Giorgio N Posted July 30, 2012 Posted July 30, 2012 Welcome all to the F-104 STGB, group build dedicated to one of the most spectacular aircraft ever built ! The F-104 was the first Mach-2 fighter to ever enter service in any air force. When it first flew it looked like nothing else had ever looked before and even now, almost 50 years later, its shape still reminds everybody of the way people imagined the future in the '50s. When the Starfighter entered service, the edge in performance over the existing aircrafts was impressive and soon it started to break records. The aircraft held many world record for speed, altitude and time-to-climb, often at the same time. Later it entered service in many air forces and in its F-104G variant it became the most important "tactical" (read nuclear armed.. ) type of the NATO, so providing a huge contribution to the balance of power during the cold war. And years after the end of the cold war, it was still operational, more than 40 years after the prototype first flight. While serving in so many air forces, the type also carried a huge number of camouflage schemes and markings. Moreover, it was one of the best canvases for special markings in many ar forces. Last but not least: it was maybe the most controversial aircraft ever ! The high accident rate and the controversy over bribes in several export contracts brought this aircraft on the first page in the news so many times that there even songs made about it. Even today the 104 divides opinions like few aircrafts an do. So you've got an aircraft with the looks, a true milestone in aviation history, a widely used type with an important part in the history of the 20th century, that carried many camo and special schemes and that also has a bit of a lurid underground story to make it more intetresting.... what else do you need to start thinking of building your own version of the famous "Missile with a Britmodeller in it"
AndyC Posted July 30, 2012 Posted July 30, 2012 Gawd! How quickly has this come about? I'm going to delay posting any start on this until I have reviewed where I am on all these GB's...
CatcliffeDemon Posted July 30, 2012 Posted July 30, 2012 Well this is tempting, I've always liked the colour schemes that the JASDF examples wore.
Deacon Posted August 1, 2012 Posted August 1, 2012 (edited) Andy C a sensible guy as I'm possibly setting too many hares running, but this is the ideal GB for a build I have been wanting to do since I got the decals. I'd like to enter a 1:72 F-104G Starfighter FX-52 of the 31st Tiger Squadron, Belgian Air Force in the 1972 Tiger Meet colours. Deacon Edited August 1, 2012 by Deacon
Giorgio N Posted August 1, 2012 Posted August 1, 2012 Andy C a sensible guy as I'm possibly setting too many hares running, but this is the ideal GB for a build I have been wanting to do since I got the decals.I'd like to enter a 1:72 F-104G Starfighter FX-52 of the 31st Tiger Squadron, Belgian Air Force in the 1972 Tiger Meet colours. Deacon Great, will be good to see a Tiger Meet scheme ! The Lock-On book on the F-104 has the correct scheme, if you don't have that book let me know and I'll send you a scan of the scheme, Gawd! How quickly has this come about? I'm going to delay posting any start on this until I have reviewed where I am on all these GB's... Andy, not to worry: join whenever you have time. I have to say that I'll not be able to start immediately myself... Well this is tempting, I've always liked the colour schemes that the JASDF examples wore. No reason to resist the temptation ! A Jasdf aircraft will be welcome.
DaveJL Posted August 1, 2012 Posted August 1, 2012 Tempted with this myself! Always wanted to build one....anybody have a spare 1/48 Hasegawa kit? Dave
JMChladek Posted August 1, 2012 Posted August 1, 2012 (edited) To quote Dr. Sam Beckett from Quantum Leap... Oh boy. I've got a few F-104s in my stash in the main scales and have wanted an excuse to build one. Some leading candidates I am considering include: NASA F-104N in the white and blue scheme NASA TF-104 in white and blue scheme (basically robbing the white and blue decals from the Hasegawa F-104N to use on the two seater) Red Barron F-104 AFFTC rocket engined NF-104A (I've got an conversion set for it, but may table that for a bit) Zombite fighter from an episode of Thunderbirds (it used an F-104 kit as its basis) I'll consider my options carefully... Edited August 6, 2012 by JMChladek
Bertie McBoatface Posted August 2, 2012 Posted August 2, 2012 Zombite fighter from an episode of Thunderbirds (it used an F-104 kit as its basis)I'll consider my options carefully... And a Hustler engine pod? OMG, I AM a nerd!
