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AMI Starfighter


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Hi Everyone

 

It's been a while since I started something new and I've wanted to have a go at one of the new Kinetic 104's for a while so after picking up this kit on ebay for a good price it wasn't ever going to sit in the stash for very long. 

 

The plastic looks very nice in the box. Kind of a combination of the still very nice Hasegawa kit and the Daco improvement set for that kit. i.e no rivets. The plastic actually feels very similar to that in the Daco set. My boxing is the Klu version but any G model can be built. I'll also probably use one or two bits from the above mentioned Daco set for the Hasegawa kit.

 

50621191628_5bc5a5f3b7_c.jpg64E8E08A-1A54-4055-901F-633CAF29FFA5 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

I've decided to go for an Italian 104 using Sky Decals and thanks must go to @Giorgio N for helping to to narrow down subject matter and quite a lot of other details re AMI Starfighters. This build will be to represent serial number MM6529 3-01 of 134 Stormo around the mid 80's. The aircraft was originally constructed as an F-104G but was converted in 1975 to carry an Orpheous pod.

 

A couple of photos below of 3-01 in all her glory. I'm intending to model her with an Orpheous pod on the centre line pylon as one of 132 Stormo's role was as a recce unit.

 

50621189828_ab95e6eb2c_c.jpgA8F766AA-E728-48A8-8F71-3A92E9FF4944 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

50621191693_c2999100e4.jpg671C1FF9-CCF8-454E-A0DF-8A34647559F0 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

I made a start over the weekend and got some paint onto the cockpit parts but no weathering yet.

 

50628695358_456db4a1b4_c.jpg93D15B15-E93C-495C-9B66-BCC1754FDBD3 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

Martin Baker bang seat, to be painted.

 

50629438916_8bf1a81394_c.jpgC803C8A9-4E07-4BD7-8E9D-684295C63C46 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

The main gear bay painted with Tamiya LP-11.

 

50629535627_702327ab64_c.jpg437C70A4-111C-482F-8AD0-BCAD3556954E by James Halls, on Flickr

 

And the nose gear bay with the same paint.

 

50629435981_39a230d614_c.jpg48047D52-DA0B-4BF6-81B1-BAE1A3B934A8 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

And a shot of the rear fuselage just to show the lack of rivets.

 

50628693273_27f38276cb_c.jpg3E6EA7DF-C6BE-4164-BA50-ECF092054281 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

That's all for now.

 

Questions and comments welcome.

 

Thanks

 

James

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Hi James, great job! I love that well bay. :clap2:

If I may I would recommend a topic on an Italian forum that contains lots of info on Italian Starfighters, including the RF-104G, Orpheus pod and the Italian bang seat MB. IQ7-A with it's different headrest. 

It's in Italian language but I feel I can recommend it to all the people who are interested in Italian Starfighters.

 

 

Ciao.

Davide

Edited by davmarx
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great project!

 

The AMI Spillone  was the only Starfighter I every saw flying (out of Grosseto/ Tuscany in the very early 2000s) 🇮🇹 📌

never at an airshow though, there, only static :(

 

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10 hours ago, Harry Callahan said:

A nice start so far, i will follow your build report with big interest, coz i have two Kinetic 104 in my stash too.

Thanks Werner. Yeah it looks pretty good but we’ll see. 

 

8 hours ago, davmarx said:

Hi James, great job! I love that well bay. :clap2:

If I may I would recommend a topic on an Italian forum that contains lots of info on Italian Starfighters, including the RF-104G, Orpheus pod and the Italian bang seat MB. IQ7-A with it's different headrest. 

It's in Italian language but I feel I can recommend it to all the people who are interested in Italian Starfighters.

 

 

Ciao.

Davide

Davide. That’s a great link thanks very much. It look like I have the wrong head rest on my seat. That’s not a problem as I can use the correct one from Daco set. I’ve bookmarked the link for further use. Thanks again. 

 

7 hours ago, exdraken said:

great project!

