Matchbox stands, shaped as "M", done in clear sprue, with the "Lesney etc" internally imprinted were so cool, John@johnb. Also, many other companies included stands of various sizes and shapes. I use them for desktop models (of course), also to mount and display items like leftover engines from kits.

George @georgeswork, it is the exact same kit! Once you close everything, the only offending area is the cockpit. An underscale mummy pilot is provided; I am going to replace him with a leftover guy from a Heller Alpha Jet kit. With the help of a total black cockpit and 3ft min distance restriction to viewers, it might be passable...

The canopy is a real joke: its shape looks toyish; it has nice frames, BUT THEY ARE INTERNALLY MOLDED! Go figure...

The 23+25 Marineflieger F-104, looked like this in 17 July 1971:

It sported dark green/dark gray splinter top camo.

Seemingly, from 1972 onwards, the top was painted dark gray allover and the black antiglare area at the radome was deleted. Here's how she looked in 1980:

I find the splinter top camo interesting and unique, but also the single color later one is equally impressive, if not more...It will also be easier to paint 🙂

Anyway, decisions, decisions...

Sanding finished

A few bits to attach and onto the paint shop!

Coming along nicely Spiros, I quite like the later scheme, -----------
Jordyn, try putting a piece of sprue in some thinners and brushing it into place, see pic !

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

Pylons attached...

Since it is a Marine Flugzeug, I decided to add all 4 wing tanks (for longer missions), the central main pylon (to be mission ready, able to be loaded with offensive load) and the two Sidewinder belly pylons. No bombs/rockets are provided, only two Sidewinders, so I will install them too, my Marine Starfighter being configured as a QRA Interceptor, but keeping its central pylon for rapid config change, should op requirements change. I believe it's a real scenario...anyway, kids love stores!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks for the info, my friend @airbum!
So, may I suppose it will be a Marine recce bird, with maximum fuel capacity, in order to fly longer, armed with the two Sidewinders for its own defense?
Sounds about right to me!

Thanks, John @johnb!
The bulky center add-on is a recce pod, as our friend Erik @airbum pointed out, quite an impressive item! (I thought it was a badly raw molded central pylon...).
Yep, we are ready for some paint now!

What a great pic, my friend @johnb! Thanks for sharing it: this Starfighter looks wonderful!
Here's an update:
I painted the radome lightened Hu196 for the "off white" and the tip tanks Hu18, for the orange center part. Here they are:

Thanks John @johnb!
It is held by a pair of tweezers, the ones used to hold the decals in the water! It is hidden by the arm of my tanks holding device!