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Academy 1/72 F-104G Starfighter

Started by Spiros Pendedekas · 102 ≡ · ↻ 3 years ago · 1/72, Academy, F-104

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Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Couldn't choose a better aircraft for this posture, my friend @airbum! Or, maybe, the X-3 Stiletto?
Anyway, I thought that the undersides would be light gray; to my pleasant surprise they are RAL9006, ie white aluminum! To be honest, I had noticed ther metal shade at the ref pics, but still had the impression the the undersides were light gray. Now, that's a cool camo!
Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Radome and wing tanks masked

Ready for the undersides!
John vd Biggelaar said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Right on track, Spiros @fiveten
You will surely finish this one in time.
Looking forward for this RAL9006 result.
Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Thanks, my friend @johnb!
For the RAL9006, which is described as "white aluminum" I mixed equal quantities of Hu56 Aluminium, which I find a bit dark and lifeless, and Hu11 Silver. Here is the result, my Starfighter drying at the front yard:

Thanks for stopping by!
John vd Biggelaar said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Looking great, Spiros. @fiveten
Not an option today in the Netherlands to let it dry outside. All day rain.
Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Thanks my friend @johnb!
A coat of Future is laid, before going to work, in order for the RAL9006 to be sealed and protected:

Thanks for stopping by!
John vd Biggelaar said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Nice and uniform result, Spiros.
By seeing this 104, lots of memories pop up.
Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Thanks my friend @johnb!

It was September 1989, I was a young 2nd Lieutenant in 114CW, Tanagra AFB (the same one I am now based). One of the annual military exesrcises was taking place. It was about 09:30 am, when a quadruple of Starfighters, out of the blue, performed a simulated attack at the airfield: they appeared out of nowhere and out of silence, flying at "zero' level, fast and loud with smoking exhausts. The disappeared as fast as they appeared.

The sight was UNBELIEVABLE, leaving me astonished. This is how I remember our Starfighters.
John vd Biggelaar said 3 years, 9 months ago:

What a nice remembrance, Spiros @fiveten.

For me it was in the years 1985-1990, still a student, that I went as much as possible to the airfield by bike and with my camera. All day waiting and watching take-offs and landings of those 104's. Lots of impressive touch and goes.

Those good old days of smoking exhausts when using their afterburner.

One of my neighbours flew the 104 and he has some real nice stories about his missions.

Looking forward to your finished build.
Allan J Withers said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Nice progress and stories Spiros, ------- and John ! --------------
George Schembri said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Looking good Spiros, target date in site! The White Aluminum looks very good. You're making that Academy kit 'shine'!

John (@johnb) and Spiros (@fiveten), I think everyone has a memory of the Starfighter.

As a kid, I remember being at the Toronto Canadian Nation Exhibition Labour Day Weekend Airshow in and a pair of CF-104’s were there. One display was showing a difference in speed with one Starfighter doing a slow fly-by and then another zipping by at a much greater speed. I remember that the slower Starfighter appeared to be ‘fighting’ to stay in the air with a high angle of attack and you could hear the engine be throttled up and down as the pilot seemed to have the aircraft almost sitting on its tail. Never forget the sounds.
John Healy said 3 years, 9 months ago:

That’s coming along nicely, Spiros. Looks like an upgraded copy of the ancient original Hasegawa kit.
Morne Meyer said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Hi Spiros. This is another top notch offering from a master modeler. Looking forward to the final reveal of this iconic fighter!
Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Thanks George @georgeswork, John @j-healy and More @mornem!

Seeing a Starfighter at high angle of attack must have been a sight! A friend of mine used to fly Starfighters, then Buckeyes. He told me that his stick and pedal movements on the Starfighter were kind if micro trimming: a bit more than required and you could lose control! He also told me that the flying low and fast was a dream with it.

I checked Scalemates, the kit was supposed to have been a 1985 Academy New Tool...it does have some strange logo imprinted on the sprues, though...

Looks like Japanese to me!

Any clues?
Erik Gjørup said 3 years, 9 months ago:

Korean? - have to admit I do not have a clue, but that would be my best guess without any digging.

Viewing 31 - 45 of 102 posts

Work in Progress – Aircraft

Academy 1/72 F-104G Starfighter

Radome and wing tanks masked