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Friends at BM, I just realised I dod not communicate this on here... I currently have two bundle deals available on my website, consiting of full Kinetic plastic kits (without decals, but with their respective original PE fret) plus Hypersonic Models resin/ 3D print sets. 1: Kinetic (new tool) F-16A (MLU) + HMR 48055 F-16A Block 1, 5, 10 backdate set 2: Kinetic F-104A/C + HMR 48057 F-104A (Late) update set. Even with shipping factored in, the prices are very competetive There is only a small quantity available. Many thanks for your attention!! J

Good morning all! Its about time that I launched my next project on WIP. The poor old F-84F and Mig-23MF are still slowly edging their way to completion but in parallel I have been contemplating my next build(s). Having chewed over a number of other subjects, all of which I will get to at some point (Drakens, F-51D, Ouragan, F-84E, etc) I have settled on the machine that I hold dear in my aviation and modelling heart - Kelly Johnson's superb, elegant and fast F-104. Over time I have been building the store of these, of aftermarket and, more recently, I have been getting decals prepared. I am indebted, as always, to Giorgio @Giorgio N for his knowledge of the subject and drawing skills, while also to Mika at Arctic Decals for his faultless service and generosity. For these builds - a F-104G, a production F-104A and a YF-104A - I will use the Hasegawa 1/72 kit as a base and will add the appropriate parts from Esci/Italeri (Esci) F-104A/C kits. In addition I will use Master pitots and Aires seats. For the G-model I will pull the dart and winding gear from a Hasegawa weapons set (Weapons V number X72-4). Essentially the Esci/Italeri will provide the rear end, the door and the wings. Some may question the extra work in amalgamating the Hasegawa and Esci kits. The reason is that the Esci has an obviously overblown canopy. It does, though, have more detail on the wings. I guess it is swings and roundabouts and personal choice. To me the Esci doesn't look right. This will be a slow burn project, as are all of my builds, and will probably take me across the next 12 months given my normal speed! I hope you will all be interested enough to keep going and to follow me along the way. Anyway, I guess a few photos are in order? Well, here are the three subjects: Credit: Public Domain It will be "4241" Credit: Public Domain Credit: Public Domain For references I have a lot of Starfighter stuff. Here's a selection. Of course, the web helps a lot! For the decals I have already got the Taiwanese sorted by using the Best Fong (for 4241) and Frontpenny (for 4356) sets: and for 55-2963 (clearly not the FAU and F-84F stuff!) : The kits: Aftermarket: If it all goes okay I then have a TF-104G to build! Back soon!!! Martin

The wing pylon on the F-104A and F-104C is mounted at 90-degree to the wing. However, the wing-mounted droptank is installed with its fins parallel to the ground. Am wondering whether there is an adapter to mount the droptank to the canted pylon or the droptank is actually mounted diametrically onto the pylon directly but the tailcone with the fin is rotated to have the fins parallel to the ground. A close-up photo of the pylon/droptank interface will help, but has been searching in vain. Or is there someone who is familiar with this and can provide leads ? Warmest regards, YK