Excellent job, my friend @uscusn!

Catching up on the Italian Starfighter. Working under the fuselage.

1st the nose gear bay insert is installed. Not a perfect fit but will be easy to clean u[.

Next is the rear panel just forward of the main gear bay.

Next back over the top forward nose section.

The rear avionics bay hatch. The rear deck is painted black.

The nose cone halves are assembled.

Next up is to assemble the wings and install.

More to follow.

Really good progress, Chuck @uscusn

This session will start with assembling the wings.

The lower panels will need to have holes opened for the wing pylons.

Once assembled the wings are installed. Nice fit, minimal gaps if any. Now she is looking like a Starfighter wth the stubby wings attached.

Next the famous T-tail is next to be assembled.

First with the rudder is first attached to the vertical tail.

Next the all flying horizontal stab is attached to the tail/rudder. Carefully making sure it sets on an even plane. A slight slant either way will be noticeable and will ruin that unique look the F-104 tail is.

Once the tail is set. Next step is assembling the intakes. But first to paint the shock cones Black as well as the leading edge of the intakes.

Tape removed and the shock cone is attached to the LH side fuselage.

Then the outer intakes are attached over the shock cones. Everthing fits well. Minor seam clean up was expected.

Next some work under the air frame and the cockpit.

More to follow.

1 additional image. Click to enlarge.

Some really good progress, Chuck @uscusn
She definitely looks like a Starfighter now.

Catching up on the Starfighter, first attaching the lower center strake under the rear fuselage section.

Next the nose cone is atttached. Did sneak in a lead weight just to assure a natural stance not a tail sitter.

Now to assemble the distinctive wing tip drop tanks.

Each tank are in halves with 4 round inserts and lamps.

A little tricky at first but each insert is attached to a tank half before mating the halves. But before that, don't forget the clear lenses.

Once the tanks are assembled, next are the tail fins.

The fin slips into a slot at the tail end of the tank, the longer side faces outward.

Next is to attach the smaller fin into the main fin.

The tanks are temporarily attached to the wingtips. Now you can see the profile of the F-104.

Next to add flaps, ailerons and leading edge slats.

More to follow.

Excellent progress, my friend @uscusn!

Thanks John and Spiros, going to step up on this project and wind it down.
Thanks George, a kit I have had in the stage for well over 20 years. I was happy to finally build it and as an Italian F-104, something a bit different,