REVELL F-104 (later kit version)
F-104C

                      "F-104 C parts"

Decals are provided for:
(1) F-104C USAF 479 TFW George AFB, 1963 in a high visibility scheme;
(2) F-104C USAF 8 TFW Udorn, Thailand in a Vietnam camouflage scheme;

Airbrake parts are reversly numbered (29-30) but nicely seperate parts and can be set in a open position. 

Two kits were made of this F-104C Starfighter kit. Assembly is straight forward, but be carefull when aligning the wheelbay "roof" part 32 inside the fuselage. The fit of the rear tail parts, intakes and forward tail required some putty and filling. 

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(1) USAF Vietnam markings using this Revell kit no.04302 decals of USAF 8 TFW based Udorn in Thailand end 1966; I added the left forward fuselage tankboom, the "long type". A picture can be found of this plane in the "Squadron Signal In action" book, page 21. The type was not very well suited for its role during Vietnam ops.

Colours that were airbrushed are Gunze Sangyo acrylics:
FS34102 green H303;
FS30219 brown H310;
FS34079 dark green H309;
FS36622 grey-white lower surfaces H311;

Decals were applied  after a gloss coat of varnish using Johnson Future / Pledge with the airbrush. After decals were applied, a semi-matt varnish coat was applied. This was achieved by again Future/Pledge but with 15% mixed in Tamiya X-21 acrylic flat base. 

(2) USAF high visibility scheme, and I used a Microscale Set (258 ? ) I had for F-104C "really George". It has a very attractive scheme and has white wheel rims and white wings. This aircraft was named "Really George" because its home base would be the 479th TFW at George AFB, California and was flown by Wing Commander Col. George Laven Jr. in 1963. 

The canopy will be set closed. 

Colourfull markings are provided, even for the pitot tube! A red tail was airbrushed with the white. The wheel tyres have a white trim. 

Next, an ALCLAD II Aluminium metallic finish was airbrushed over a gloss black undercoat.

Decals were applied and some needed loads of decal softener (DACO) to fit, such at the fueltank tips.

After that the model coat a gloss Future/Pledge coat and this is the end result:

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Yes, IT IS REALLY GEORGE!

Revell F-104G (later kit issue)

With some extra parts as the same F-104C kit it later appeared as a F-104G in a Revell or even Monogram boxing:

The parts layout shows here the parts (with same ones as for the F-104C with small rudder and the old Lockheed seat) and the updated parts (darkened) for the F-104G with the large rudder and Martin-Baker ejection seat. 

Three decal schemes are in the kit of camouflaged West German Luftwaffe F-104G with lower grey surfaces: 
 1/ JaBo G32 at Lechfeld, 1976, 
 2/ JaBo G36 Rheine, 
 3/ interceptor of JG 74 , Neuburg 1973 

The assembly of the fuselage (6+1 parts) required putty and filling! The wheel doors are the correct bulged type (the other parts for the -C are still there for the "thin" wheels). 

The external fueltanks (59,60,61,62) are different as in the -C it and seem to have a TOO small diameter. On the single part canopy (parts 51) on the windscreen often an Infra red sensor is seen on later F-104G's, this sensor is missing. And as these are same parts, the canopy has the same error as described above for the F-104C. The windscreen looks too small. 

If you want to show the cockpit interior with canopy open, you will need to cut the canopy in 3 parts with a fine razor saw. 

Airbrake parts are reversly numbered (29-30) but nicely seperate parts and can be set in a open position. 

Canopy will be kept closed and no fueltanks are fitted here. 

Decals were applied  after a gloss coat of varnish using Johnson Future / Pledge with the airbrush.  After decals were applied, a semi-matt varnish coat was applied. This was achieved by again Future but with 15% mixed in Tamiya X-21 acrylic flat base. 



Note the white wing and white airbrakes. Front windscreen looks a bit too small. Still some silvering unfortunately, so please do apply plenty of gloss varnish before decalling the model. Apply typical at least 3 coats!.