F-104 by Hasagawa

Hasagawa's 1/32 F-104G kit. I've scribed the panel lines (mega PITA) since the plastic is quite hard ( long term stash resident)
Added some wire & tape detail to the ejection seat. Just got the fuselage halves together today.

It's going to be a RAAF F-104. We looked at the C model in the late 1950s to replace our Avon-Sabres and  then the G model in the early 1960s.
Ultimately, the RAAF selected the Mirage III, so this is a 'what might have been" build.

Great work Chris, cockpit detail is outstanding. 

Well detailed interior is vital to a plane build. Only other big plus is the rare nicely molded engine(s). Show us your progress as you get on.

Expect more progress over the weekend. Nothing planned, all jobs done, so the bench beckons.
Once I get the cat of my chair!

Great start and that cockpit detail is fantastic!

All mostly together & rough sanded. Not sure on the colour scheme yet, that will depend on the decals available. Since the the F-104 lost out to the Mirage III, my plan is to use RAAF Mirage decals.

More sanding tonight in front of the TV in front of youtube, since TV is barely worth watching.

Missed your first post Chris... sorry.

The cockpit looks good.

one of my fave aircraft of all time

Ordered the decals today, $ 30 odd Australian. They give seven different options.
So unless I build a fleet of F-104s, I'm going to have some leftovers!

I didn't know the plane was so l-o-n-g! Nice work, thanx!

webby wrote:Ordered the decals today, $ 30 odd Australian. They give seven different options.
So unless I build a fleet of F-104s, I'm going to have some leftovers!

you can do a series of Aussie what-ifs

That plane has gorgeous lines. Looking forward to seeing it in livery

Decals have arrived, giving a time frame from 1969 to 1988. Camo and silver versions. I think I'll go with
the silver version, but an earlier 1963-5 time frame.

Test shot some silver at a tip tank today, looks promising. If the weather smiles upon me, tomorrow is
paint day.

Looking forward to it Chris. 

There's something that says "modern" about the silver look. Camo always harkens back to earlier days of aircraft, WWII and earlier. This one will really POP sitting on the shelf!

Painted & polished. Black radome & glare panels next. I've started decaling it too- couldn't wait.

Great looking paint, Chris.

Beautiful finish on that silver paint! Can't wait to see the decals

Decals well underway. I miscalculated the nose weight, hence the paint pot underneath the tail.
The only parts to add aft of the C of G are the speed brakes, while in front I've got all the undercarriage doors, the AIM-9 missiles and the canopy. Hopefully that will tip the scales my way.

I know it doesn't look all that different, but this is slow going. One or two pieces of undercarriage per day, and ditto for the transfers. Being away at airshows and helping build a mate's race car doesn't help either.

Beautiful model Chris. 

Very nice! The decals really add a personality to it

Great job of removing the long seams the length of the fuselage! Nice choice of markings as well.