Excellent progress, my friend @uscusn! Indeed, notable differences.

Unlike the Hase kit which starts with the seat, Eduard's starts with the instrument panel.

The kits panel is well detailed but will have them sanded off to make way for the PE panels to be applied.

Each PE panel is carefully placed on the IP. Starting with center components working out to the outer panels then to the top gauges.

Next up the control stick is painted white. And then placed on the LH front portion of the console.

The PE side console panels have been attached at this time as well.

Next to install the cockpit rear panel.

Finally the center control stick is installed.

Next up the main gear and nose gear bay and engine exhaust nozzle.

more to follow

Excellent cockpit, my friend @uscusn!

Happy Easter/Ressurection Sunday everyone. Witbh tht cockpit done, next to work on the exhaust nozzle assy.

The interior is painted with a mix of Vallejo metallics. Before assembling. I left the exhaust nozzle off. I will paint and install towards the end of the build.

Next is to work on the nose gear well bay. This is differs from the Hase kit which has this moulded into the lower section of the nose insert. Eduards/Kinetic has more details involved as separate side walls, roof and front and rear walls. And a bit deeper.

All the interior of the nose gear bay is Aluminum lacquer.

An Eduard's PE panel is attached to the LH side wall of nose bay.

The rest of the parts are ready to start to assemble.

The RH side wall is attached to the roof panel, then one of the acuator arms is also attached. These are moulded into the nose bay on the Hase F-104.

Next the rear wall is attached.

Next the other actuator is installed, the LH side wall and forward wall.

Next the wheel bay assembly is installed into the front lower fuselage insert.

Like the Hase F-104, the nose cone is in upper and lower halves.

The nose cone is assembled and put aside.

Next up assemble the main gear bay...

More to follow...

Excellent progress indeed, my friend @uscusn!
Happy Easter!

Back to the Eduard's F-104, will resume with the main gear bay assembly. The roof, ft and rear wheel bay walls and center divider.

The bay assembles rather quickly and the parts fit well. The details are much sharper here compared to the Hase F-104, slight improvement otherwise. Once completed as a sub assembly ready to install into the RH fuselage half.

Next a pair of square holes are opened to accomodate the external fuel probe.

The canopy, main gear bay and avionics bay are placed into the RH side fuselage, And the LH side is mated to seal the interior components, it aligned perfectly. whew!

The top seams are nice and will be easy to clean up with no putty required.

From the top, the cockpit and avionics bay sit square with in the fuselage. The seat will be installed later in the build.

Next is to remove the details to install the rather comprehensive PE enhancement bits to follow.

Now to apply the Eduards PE bits.

Patience will leave a very nice looking avionics bay which will be diplayed opened.

Once the main bits were applied. The smaller detailed boxes, conduits really pops when attached over the main pieces.

Next up to install the fuselage inserts and more into the cockpit.

More to follow...

Superb work on the wheel and avionics bays, Chuck @uscusn

This session is to install the various insert plugs into the lower fuselage.

The forward section also contains the nose gear well. A bit deeper and more detailed compared to the Hase F-104.

The center section that also covers the main gear bay center brace divider. Also a lead weight is secured using cyno cement.

Once the weight has set, the insert is then installed to the fuselage. A bit of foam got stuck under the insert when cementing the weight. This will be sanded off.

Next the rear panel is inserted into the rear lower section of the fuselage. The fit of the 3 inserts is not perfect, but not a real issue, some clean up with a few swipes of a sanding stick will take care of that and some filler.

Next is to assemble the vertical and flying horizontal stab.

The rudder is a separate 1 piece part and is attached to the vertical tail.

Now the signature all flying horizontal stabilator/elevator. 2 parts make up the stab.

The extension is cemented in place on the stab. The Hase stab this part was moulded in place.

Next the stab is then cemented to the vertical tail, careful that it is horizontal to the tail, not crooked.

The IP top panel is then painted Khaki Green and Nato Black,.

Then placed over the IP and installed.

Next is to assemble and install the intakes and then the wings.

More to follow...