Italeri 1/72 F-104G Starfighter

ITALERI 1:72 LOCKHEED F-104G STARFIGHTER
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Myself (rec.models.scale)
- A Built up review of this kit exists on this site - see links at bottom of page

Kit Details

Italeri 1:72 (No 1223) F-104G Starfighter

History

Well, the “manned missile” doesn’t need much of an introduction. Modelled G version was sold to NATO countries in great numbers. It was also nicknamed “flying coffin” due the rate of accidents but some air forces have kept it well in acceptable limits due to high level of maintenance and crew training. The Italians also made their own version of F-104, F-104S namely which is now the best version of this a/c still in service. It has Sparrow plus true multi-role capability.

What’s in the box?

Four sprues, decal sheet (actually two of them, but more on that later), instructions, all unbagged. Instruction sheet is typical Italeri: small multilingual history, colour callouts (6), parts diagram, 13 exploded steps, 4 of those for decaling and painting. Parts total is 60 (3 are marked as not for use), 2 clear, rest are in light gray plastic. Panel lines are finely engraved, hardly any flash found. Decal sheet has extra addendum put in (serials for Italian F-104G). Otherwise it provides basic stencilling. For painting one might better check the back of the box.

Construction

As usual, step-by-step.

Office is made up of basic tub - no detail whatsoever, but there are two decals provided for sidepanels. Stick is stick, as usual Italeri, seat is one piece and very basic. Get the resin set or paint the canopy black. There is even HUD provided (clear), surprise-surprise. Instrument panel is blank, there are 2 decals for it.
Nose gear bay has minimal detail and could use spicing up.
Fuselage is split vertically, tail being separate (fuselage is cut right aft the airbrakes), probably for another model of this aircraft [F-104A/C (new in Italeri’s catalogue)]. Wings and horizontal tail are separate, also separate are intakes.
Intakes are made up of 2 parts each.
Exhaust is very simple, bucket and exhaust ring.
Main gear bay is similar to nose gear bay (minimal details), main gear doors are provided as single piece and must be cut in 2 pieces if modelling wheels-down model. Main gear and nose gear are looking very simple, legs being single units and separate wheels.
Airbrakes are separate, but they look trouble areas to me. Arrestor hook is also very simple.
Nose gear doors are also provided as single piece which must be cut in wheels-down configuration. There are actually two sets of nose gear doors, one being trapezoidal and other just rectangular (older probably).
Also are provided (and marked as not for use) two fins under the fuselage aft of main gear bay. These are for latest F-104S model, check your references.
Ordnance. 5 fuel tanks, each made of 2 parts: 2 – wingtips; 2 – under the wing;1 – under the belly (a hole must be cut into the fuselage). Also provided are 2 Sidewinders, B I think, but they might need replacing. Missiles could be put under the belly (twin launcher, made of 3 parts including missile rails), or under the wing (outer hardpoints provided, each made of hardpoint and missile rail), or on the wingtips (on plain missile rails). There are total of 4 missile rails so if one scratchbuilds two more this bird could sport up to 6 Sidewinders and 2 fuel tanks under the wings.

Versions, decals

F-104G Italian Air Force – 4^o Stormo with gray-green upper side and silver belly, for this model there is this extra decal sheet I mentioned. Also one could build F-104S as the parts are there.
F-104G German Air Force – Jabog 31 in usual Luftwaffe camouflage (silver belly).
F-104G Belgian Air Force – 1^o Wing with 2 tone green and brown upper side and white underside.
F-104G Dutch Air Force – 312^th Sqn. Same colours as Luftwaffe’s.

I’m not sure the colours are correct so dig into the references. As told, decals are providing basic stencilling so aftermarket decal sets are recommended (DACO makes good ones, I remember seeing a decal sheet which has all the stencilling for any European Starfighter).

Impressions

Looks good and it’s external details are quite good. Interior details are quite sparse. But still, it looks like a Starfighter to me, dimensions (relative) look right and it could be turned into a very beautiful Starfighter.

Also price is very low, I got it for 6 bucks and is recommended to everyone.

Related Reviews:-

Related Inbox Reviews:-

Released Italeri picture prior to the F-104G release

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