which should hopefully arrive in time; I have used one of their sheets before when I built a ROCAF P-47N a few years ago and that sheet was of excellent quality so I have no doubt that these will be of the same quality, we shall see. I've had great service from them so far as the sheets I ordered were dispatched within 24 hours of placing the order and I was given a tracking number, which works! Thanks for looking in and as usual any comments and criticisms are gratefully received. Craig.

eek! Not started the Rhino and this is starting. So my placeholder for a RDAF faded green widow maker. Hasegawa kit plus Xtradecal plus Master pitot. Chris

A while ago I started 4 F-104 kits at the same time, this sounded like a good idea back then. Unfortunately I couldn't keep the mojo for this foursome and they were destined for the shelf of doom. They are all Hasegawa F-104 kits with one being the Eduard boxing. They are all machines of the Royal Netherlands air force, in two different camouflage schemes and three different roles. Two will be grey, the early 60's scheme and two in the final camouflage scheme. Two trainers, one reconnaissance and one air defence QRA machine. They are all supplemented with a mix of Eduard and True Details C2 seats, Master pitot tubes, Eduard wheels and wing rocket pylons on the grey dual, and for the grey QRA machine also Eduard rocket launcher and sidewinders. Also, the reconnaissance RF-104 is upgraded with the DACO F-104 set with the smooth wings and Orpheus pod. Also on all there is canopy tubing from DACO and CMK as well a opened para brake housing on two of them. The decals are a mix of Dutch Decal sheets and stencils sheets of the Dutch Starfighter foundation(DSF decals). The latter becoming a mojo killer for me as they are printed on one big decal sheet you have to cut out yourself and there are a lot of them! Also, they are designed for the camouflaged fighter bomber version so when building one for another role, in grey or a dual its quite a puzzle to place them right. Also for the dual there a lot of differences in the forward fuselage part of course so they have to be sourced elsewhere. Luckily someone from the DSF printed some for me. So this is were it ended a year ago; Luckily the mojo came back and I finally finished the first of the foursome! It's the grey dual from 322/323 squadron in the early 60's. This machine was the QRA trainer for the pilots of 322 and 323 squadron based at Leeuwarden AB. Hope you like it! Full build off the foursome can be seen HERE Erik

Good day, fellas! The well-known Hasegawa kit, OOB, a complete set of photo etching from Eduard and ResKit chassis wheels. Painted and weathered using Ammo. I hope you will appreciate it!

Model Art : http://www.modelart-shop.jp/ & https://www.facebook.com/modelartjapan/ http://www.modelart-shop.jp/?mode=srh&sort=n&cid=&keyword=NF-104A&x=13&y=14 Source: https://www.facebook.com/modelartjapan/photos/a.278517849179941.1073741828.266008607097532/310769515954774/?type=3&theater V.P.

I have been working on this project for a couple of weeks now. The progress is slow as I want to super detail this model using CMK detail sets. I will be using superb DACO decals for Belgian Air Force. The aircraft I have in mind is one in the retirement scheme with yellow wing tanks in Tiger Meet scheme. I m using Lock On 1 Lockheed F-104G-J Starfighter book as a reference. This book has very good detailed pictures of almost areas covered by CMK sets. First steps to accommodate extensive CMK detail sets is to butcher the fuselage port and starboard halves. Making those cuts is time consuming. While test fitting, I noticed CMK gun bay is a bit short. Some detail work on engine

Przedstawiam model Lockheed F-104G Starfightet ze starożytnego zestawu, który został ukończony dzisiaj Hasegawa (premiera rynkowa w 1963 roku) w edycji brytyjskiej firmy FROG. Prezentowany na zdjęciach model pochodzi z pierwszej edycji FROG, która odbyła się w 1969 roku. Różnił się od późniejszej edycji elementami podwozia głównego, które składało się z 6 elementów, aw nowszych edycjach - jednym z wyższym sztywność. Starałem się pokazać jak najbardziej pudełkowaty charakter modelu bez wyceny, która mi się podoba (tylko osłona kabiny jest dociskana ze względu na uszkodzenie oryginału i rurkę Pitota z igieł iniekcyjnych). Udało mi się użyć oryginalnych kalkomanii, które mimo 50 lat były bardzo dobre, co było dla mnie sporym zaskoczeniem. Zapraszamy do galerii gotowego modelu .

Hi guys, my last project is F-104G Starfighter from Eduard limited edition. A very enjoyable work with no problems. I painted with my own blends of green and brown, mostly Tamiya and Gunze. Small details in cockpit with Vallejo. Eduard included a resin ejection seat, masks, PE parts and very good Cartograf decals (stencils prinded by Eduard). I added a pitot tube from Master. I made wash and weathering with artist oil paints.