 

The AMI Spillone  was the only Starfighter I every saw flying (out of Grosseto/ Tuscany in the very early 2000s) 🇮🇹 📌

never at an airshow though, there, only static :(

 

Thanks Werner. You’re a lucky man. I’ve only ever seen them fly on screen. Maybe the Norwegian TF will visit these shores one day soon. 

 

Thanks 

 

James

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1 hour ago, franky boy said:

Davide. That’s a great link thanks very much. It look like I have the wrong head rest on my seat. That’s not a problem as I can use the correct one from Daco set. I’ve bookmarked the link for further use. Thanks again. 

 

Happy to help, James.

 

I'm Italian and I'm 55 y.o. so the F-104, nicknamed in Italy the "Spillone" that more or less sounds like "long pin" or "long needle" is still in my hart because it was been the backbone of A.M.I. (Aeronautica Militare Italiana - Italian Air Force) for most of my life seeing it flying in the skys over my head for decades...  and now missing it a lot with it's unique sound...

I'm really glad to follow your work in progress.

 

SPILLONE FOREVER!!! :D

 

Ciao.

Davide

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Hi everyone

 

Time for another update. Just a small one.

 

All of the cockpit tub and side walls were painted with Hataka dark gull grey and then parts picked with other colours out where appropriate. I think it's quite nicely detailed out of the box and with areas like the the side consoles being mainly black then a wash and a dry brush are sufficient to bring out the details nicely. So, everything was then given a wash with a mix of 50/50 kleer and water with 50/50 of tamiya black and red brown mixed in to give some depth. This was then flat coated and dry brushed with Mr Hobby dark iron. Pics below.

 

50656629443_b9e8e327bb_c.jpg519B7E59-1842-401C-8C4F-18CBFCF7A216 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

50657452872_d0729e296a_c.jpgF581A117-9BC9-44A8-8B00-974876FDF126 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

50656621493_b2c627b1e6_c.jpgB0677680-6232-4905-B272-49A9BABC1C15 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

50656619788_11285647b4_c.jpg7CF675F9-1F91-40CB-877B-A339B9B0E88D by James Halls, on Flickr

 

The rear decking of the cockpit that covers the computer bay was painted tamiya nato back and the weathering applied as per the rest of the cockpit.

 

50656626248_529bb5c64e_c.jpg2A3C51D3-6D72-43CC-91F2-7B757A42A292 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

I decided to use an Eduard pre painted instrument panel as there was no decal provided for the kit one and I'm rubbish at painting instrument panels. As usual Eduard's colour match for the dark gull grey was pretty off so I did run around some of the panel with some of the Hataka paint to try and blend it all in a bit more with the rest of the cockpit.

 

50657357326_98314bbbb9_c.jpgB8D089B9-D07E-456B-9908-CB024E9C2D8D by James Halls, on Flickr

 

This is the part that sits at the front of the cockpit. The green part is fabric in reality and covers the workings for the gun site amongst other things and the rear part is a pull over screen to keep the sun off of the instrument panel. The instructions call for this part to be painted black but I noticed in photos of quite a few Italian 104's that this could also be a dark green colour so went with this.

 

50657359106_d9c5fbe194_c.jpg6B962DB8-D757-4544-8794-73265F2AB370 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

That's all for now. I actually got the fuselage buttoned up last night, sorry no pics, but it all went together really nicely and the inserts on the undersides also fitted well with a tiny amount of sanding here and there.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

James

 

 

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Nice.  Been looking at the Kinetic kit for a while.  I want to do either a German or Dutch model.  Always liked the noise.  Up there with the Lightning.  But their displays were something else.  Got one Dutch pilot to sign my calendar at the 83 airfete.  
 

eASXelP.jpg

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9 hours ago, bar side said:

Nice.  Been looking at the Kinetic kit for a while.  I want to do either a German or Dutch model.  Always liked the noise.  Up there with the Lightning.  But their displays were something else.  Got one Dutch pilot to sign my calendar at the 83 airfete.  
 

eASXelP.jpg

Thanks Bar Side. Get yourself one and you won’t be disappointed, it’s a really nice kit. 

 

I love the calender, I’d have that page open every month of every year. You’re a lucky man, I’ve never seen one fly in the flesh. 

