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From the dim and distant past BCTV(before color TV) Lockheed's F-94C Starfire. In 1/48 no less! Let's sees whats we gots. All kinds of nifty neato keeno stuff including nice colourful 50's type markings. Don't know what to do next. Oh wait, how about build the durn thing. To the build cave! Onward!

Hi all, I'm wondering if anybody has photos of the cockpit of an F-94A? I can only find them for the later F-94C and I'm wondering if the layout was different on the earlier versions (especially the instrument boards)? Reason is I have a Hobbycraft F-94A and a GWH T-33 in 1/48 which I'll try to kitbash into the ultimate F-94A and the cockpit is the only area I cannot find references for. Many thanks! Cheers Markus

Hi guys, A while ago I bought a second-hand kit online an was surprised to see this kit in the box too, the guy wanted to get rid of it I think. I too was not really interested in it, I thought it was best to throw it in the bin. But after a while I thought maybe it's nice to use it a weekend project(which became weeks off course..). Except for the decals it is straight OOB, the kit decal were the worst I've ever seen, I used a set from Expert choice. Which were also given for free from a fellow modeller from the US. Hope you like it, not a masterpiece but just a fuss-free build of this important Cold war jet. Erik

After its 1/48th kit, Kitty Hawk is preparing a 1/32nd Lockheed F-94C Starfire. Source: https://www.facebook.com/736521713066784/photos/a.736556396396649.1073741827.736521713066784/822266477825640/?type=1&theater To be followed V.P.

I've just read a topic on Hyperscale Jet age forum http://www.network54.com/Forum/624633/mess...tool+1-48+F-94C where I've found a link to IPMS-ES Forum http://ipmseaglesquadron.org/ES-forums/ind...msg4027#msg4027 In this thread dating last December a guy called Glen (aka Kagnew) and presenting himself as a Panda-Hobby representative announced that his company is to release a brand new 1/48th Lockheed F-94C Starfire kit! If you have a look at the Panda-Hobby homepage (http://panda-hobby.com/) the company Chief Information Officer is... Mr. Glen Coleman http://panda.s109.000pc.net/news/12_451.html Stay tuned! V.P.

