F-104G Luftwaffe Starfighter – Hasegawa 1/72
I finally found the missing gas tank behind a book shelf!
I actually completed this build about 9 months ago but could not find the starboard wing gas tank which was found just a few days ago as I did some rearranging of shelving.
This was one of my first full acrylic paint project when I was getting back into the hobby in the last year.
The kit is the great Hasegawa 1/72 Kit # 1002 F-104G Luftwaffe/Marineflieger with excellent recessed panel lines, great part count and excellent fitting.
I chose the Olive/Grey camo scheme of JBG31 has always been a scheme that I have always liked.
This was a 'used' kit I purchased which had most of its fuselage assembled, I figured it would be great practice and if things did not work out I'd have a few spare parts.
Using Tamiya X-11 Silver, XF-58 Olive Green & XF-53 Neutral Grey for paints and thinning with X20A.
Also used XF-21 Sky for the front radome. I had to mix my own Orange, mixing Insignia Yellow and Italian Red to get the required tone.
All sprayed with my ancient Paasche external mix airbrush ( I did get a new H-1 tip after this build)
I did notice the rear stabilizer is actually painted backwards as I accidentally flipped the symmetrical piece while I did the masking - oops!
The kit decals were THICK and had some yellowing, sun bleaching helped reduce the yellow tint.
Future before decaling - I had some of the decals pull the paint, I must have applied the decals too early on the water based acrylic. I few touch ups corrected the hairline cracks and then used Micro Satin to finish.
I also did a little update on my old ESCI Kit 9044 - Getting too close to an incandescent bulb one day resulted in the ESCI plane having its stabilizer being warped. Having an extra part meant I could get that painted and replaced.
The two F-104's now sit together.
9 additional images. Click to enlarge.
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- 1. Wrapped part replaced on the older kit
Bernard Bedeur said on February 11, 2021
Very nice 1/72 missile with a man in it !
George Schembri said on February 11, 2021
Thanks Bernard
It’s amazing this plane ‘flies’ at all.
Greg Kittinger said on February 11, 2021
Great looking Starfighter (and what a cool name, yes?)! I've got that same old kit, and want to do it in the same scheme. I really like the modern Luftwaffe schemes.
George Schembri said on February 11, 2021
Thanks Greg, it’s a real nice kit.
Hope to see yours soon.
Spiros Pendedekas said on February 11, 2021
This is such a superb build, George @georgeswork!
I love the splinter style camo a lot!
The underside "white aluminum" turned out magnificent, too.
It's so nice to see good kits (as the Hasegawa kit deifnitely is), built in such excellency.
Well done!
George Schembri said on February 11, 2021
Thanks Spiros!
It was a great confidence builder when I started building again.
John vd Biggelaar said on February 11, 2021
A fantastic result on this 104, George. @georgeswork
Those 104's are bringing back some great memories.
George Schembri said on February 11, 2021
Thanks so much John.
The F-104 must be in my ‘top 5 ‘ category of aircraft, and this camo scheme is also in my ‘top 5’.
Allan J Withers said on February 11, 2021
Nicely done George, they look good.
George Schembri said on February 12, 2021
Thanks Allan.
Robert Royes said on February 12, 2021
Great job on both kits!
George Schembri said on February 12, 2021
Thanks Rob.
Tom Bebout said on February 12, 2021
Nicely done George, had several Luftwaffe 104's do some mock strafing runs on my unit during a NATO exercise while stationed in Germany in the 70's. Quite an impressive bird to say the lease. But George, I have to ask, how in god's name did that tank end up on that book shelf?
George Schembri said on February 12, 2021
Thanks Tom.
‘Startling strafing starfighters’ - now that’s a tongue twister!
I had all the final bits in a small Tupperware when something flipped it over and sent all the pieces in the air, I found them all except for the wing tank - I never would have guessed it was behind the book shelf.
Don Weixl said on February 12, 2021
You can never have enough Starfighters! Very nice builds on both of yours.
George Schembri said on February 12, 2021
Thanks Don - I do have plans for a couple more.
Phil Steele said on February 12, 2021
Nice ! I built four of these within a six year period, all in Canadian markings. Good kits for the price.
George Schembri said on February 12, 2021
Thanks Phil.
I’m actually thinking CAF Tiger Meet next 🤔
Johan Wibergh said on February 12, 2021
That’s where I always keep my gastanks... behind the book shelves 🤣😂
Anyways.. superb build and paintjob on the ”one-man-missile” 👍🏻
George Schembri said on February 12, 2021
Thanks Johan
It never ceases to amazing just where you can find missing parts.
Tom Cleaver said on February 12, 2021
Very nice work on this one, George - and the F-104C! That "classic" Bundesluftwaffe scheme always looks good.
George Schembri said on February 12, 2021
Thanks Tom.
That warped tail always bugged me. I can now move it up to the front of the shelf.
DE4EVER said on February 13, 2021
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
This is surely a very pleasing and elegant model George.
Clean job and a spectacular paint job.
Looking at both models, one can only imagine how impressive it would be too see
a Starfighter collection, in the same scale, different schemes and national markings.
Nice work, thank you for sharing these images.
George Schembri said on February 13, 2021
Thanks DE4EVER.
I do have a few more Starfighters to build - different kits - all different schemes.