 

James

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Sorry mate but I missed this post! It’s always fantastic to see one of Kelly Johnson’s beauties built! Even better is your subject. I was lucky to get a whole day visit to Villafranca in April 1986. I might even have a photo or two of 3-01 (I will check). :) Giorgio @Giorgio N is your perfect SME for the Starfighter :).

 

Good luck with the build!

 

Martin

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I found one @franky boy. As I remember we were on the 132 Grupo ramp and three taxied out from behind the hangar. The weather was crappy that day and I had Kodachrome 25 loaded :(. As a consequence the shutter speed was very low, hence the blur. Nevertheless, it was a great day! :)

 

 

star5

 

star29

 

Martin

 

 

 

 

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2 minutes ago, franky boy said:

@RidgeRunner Martin. Thanks for the photos and video. Talk howl of the banshee! What noise!

 

James

Fantastic times :). Volkel had regular Spottersdays and would put on a show. Other Dutch fields did too :)

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10 hours ago, franky boy said:

Thanks Bar Side. Get yourself one and you won’t be disappointed, it’s a really nice kit. 

 

I love the calender, I’d have that page open every month of every year. You’re a lucky man, I’ve never seen one fly in the flesh. 

 

James

Might have to do that.  Was between the Hasegawa or Kinetic kit, but I think Kinetic may have the edge.

Very lucky to have been taken to airshows as a kid & seen all sorts flying.  In the pre Ramstein crash days you could see a pair of Starfighter approach from either end of the field along the crowd line & break over your heads.  Or come in over the crowd & wind up the noise.  Not safe I am sure, but very impressive to see.

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1 hour ago, bar side said:

Might have to do that.  Was between the Hasegawa or Kinetic kit, but I think Kinetic may have the edge.

Very lucky to have been taken to airshows as a kid & seen all sorts flying.  In the pre Ramstein crash days you could see a pair of Starfighter approach from either end of the field along the crowd line & break over your heads.  Or come in over the crowd & wind up the noise.  Not safe I am sure, but very impressive to see.

That sounds like an awesome display. 
 

I’ve built both kits now while the Hasegawa kit is still nice I’d go for Kinetic one. And they’re roughly the same price to unless you get lucky on eBay. 

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Hi James ,

Nice subject !

Good start with the cockpit and wheel bay.

 

The link @Davmarx mentioned is probably one of the best sources you'll find about Italinan Starfighters. (Ciao Davide! Nice to find you here!!!!)

 

Your choice brings me back to when I was a bit younger and used to go outside the fences of Verona-Villafranca AFB for some spotting.

 

So I looked and found some old pictures and thought it was worth sharing them to give a little contribution in this Topic.They show some aircraftand the flightline of 132° Gruppo (Equivalent od Squadron) part od 3rd Stormo (equivalent of Wing). At the time, it was the reconnaissance unit for Italian Air Force).

 

The quality isn't good as these are scans of old printed pictures taken in 1981 with an old Kodak Instamatic, but hope they'll be appreciated.

T3IMho4.jpg

DHsPHBD.jpg

Lqe8siy.jpg

mKgxQ7c.png

2rZSJC7.jpg

y76TxFF.jpg

DyxbZ4M.jpg

A5NLxts.png

6rRmMVP.png

t6qXRKm.png

rC71jNi.jpg

1FRCPOc.png

aPjUQr9.png

57wLWBG.png

r7Sa50T.jpg

WDPxMlh.png

KqvDXZs.png

qGnQlch.png

MddewbA.png

gmiPSoN.png

W6v8jcZ.png

 

That's it!

I'll be watching closely!

 

Ciao

Massimo

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11 hours ago, Massimo said:

Hi James ,

Nice subject !

Good start with the cockpit and wheel bay.

 

The link @Davmarx mentioned is probably one of the best sources you'll find about Italinan Starfighters. (Ciao Davide! Nice to find you here!!!!)

 

Your choice brings me back to when I was a bit younger and used to go outside the fences of Verona-Villafranca AFB for some spotting.