Hello, Here's my last complete build, the Hasegawa, 1/48 Lockheed F-104G of the Raoyal Danish AF, from Esk 726. Been using the !daco set for the wings and their ejection seat improvement. Seat harness from the Eduard Look set for the Kinetic zipper. Paints from the gunze acryl range. hope you'll like her. As usual, feel free to comment and critic Best Stef (#6)

I like this tiny 1/144 kits as I take them as a stress-reduction therapy between bigger projects. I wanted to give it a try to a couple Luftwaffe jets, the first one being this, the F-104G from Revell. The kit offers two options for markings, I will build the 26+53 from WTB61 (Technical Test Facility 61) at Manching, 1991. The kit provides a decent cockpit, main wheel well, workable front wheel well, nice landing gear, and jet engine exhaust, scribing is really nice. Only thing I would have expected is an option for open canopy, only closed option is available. Fuselage is split in left/front and front/rear halves. The ejection seat has enough resemblance to the real one, just adding couple seatbelts and it will be good under the closed canopy. The fitting between front-rear fuselage gave me issues, not that it was a big gap, but where it was located. Tamiya gray putty and patient sanding solved the issue. I don´t like fitting the main landing gear at this stage, but there is no other option. Detail inside the front wheel well is completely lacking, I had to issue a "floor" for the front half of the wheel well (the rear will not be visible under the landing gear structure). The kit provides a decal for the instrument panel, looks nice for the scale. Not much will be noticeable at the end anyway. The cockpit had a crack where it joined the sprue, cleaned and sanded as much as I could, will try to hide some more when I paint the cockpit frame. Can´t imagine what is the purpose for that neat gap below the tails of the fuel tanks. All the 4 of them have the same issue. Filled them with putty. And here I am, about to start painting this tiny Starfighter. Marco

It is February 1971 and after the close shave of the Apollo 13 mission the previous April, security around the Apollo 14 mission is fierce. The problems encountered by the previous mission had been put to the public as a failure of an oxygen tank on the Apollo 13 Command Module. However, the real story was kept secret from the public for fear of the panic it might cause. Pictures of the Alien space ship that attacked Apollo 13 were captured on the TV camera James A Lovell had been preparing to stow away after that day's scheduled telecast was finished. This footage and the damage caused by the laser blast fired by the Alien UFO were considered conclusive proof that we were not alone in the Universe and that our 'nearest' neighbours were potentially unfriendly. In the intervening 9 months between the two missions, the US military and the United Nations initiated two new military and scientific programmes. One was tasked with secretly preparing for Alien attack. This was called SHADO and was charged with developing advanced technologies that would enable UFO tracking and space-based defensive systems. As a cover for the vast expenditure this would require, a more modest but public programme was initiated called Spectrum that would adapt existing vehicles and equipment for a 'Peace Keeping' role. Both of these programmes were run separately from the existing UN funded United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, a predominantly British and European operation that had been responsible for dealing with a series of peculiar events in Great Britain in the previous few years. Spectrum was as much a PR exercise as an effective military organisation. It was quickly decided that it needed to have its own air force for reconnaissance, logistics and power projection. It was decided to take the innovative step of recruiting the best female pilots of the time and creating a special squadron of 'Angels'. These Angels were given code names taken from popular culture of the time, so the first four pilots were code named Galadriel, Eowyn, Arwen and Luthien. The aircraft they were trained to fly was a specially adapted Lockheed F-104Q Starfighter, and so the Spectrum Angels Starfighter squadron was born. Here we see Galadrial Angel with her Angel Starfighter getting ready to mount air combat patrol around the perimeter of the controlled airspace for the Apollo 14 launch. So this flight of fancy came about because I picked up the recent Kinetic F-104G kit: and when it arrived, I opened the box up sitting on the couch with the 1:24 scale Angel Interceptor on the coffee table directly in front of me and my mind started to wonder what the Starfighter would look like in white with Spectrum roundels... I managed to get a set of 1:48 scale Angel Interceptor decals from JBOT decals and used these along with some of the stencil decals from the kit to built it. I did originally intent to pose the cockpit canopy open but I ran out of time to get this ready for the March club meeting of IPMS Farnborough so left it closed. The cockpit looked like this before the canopy was shut: "Galadriel" Angel is a resin figure form this set As you can see I removed the beret and added more hair using milliput - non military haircut but it is a PR exercise after all. They get upgraded to white flight suits sometime in the future! I came up with the backstory while driving home from work this evening and mention of UNIT got me thinking about my NEXT build

Some NASA F-104s from the '80s. All were stationed at the Dryden Flight Research Center located on Edwards AFB. F-104N N811NA, December 1981 F-104N N812NA, October 1982 - Edwards Open House JF-104A N818NA (USAF s/n 552961), July 1985 - Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum F-104G N820NA (Converted F-104A, USAF s/n 56-0790) March 1981 - DFRC flyable storage, no flight test nose boom or cannon port cover October 1988 - USAF Flight Test Center Museum TF-104G N825NA (ex-Luftwaffe, USAF s/n 66-13628) March 1981 September 1983 May 1990 F-104G N826NA (ex-Luftwaffe) March 1981 - Replacement nose cone and cannon port cover from the previous (1970s) NASA paint scheme September 1981 - Edwards Open house May 1984 September 1984. Test airfoil mounted on the aircraft centerline. October 1988 - Edwards AFB Open House Thanks for looking, Sven