Monogram F-104G Starfighter
Hey Party People! Next up in my Good From Afar but Far From Good collection is this Monogram F-104G Starfighter. I scribed all the panel lines and scratch-built the retraction linkages on the main landing gear struts with lead wire and scrap plastic. The kit's exhaust can was replaced with a spare can from a Kinetic kit, and once I shortened the stock tail pipe it fit perfectly. The kit comes with launch rails for the wingtips, but in this edition there is no mention in the instructions of having to cut about 1/4 inch off of the wings in order to get them to fit. The kit missiles were a bit weak in detail, so I designed and printed my own AIM-9Bs and used them instead. As for the finish, I applied camouflage colors using MRP lacquers, decals for a German splinter scheme from XtraDecals and weathered with oils. It is still something I am learning but its fun so I will keep at it.
I have a couple more Monogram kits in progress but after that I will try to find a kit that requires less finessing to get the results I am after. Life is short and my spare time is scarce so I just want to get through a build so that I can spend more time on painting and weathering. Stay tuned to see what comes next!
Thatβs a very nice built Starfighter. Awesome photography too!
thank you! i think I am able to get better results from outside photography but I enjoy the photoshoots and learning from each session π
Looks very nice, the extra work you put in to it really paid off.
thanks Jay!
Excellent Starfighter, Ramon!
Cheers dude! π
Nice work, Ramon! The Monogram century series were great kits.
Thanks John, it was actually a bit of fun. I only had to fix my own mistakes twice before calling it done! π
Excellent build, Ramon.
thank you Rafi!
This German Starfighter looks amazing, Ramon @anvil6
Great work with all those extras.
Thanks John! This build was more fun than work but I am glad it is off my bench π
Looks great from here!
thanks Rob!
Looks great - your oil rendering is really nice - subtle shade changes.
Thanks Greg! Oil paint rendering is something that I have been trying to improve on, and its also a lot of fun for me! π
Nice build Ramon. Looks great!
Whenever I see this aircraft, I wonder how it gets airborne. It looks like it defies the laws of physics. Like how scientists say that Bees shouldn't fly but they do π
Thanks Scott! I think this thing just brute force launched itself into the air. Its pretty much a rocket with fins and a meat servo up front making the control inputs! ;-P
That's just awesome Ramon. You certainly have waved a wand of magic over the old Monogram Starfighter. Looks great in the splinter scheme.
Thanks Guy, I appreciate your kind words!
Very nice job on what is essentially a basic kit from decades past. You made that one a standout (but then maybe that's because I am looking at it from afar π - Cheers
Thanks for the kind words!