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KIT: |
Hasegawa 1/72 F-104G/S Starfighter |
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KIT # |
51525 |
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PRICE: |
$15.00 (in 1990) |
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DECALS: |
Three aircraft; see review |
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REVIEW & |
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NOTES: |
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HISTORY |
With much surprise amongst aviation watcher, the F-104 Starfighter was chosen by NATO as their standard ground attack aircraft in the late 1960s. Surprise because the F-104 was designed as a fast point defense fighter, able to quickly get off the ground and up to intercept incoming enemy bombers. Carrying a lot of ordnance wasn't in the original design. However, Lockheed designed an improved version that was to be the F-104G, which was not only a decent interceptor, but was also to prove to be a good ground attack aircraft. Hard points were installed under the fuselage and wing stations were also included to carry a variety of ordnance. Other than a few aircraft, most of them were built in factories in Europe. A similar aircraft was also license built in Japan and Canada.
It is probably Italy that has gotten the most mileage out of the F-104. In addition to home-built F-104G models, the Italians developed an improved version with a higher powered engine. This was the F-104S. It can be differentiated from the 104G by the addition of two small ventral strakes in addition to the single centerline one. The 104S also has larger engine intakes, stronger landing gear, and larger wheels which require bulged wheel well doors. It was further developed into an ultimate interceptor as the F-104S ASA, which is still flying.
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THE KIT |
Before Hasegawa released this kit, there was no lack of Starfighter kits on the market. Revell had done one way back in the early 60s. Others were produced by Airfix, Matchbox, Heller, and Hasegawa itself in the late 1960s/early '70s. In the 80's a very good kit was released by ESCI and a few years later an equally nice one by Revell. Both of these had engraved panel lines and very good detail. All these were in 1/72 or close to it.
In the late 1980's Hasegawa moved the notch up one more time with a series of F-104 kits covering all of the large rudder versions including the F-104J, G, S as well as the CF-104 and the two seaters. These modular kits are the best on the market in this scale of this aircraft. They are highly detailed and include many optional features including positionable landing gear and canopy. Unfortunately, it does not include underwing weapons, that having to come from the weapons sets! This particular boxing includes parts for both the F-104G, CF-104, and F-104S. The sprue for the 104S is marked in red in the image above.
The instructions are superb as one expects from the world's
premier 1/72 aircraft kit maker. All variants are noted in the instructions as
well as color call outs using Gunze paint numbers. The decals are for three very
specially painted aircraft. The first is the box art aircraft from 51 Stormo of
the Italian AF. This is the famous 'cat and mice' unit and this is portrayed on
one side of the plane. The other is the standard AMI camouflage scheme. Next is
a special scheme from JBG 32 of the Bundeswaffe, and finally, the 'red Indian'
scheme of 421 Squadron, Canadian Air Force. All are very nicely done.
It is this writer's suspicion that much of this kit was pantographed up to make the new 1/48 F-104 kit that was recently released by Hasegawa. Perhaps those who have built both will be able to tell me.
Many thanks to my suffering credit card for supplying the preview kit.
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