Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter – Part One – Widowmaker?

Well we got that one in print right off. You’ll see it repeatedly in the sensational press – attached to the F-104 in German service. You can read how many of them got into trouble, then look at what they hung off them and how they used them…and draw your own conclusions. The RCAF flew them as air defence interceptors in North America and Europe and the planes weren’t falling out of the sky for them...

This Academy model is nothing if not appealing. The price was under three fins and that was at the expensive store, too.

The sprue trees were slick as a whistle, but closer inspection showed that they might have been just a little too clean. Like a fair number of the older jet planes, this model was produced with nothing inside – and big holes left open to let you see it.

The air brake hatches open, but there’s just open air inside them. The nose wheel is on a rotating mount, but no wheel well. And no wheel wells for the main gear, either. It is not a heavy model…

The most disturbing aspect is in the cockpit – the seat casting and cockpit floor/dash are all one piece and it is a pretty crude piece at that. Looks more like a church pew than a combat seat. The pilot is an alien from Roswell…

All of which is a damned shame as the clear styrene canopy is quite well-made and opens on a considerable view of the contents.

You may draw your own conclusions as to the usefulness of the paperwork – the Bundesmarine decals are no use to me, but there are a few plane markings that will assist with the final scheme.

A bargain, but a basic one.

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