F-94C Starfire 1:48 Kitty Hawk The F-94 was originally developed by Lockheed to a USAF Specification to replace the F-61 Black Widow and the F-82 Twin Mustang. It was to be an all weather, day and night interceptor equipped with radar. For this Lockheed used their excellent P-80 / T-33 airframe as the base for the F-94. The initial design was designated F-94A, closely followed by the F-94B and first flew in 1949. The radar in the new F-94 was so secret that flights over enemy territory were prohibited, and the aircraft was pretty much kept back from Korea. The F-94C was an all rocket armament aircraft and differed so much from the earlier models that it was origianlly given the toally separate designation of F-97. However it was decided to treat it as a new version of the F-94, which frequently happend so that funding could be allocated as a design change rather than a "new" aircraft. In fact Lockheed pushed the F-94C with their own money as USAF interest was only lukewarm. It should be noted that only the F-94C was know as the "Starfire", and the first airframe was delivered in 1951. Original armament for the Starfire was an all rocket armament mounted in a ring around the nose radome. It was found in practice that firing these rockets in this position caused a considerable volume of rocket exhaust gas to be ingested by the engine, potentially causing a dangerous flame out. Two wing rocket pods were subsequently designed to remedy this, and the nose rockets were very rarely used from there on in. In addition to the rocket problems the Starfires had a less than stellar reputation in the USAF. Early airframes were plagued with engine problems, fuel leaks, and poor weather proofing which lead to the control system short circuiting when rain leaked in through the canopy! F-94C's were finally retired by the USAF in 1959 (though they had been trying for years), and the national Guard in 1960 as newer more capable aircraft came on stream. Lockheed produced 387 Stafires before production ceased. The Kit This is the first kit to be issued by Kitty hawk Models, a new startup in the modelling world. I must say it came a surprise to me that they would issue this kit of an early American Jet as a first kit, rather than something more mainstream. Hopefully this shows more of what may come from Kitty Hawk. While a bit of a surprise, it is very welcome that a company is giving this period in aviation some prominence for us modellers. Prior to this new kit the only F-94C models were the very old Revell Box scale kit and the almost as ancient Emhar kit in 1:72. The kit arrives in a glossy white box with an in-flight Starfire across the box top. While it's not the strongest model box I have, its certainly not the flimsiest either. The sprues are bagged up as are the clear parts in a separate bag, and another bag contains the Photoetched sheet and 3 ball bearings for nose weight (though these are not mentioned in the instructions or box contents). There are 4 sprues of a dark grey plastic which fill the box. The arrangement of parts is pretty standard; left & right fuselage, upper and lower wings. When you start to look at the parts you notice that the moulding quality looks very good indeed, and parts are thin but still strong. Panel lines on the kit are very restrained, in fact so restrained they could probably do with a scriber running along them, especially if you plan on brush-painting. The tailing edges to the flying surfaces are commendably thin, and I have 1:72 kits which are thicker than the trailing edges of this kit's wings! The detail on the parts is very good indeed, and for example, in the wheel well not only are all the stringers moulded but the rivets on them are as well. In the cockpit all instrument panels and side panels are represented by Photo-Etched (PE) parts. There are no plastic substitutes if you are one of those modellers who does not like PE. Though for some reason the pilots instrument panel is also given as a decal but the radar operators is not? PE seat belts are provided for the ejection seats, though only one shoulder strap is provided for each seat?? The PE sheet is covered both sides with a clear plastic layer, by taking off only the front this should stop parts pinging off to the carpet monster when cutting them off. You have the option of opening up the airbrakes under the front fuselage and rear side airbrakes, which is a nice touch and adds extra interest if you choose to pose them that way. If doing this then the parts are mix of injected plastic and photoetch which should look great when finished. The flaps can also be displayed in the down position (though the instructions do not show this), there are however, injector pin marks on the inside of the flaps which will be tricky to remove without damaging the detail, as they are inside the moulded in structure. It should be noted though, that when normally on the ground all of these were closed up unless maintenance was underway. A full engine exhaust and rear fan are provided which should supply enough detail in case anyone peers up there with a torch! Kitty Hawk have moulded in rocket openings into the nose ring, but these will only be visible if the modeller wishes to start cutting the nose rocket panels out (This again is not shown in the instructions). The wheels supplied in the kit are "weighted" but not overdone to the extent they look flat. Overall I am impressed by the excellent quality of the parts on the sprues. The canopy is supplied on a clear sprue as the main part & front screen and can be modelled open if you wish. In addition to these parts a weapons sight glass and nav lights are included. The canopy parts seem to be remarkably thin and clear, as evidenced in the photo above. Some real care will be needed when it comes to masking them though, as they are very fragile, and will crack or craze under too much pressure. The main canopy rails are normal injected plastic and need to be attached to the glazing with care, choosing your glue carefully to avoid fogging around the joint. PVA or GS-Hypo cement would be a sensible choice here. Instructions The instructions for the kit come in a nice compact A5 sized booklet. There is a colour page to the front with the same printing as the box art, which is accompanied by a colour decal placement diagram on the back page. A sprue layout is given followed by 19 constructions steps, which are easy to read and seem to flow fairly well. Paint callouts are given in Gunze colours with FS numbers where appropriate. Decals The Decal sheet gives the modeller the chance to model two different aircraft. Absolutely no information at all about these two aircraft is given on the instructions. However the two aircraft are as follows: 15623 - 354th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Oxnard AFB, California 1953. This aircraft is now at The Pima Air & Space Museum, Arizona (As shown on the box art). 01054 - 60th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Otis AFB, Massachusetts, late 1950's. An aircraft painted in these colours is displayed at The National Museum of The US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. The decals are very glossy, in register and have dense colour. Carrier film is minimal and I cant see any reason they will not perform well. Conclusion This is a welcome kit for those who like 1950s aviation and want a modern tooling of this aircraft, or who want to build something slightly different from the usual. The kit engineering looks first class and it should build into a good looking model with some care. Here's looking forward to more exciting kits from Kitty Hawk. Review sample courtesy of and available from major hobby shops