JMChladek Posted August 2, 2012 Posted August 2, 2012 Yup, that's the one! Unfortunately I don't have a proper scale engine pod from a Hustler to use.
Giorgio N Posted August 2, 2012 Posted August 2, 2012 Both the Nasa aircrafts and the Red Baron sound intriguing. Of course the NF-104 would be great !!!
TonyGol Posted August 2, 2012 Posted August 2, 2012 If anyone is interested and short of a F-104 I have a couple up for grabs in the Trade section. Tony.
SaintsPhil Posted August 4, 2012 Posted August 4, 2012 Can anyone suggest a good a good source of generic stencil decals for the F104C? I've had a looking Hannants but there only seems to be NATO operators!
Giorgio N Posted August 4, 2012 Posted August 4, 2012 Can anyone suggest a good a good source of generic stencil decals for the F104C? I've had a looking Hannants but there only seems to be NATO operators! I believe that the only option is to find the sheet made by Victory Productions for the USAF and NASA Starfighter. Might not be easy to find...
DaveJL Posted August 4, 2012 Posted August 4, 2012 May I join in on this? Have a kit, but unsure weather to make it as a CF-104, or a F-104J (probably the latter if i can get my hands on the Twobobs 'komatsu Starfighters' decals!) Cheers Dave
Giorgio N Posted August 4, 2012 Posted August 4, 2012 May I join in on this? Have a kit, but unsure weather to make it as a CF-104, or a F-104J (probably the latter if i can get my hands on the Twobobs 'komatsu Starfighters' decals!)Cheers Dave Dave, you're welcome to join ! Looks like both the canadian and japanese starfighters will be well represented, not surprising considering their colour scheme ! Dont' forget that the group build has now started ! My models will have to wait a week or so before I can actually start, but I hope to see some other models being built in the meantime.
kpc7676 Posted August 5, 2012 Posted August 5, 2012 Dont' forget that the group build has now started ! My models will have to wait a week or so before I can actually start, but I hope to see some other models being built in the meantime. I am ready to go, may get a start this afternoon all going well, if not through the week sometime. Thoroughly looking forward to the challenges it will present me.
Stewie Posted August 5, 2012 Posted August 5, 2012 FINALLY a GB for my favorite plane in the world. I plan on a single & dual seat European 104. I have always loved this jet and look forward to sharing my interest with others of my favorite plane Cheers Brian(F-104nut)
Giorgio N Posted August 14, 2012 Posted August 14, 2012 (edited) Folks, I have to apologize for having disappeared for a few days, I had to leave for a while and had no internet connection... good to see there have been several new builds started in the meantime !!! Edited August 14, 2012 by Giorgio N
rx79guntank Posted August 16, 2012 Posted August 16, 2012 Hi, sorry for sounding a bit lost, but I am interested in joining this Groupbuild! It's my first one here, so how do I join? Can I sign up here?
Giorgio N Posted August 16, 2012 Posted August 16, 2012 Hi, sorry for sounding a bit lost, but I am interested in joining this Groupbuild! It's my first one here, so how do I join? Can I sign up here? You just signed up by showing your interest here ! To take part, just start a thread where you'll show your progress. Welcome to the F-104 STGB !!!
rx79guntank Posted August 16, 2012 Posted August 16, 2012 Thank you! The build post is coming up soon.
PaulR Posted August 18, 2012 Posted August 18, 2012 Hallo there, was just wondering if there are any group build banners I could, er, pinch? Yours cheekily, Paul
JohnT Posted September 18, 2012 Posted September 18, 2012 Just a note to say that I signed up for this GB (and the V Bomber) but due to my resigning from my job and starting up a new firm from scratch my modelling time is shot as need to ensure cash coming in to put food on table while running around all the red tape issues. I get about 5 mins on the site during the odd lull so apologies to all for letting the side down. If I do get some time I'll have a crack at one in the stash - promise JohnT
kpc7676 Posted September 26, 2012 Posted September 26, 2012 Guys. Just about to put the intake pieces over the splitter plates of my CF-104D, and was just wondering if there was a panel line along this join, or will I have to fill it? Hope to hear from someone asap, want to get to the painting stage over this weekend. Cheers in advance.
Recommended Posts