 

So I looked and found some old pictures and thought it was worth sharing them to give a little contribution in this Topic.They show some aircraftand the flightline of 132° Gruppo (Equivalent od Squadron) part od 3rd Stormo (equivalent of Wing). At the time, it was the reconnaissance unit for Italian Air Force).

 

The quality isn't good as these are scans of old printed pictures taken in 1981 with an old Kodak Instamatic, but hope they'll be appreciated.

T3IMho4.jpg

DHsPHBD.jpg

Lqe8siy.jpg

mKgxQ7c.png

2rZSJC7.jpg

y76TxFF.jpg

DyxbZ4M.jpg

A5NLxts.png

6rRmMVP.png

t6qXRKm.png

rC71jNi.jpg

1FRCPOc.png

aPjUQr9.png

57wLWBG.png

r7Sa50T.jpg

WDPxMlh.png

KqvDXZs.png

qGnQlch.png

MddewbA.png

gmiPSoN.png

W6v8jcZ.png

 

That's it!

I'll be watching closely!

 

Ciao

Massimo

Hi Massimo

 

Welcome to the build and thanks for sharing your photos with us. Was that still the J79 engine at that time? The black smoke that they're chucking out!!  It's great that people have put up a few photo's and videos, I wasn't expecting that.

 

Davide's link is an epic source of info on Italian Starfighters and has now been book marked for future reference as I have a couple more planned for the future.

 

Until next time

 

James

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On 12/2/2020 at 9:16 AM, Massimo said:

Your choice brings me back to when I was a bit younger and used to go outside the fences of Verona-Villafranca AFB for some spotting.

Nice, Massimo! Me too :). I was fortunate because we used to operate morning and evening flights to Verona so I used to get a return ticket and spend the day there Watching the ‘104s  :).
 

Martin

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Hi everyone

 

Here's another update.

 

I had the day off yesterday, the wife was out and the kids were at school so I managed to spend more than 10 minutes in a row at he modelling bench for the first time in ages and push things on a bit.

 

The fuselage is together and all of the inserts in place. They mostly went in well with just a little bit of perfect plastic putty here and there and a few swipes of the sanding stick to tidy a few bits up. The only part that requires a bit more work is the decking for the rear cockpit that covers the electronics bay. I should have dry fitted these parts a bit better. They were a perfect fit without the electronics bay part in place but when in it's just pushed the fuselage out very slightly and caused a step. But hey, you live and learn.

 

50679240992_3eb655f2fd_c.jpg3A4C7CAD-8147-4E21-B414-350916FD915D by James Halls, on Flickr

 

She's starting to look like a Starfighter now.

 

50673492262_e1c4f3de03_c.jpg90FEBA08-860F-4635-B960-04B0D4B87DD3 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

50673473357_c126ac9b89_c.jpg770D3F3D-3AE3-4B05-9267-7B7E05BB2352 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

50673488062_feb21911c0_c.jpg60FE33CE-DC88-4948-A3A7-E907CEC12A0C by James Halls, on Flickr

 

I put these 3 blocks of square plastic rod into the recess for the centre line pylon as I want to mount an Orpheous pod here and there isn't a pylon included in the kit so I'll use the one from the Daco set but of course this is meant for the Hasegawa kit which is a little different. The Kinetic boxing with the correct pylon will I'm sure be released about a week after I finish this build!!

 

50678405588_85d2ede3a0_c.jpg1A21B0CB-ABFF-4FDE-A9BE-A6F6CF81EA18 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

I also got the wings together. The flaps have tabs on them for the raised or lowered position, you just snip of the ones that you don't want. A nice touch.

 

50673461202_5636e97be9_c.jpgD0FE4B0D-E1B7-4B80-A7AF-3258158CFF70 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

And to cap off a good mornings work the postman also delivered this little beauty which looks like a very good read!

 

50673384456_1c2ba716cd_c.jpg9150AF73-61D8-496C-9099-DBDC4A1F1A52 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

That's all for now.

 

Until next time

 

James

 

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  • 1 month later...

Hi everyone and happy new year.

 

Now that I've finished my Hurricane for the Med GB I thought it's about time that I kicked this one of again. So here's a small update.

