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TF-104G STARFIGHTER

First look at Italeri 1/32 TF-104G Starfighter

T

he F-104 Starfighter’s safety

record was the worst of all

the USAF century-series

fighters that were introduced in

the 1960s: so bad, in fact, that the

Germans called it the Widowmaker.

So it was no surprise that 220

two-seat trainers were produced,

mainly for use by foreign users

to introduce pilots to the type.

The TF-104 G was a simple

conversion, necessitating the

removal of one of the fuselage

fuel tanks to fit in a second

cockpit and the addition of the

distinctive long canopy. Though

combat capable the aircraft had

its internal cannon removed and

was rarely seen with weapons. The

final TF and F-104G Starfighters

in service were retired in 2004, 44

years after their introduction into

service and the longest-lived of

all the century-series fighters.

THE KIT

When Italeri released their

superb F-104C and G Starfighters

in 2013/14, it was only a matter

of time before they released a

two-seat version. It took a bit

longer than expected, but on

opening the box I was immediately

impressed with the contents.

One sprue has been changed to

supply the two-seat fuselage and the

second cockpit tub. The detail is to

a very high standard and will need

careful painting to make the best of

it. This is helped by the instruction

booklet which gives a clear painting

guide. Sadly, it is only referenced to

Italeri’s own paint range, which is

not available in the UK. But you do

have the relevant Federal Standard

paint codes so it should be a fairly

easy task to find the right colour

in the brand of your choice.

The clear sprue has also been

modified to reproduce the sleek

lines of the two–seater’s canopy.

A small sheet of etched brass

supplies the seatbelts for either

the original Lockheed C-2 seat or

the Martin-Baker seat used by the

majority of users. The brass fret also

supplies a lot of the smaller details

on the cockpit sill and on the inside

of the enlarged canopy, which are

normally missing from most kits.

As in the previous kit’ you

can make a nice diorama, as

the tail section and the nicely

detailed engine can be displayed

on the two maintenance stands

in the box. You also get a good

representation of the cockpit ladder.

But the standout feature of this

kit is the decals; superb does not

really do them justice. Supplied

on two sheets, every stencil and

marking is perfectly printed

and will easily take a number

of evenings’ work to apply.

Markings are supplied for

eight aircraft from seven nations,

so you have plenty of choice for

your final colour scheme.

• 
  
  
  
  1. TF-104G, 20-5, 20° Gruppo/4°
     Stormo/A MI, Grosseto, Italy,
  
  
  2. This and Option 2 are
     in the Italian schemes of
     aluminium lower surfaces with
     grey and green camouflage.
     Both options have attractive
     squadron insignias on the tail.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  2. TF-104G, 4-23, 20° Gruppo/4°
     Stormo/AMI, Grosseto, Italy, 1986.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  3. TF-104G, BB+386, 4th
     Training Squadron/OTU 10/
     Luftwaffe, Norvenich AB,
     Germany, 1964. This option
     has white upper wings with an
     attractive aluminium fuselage
     and natural metal tail areas.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  4. CF-104D, 12633, 1st Wing/
     RCAF, Lahr AB, Germany, 1966.
     This aircraft has an overall
     painted aluminium fuselage with
     white upper wing surfaces.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  5. TF-104G, 13076, 69 TFTS/58
     TFTW/USAF, Luke AFB, USA, 1976
     (bicentennial markings). One of
     the most photographed TF-104s is
     this example in the same colours
     as Option 4 but with colourful
  
  
  
  

bicentennial markings on the tail.

• 
  
  
  
  6. TF-104G, 104-22/CEB-2,
     Escuadron 104/Spanish AF,
     Torrejon AB, Spain, 1968. Another
     natural metal example but quite a
     Plain Jane, with no unit markings.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  7. TF-104G, FC11, 10th Wing/Belgian
     AF, Kleine-Brogel AB, Belgium,
  
  
  8. The classic Southeast Asia
     tan and two green upper surfaces
     and light grey lower surfaces.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  8. TF-104G, D-5803, Royal
     Netherlands AF, Volkel AB, The
     Netherlands, 1977-78. Another
     grey and green camouflage, which
     is similar to the Italian schemes
     but using different paint shades.
  
  
  
  

CONCLUSION

I always find two-seat aircraft more

attractive than single-seaters, and

this is really true of the Starfighter.

Another advantage is that the

very short wings mean it does

not take up as much shelf space

as most 1/32 scale fighters.

Our thanks to Italeri and the

Hobby Company for supplying

the review sample, which will

be on the model shop shelves

by the time you read this.

44 • NOVEMBER 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

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040-45-FirstLooks-1118.indd 44 12/10/2018 15:59