HASEGAWA 1/48th TF-104G STARFIGHTER 2
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BACKGROUND
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, one of the famous century series jet
fighters of the 1950s, is well known to aviation enthusiasts and aircraft
modelers. The Starfighter was the brainchild of legendary aircraft designer
Kelly Johnson and-- despite its high performance-- served in relatively
small numbers in the USAF. The F-104's real impact in military aviation
occurred in Western Europe, where it became the backbone of NATO air arms
during the 1960s and 70s.
Hasegawa launched a new series of 1/48th F-104 kits in 2000 starting
with the F-104J. Follow-up releases included the F-104C, F-104G, and F-104S.
Now we have the latest release, the TF-104G two-seater trainer version.
THE KIT
As expected, the quality of the moldings is superb, with delicate recessed
panel and rivet surface detail. My only criticism (a relatively minor
one) is the overabundance of rivet detail on the wings and the rear fuselage.
The Hasegawa rivet maker must have had too much caffeine.
All parts are packaged in one bag, except for the clear parts, which
are in a separate bag with the decals. There are some left-over parts
from the single-seat F-104 kits. Of course, this kit has a newly-tooled
TF-104 fuselage with a new forward wheel well & doors. The new two-seat
cockpit tub and associated cockpit parts are also provided, including
a pair of Martin-Baker ejection seats. The M-B seats are correct for the
German and Italian TF-104Gs featured in this kit. (Check your references
if you want to build a TF-104G of another country, as some used the Lockheed
C-2 seat.)
The new canopy consists of five separate clear parts, so that the two
hinged portions can be posed open. Hasegawa has also included a clear
piece to represent the vertically-positioned plexiglass sheet in the center
section. (This is intended to protect the rear seat occupant from wind
blast in case the forward canopy is lost.)
As with the earlier F-104 kits, no external stores are provided other
than the two wing-tip fuel tanks. The rudder and wing control surfaces
are separate pieces.
INSTRUCTIONS AND DECALS
 The
instructions are, as usual, very well done, with a comprehensive painting
and marking guide included. The decals are for one German aircraft of
JBG-31, and two Italian aircraft of 4 Stormo. I noticed that this decal
sheet is better than previous Hasegawa sheets in terms of color--the reds
are now actually a bright red and the whites a bright white.
CONCLUSION
The Hasegawa 1/48th F-104 kits are the best in this scale and well worth
the effort to build them. However, they are not fall-together kits. I
built the F-104G four years ago and remember a number of fit problems--particularly
with the rear fuselage.
I welcome the TF-104G trainer to the Starfighter line-up and I hope
that Hasegawa will similarly produce the two-seat variant of the Skyhawk.
We jet modelers will then have a lot to smile about.
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