 

The canopy -

 

First masked and glued in place. The fit was first rate.

 

50811371066_68ae7a0366_c.jpgA4EFE3C8-6A8B-4D8C-BBB3-F08037BC23D7 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

And then covered in Microscale Micro Mask fluid. I like that shade of blue. These were then sprayed with Hataka dark gull grey as per the rest of the cockpit and also the tubing for the canopy de-misting system supplied in the kit. Sorry no picture of these.

 

50811485262_b498e22845_c.jpgD45D57D1-09CC-4825-9C5C-DCA810AB7306 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

I also noticed this red box behind the seat in photos of the real aircraft. Does anyone know what it is?

 

50811485377_d62dd8e086_c.jpgF74D185B-365F-4ED3-A2B2-DA219C80C53C by James Halls, on Flickr

 

I've also put together and fitted the air intakes. I removed these ejection pin marks from the inside before spraying them silver and the lips and bullet parts Tamiya rubber black. These were a very good to with just a small bit of filler needed top and bottom.

 

50711247512_008f8d007c_c.jpg201087DD-81E3-4C91-9C0E-F27B6D74B9FD by James Halls, on Flickr

 

50711251422_04061b0dac_c.jpgF8EE7C96-1200-49D2-A4D4-8AFB8CFF53A3 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

50711253397_7134769904_c.jpg28ACDDC0-97CA-4D8C-B993-C953478B36C8 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

50811370991_4565b7a67c_c.jpgCA107995-9E62-4139-8500-4BA366B2F6B8 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

These are the underwing tanks from the kit together and seams sanded. The tip tanks are also in the same state.

 

50711255157_fa07d34879_c.jpg4B653A6E-DB15-49F3-87B3-43CBFF1B0288 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

 

I've also had time to get the Orpheous pod from the Daco set glued together. Does anyone know the colour of these in Italian service?

 

That's all for now. More updates to follow soon.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

James

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Hi everyone

 

More progress to share with you all on this wettest of days here in the UK.

 

So more bits from the Daco set. The centre line pylon and Orpheus pod. I think that you could use most of what's in the Daco set for this Kinetic to. There's a cavity where the pylon fits which is as per the real thing and if you dont want  to use the pylon there's a photo etched plate to fit over the cavity. Again as per the real aircraft. I filled this in with scrap plastic and sanded it smooth to have something to stick the pylon to. There isn't supplied in the kit.

 

50821329362_35328dbf1f_c.jpg5A965397-99C2-47F0-B122-C1EED4766EFF by James Halls, on Flickr

 

And pylon added.

 

50821329332_92220a69af_c.jpg583B8E77-224F-441C-864D-9822BFD9003E by James Halls, on Flickr

 

And here's Orpheus pod glued together.

 

50821231136_f36fdb56b1_c.jpg6E28EC70-3263-495E-AC08-C25C9D1A5D18 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

Next I fitted all of the lights under the nose and on the sides of the air intakes which all fitted well and masked them with liquid mask followed by the ones on the rear fuselage and on the spine above the electronics bay. These ones were a fiddle as they're tiny and also odd shaped. Next time I think I'll wait until after painting and pva glue them.

 

50832270898_81aa479839_c.jpg89BE74CF-4382-43B4-8E32-34524FB00815 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

The various aireals under the nose and on the spine were also fitted and the cockpit and wheel bays masked ready for primer.

 

50833095977_dc9a469098_c.jpg93D89A49-12CD-4390-9EC3-F5B199F7B577 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

50832270763_b8668b7b87_c.jpgB6035CE5-9E1E-4EBA-B995-9DBCD1F58178 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

50833096202_67b207e9c4_c.jpg6C4312D7-16B3-4437-9BDE-2DB0A51B1A2C by James Halls, on Flickr

 

And this is it as of now. Starting to look very Starfighterish and ready for some primer to check the various seems and joins and then onto painting.

 

50832270983_84a559a37e_c.jpg5622193F-8229-4A90-B690-23BB1C8B86F4 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking. Questions and comments welcome.

 

James

 

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