The F-104 Starfighter was an American jet fighter, designed by the Lockheed Aircraft Company in early 1950s. Radical in concept, it was the first operational interceptor capable of sustained speeds above Mach 2. Its prototype flew in 1954 and the first series aircraft were delivered four years later.
The F-104 was a single-seat, all-metal mid-wing monoplane powered by a GE J79 turbojet. It had two fuselage-side air intakes, small thin wings with a pronounced anhedral and a T-tail. Its nose undercarriage retracted forward. It mounted one multi-barrel gun in the nose, two Sidewinder missiles at each wingtip and optionally also another pair of AAMs beneath the fuselage or wings.
The F-104G was the most important version, based on the previous C model, modified to serve as a multi-role, all-weather fighter. It possessed a strenghtened structure and enlarged tail surfaces. It was fitted with improved electronics and carried heavier weapons load. This Starfighter version was earmarked for production in Europe, where substantial numbers were built by Fiat, Fokker, Messerschmitt/MBB and SABCA for local air forces, but this variant was also built by Canadair and Lockheed. In total, some 1,120 F-104Gs were built. Concurrently, a gunless reconnaissance version, the RF-104G, was produced, but in service a number were modified to G model’s fully armed standard.
West Germany’s two air arms, the Luftwaffe and the Marineflieger, operated a total of 749 F/RF-104Gs between 1961 and 1991. Italian Air Force received 125 F/RF-104Gs and used them from early 1960s until 1993. The Netherlands took delivery of 120 Fokker and Fiat-built F/RF-104Gs and flew them in the period 1962-84. Spanish Air Force utilised 18 F-104G Starfighters between 1965 and 1972.
Colour schemes included in the kit:
1) Lockheed (MBB-built) F-104G Starfighter, s/n 2672 (c/n 7418), Black 26+72, MFG 2 (Marinefliegergeschwader, Naval Air Wing), Federal German Navy (Bundesmarine), Eggebek Air Base, West Germany, early 1980s
2) Lockheed (Fiat-built) F-104G Starfighter, MM6559, White 3-41, 28º Gruppo ‘Streghe’ (‘Witches‘ Sq.), 3º Stormo Caccia (Fighter Wing) ‘C.E. Buscaglia’, Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI), Villafranca Air Base, Italy, mid-1980s
3) Lockheed (Fokker-built) F-104G Starfighter, s/n D-8091 (c/n 8091), Black D-8091/‘KLu 65’, No.312 Sq., Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Volkel Air Base, during KLu Open Day (commemorating the 65th anniversary of the RNethAF, flown by Capt. Hans van der Werf), Deelen Air Base, the Netherlands, June 1978
4) C.8 (Canadair-built F-104G) Starfighter, C.8-17, s/n 63-13638 (c/n 6087), Black 104-17, 104 Esc. (Sq.), Ala de Caza 16 (Fighter Wing), Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire, EdA), Torrejon Air Base, Spain, 1968-71
Two injection-moulded kits are included in this box; each kit contains 38 parts and one clear part (the cockpit canopy). One additional sprue, with 10 new parts, is also supplied. A comprehensive instruction leaflet and a decal sheet are included.
https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MKM144107
£17.99
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