Revell 1/72 TF-104G Starfighter

REVELL 1:72 LOCKHEED TF-104G STARFIGHTER
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Reimo Soosar (rec.models.scale)

Kit Details: Revell 1:72 TF-104G Starfighter Trainer

History

The Starfighter needs little introduction. The TF-104G was created for training purposes and the main difference is the lack of a gun, it’s place taken by extra fuel. Also the nose gear has been repositioned. Otherwise it has all electronics and weapon systems of the F-104G (including F-15A NASARR radar).

What’s in the box

Instructions are typical for Revell, plus four sprues, decal sheet, all of which are bagged.

taken from http://www.plastmodell.de/

Parts total is 90. There are 11 clear while the rest is in gray plastic. Six parts are marked as not for use, two of these are F-104G parts and four are 2 Sidewinder B missiles and their underbelly rails. All the panel lines are finely engraved and look crisp. There is hardly any flash around.

Instructions are Revell’s typical: history (very brief in English, deeper in German); 17 colour callouts, some of them are mixed ones, in Revell’s range, of course; sprue diagram; 34 steps (exploded), 2 for decaling and colouring.

Construction

The office is a more complex one this time (compared to other sparsely detailed units). Each seat is made up of four parts. Cockpit is made of 2 tubs (with some sidewall details), two plates behind the seats, two dashboards (nice looking ones with raised detail but no decals provided). Backseater’s dashboard looks better, it even has gear lock lights and little stores display, you know what I mean. Sticks are looking good and realistic. Nose gear bay has to be glued to backseater’s tub. This area may cause some trouble, but I dry fitted it a bit and it didn't seem to from my point of view. There are even two parts that are going behind the seats and are some kind of rails. I’m not sure on that. Clear HUD is provided. Canopy is clear and free of distortions.
All of the office complex are to be squeezed between 2 front fuselage halves. Nosecone is separate. If you look at the picture above you see how the fuselage is split. That helps the Revell to provide us with F-104A/C (with different tail, of course), F-104G and TF-104G (different nose) using the same basic mold.
Intakes are good but may also be a trouble area, not in poor fitting but ensuring everything is where it’s supposed to be. There is even one plate going inside the fuselage to prevent seeing through as the intakes open into the main fuselage.
Revell’s gear bays are look better than Italeri’s and gears also look more realistic, though still they may need spicing up for some. There are 3 landing lights (clear parts), two for main gear doors and one for nose gear.
Wings are single pieces but they can be cut to model lowered slats and flaps. Horizontal tail is also separate piece.
Ordnance:- Four fuel tanks, each made up of two parts: 2 – under the wing; 2 – wingtips. Also provided is a centerline hardpoint with locating pins but no corresponding holes in the belly. Check your references regarding this. Two AIM-9B Sidewinders and their rails for carrying them under the belly are included, but these are marked as not for use.

Versions, decals

TF-104G Jabo G31 “Boelcke”, pictured on boxart celebrating the 25^th anniversary of that unit, 30.4.1983 in Nörvenich. Overall light blue.
Jabo G33, Büchel, 1984. In usual Luftwaffe camouflage.

Taken From http://www.plastmodell.de/

Decal sheet provides basic stencilling for service machine and all the needed ones for the Special Anniversary livery.

Impressions, recommendations

Looks crisp in detail and good overall. Given length on box is 23.2 cm and width is 9.2 cm (real one’s dimensions in 72th scale are L:23.18 cm and W:9.28 cm without wingtip ordnance). So it is pretty close. Also all the panel lines appear to be scribed where they’re supposed to be.

After a bit of dry-fitting this model appears that it will need only minimum amount of putty and minimal wearing of nerves. So even rookie modellers should be able to build this easily.

One place for references: http://airwar.ru/other/draw/f104.html

I recommend it to anyone as there are not too many TF-104G’s around and if you strip the Revell´s F-104A/C of it’s tail you can make TF-104B/D/F. Check your references when doing this. And the G tail can be put to that stripped A/C model to make it a G.

Pictures of built up Model images of the Revell TF-104G can be found at: - www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal2/1101-1200/Gal1133_TF-104G_Dollinger/gal1133.htm

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