Starfighter F.1

[Devilfish]

What if there had been troubles with the P.1 program? Engine fires caused by fuel leaks setting the development back enough to warrant buying a stopgap aircraft.
Needing something with the speed and acceleration close to that promised by the Lightning, the MOD turned to Lockheed, and bought 2 squadrons of F-104s
56 sqn introduced the aircraft into service. The only modification being the fitment of coolant systems for Firestreaks missiles.
Kit is the 1/48 Revell/Hasegawa F-104, fitted with Airfix Lightning Firestreaks.

[zenrat]

RAF roundels on a Starfighter just look wrong to me.

Well done.  Excellent job.   

[Captain Canada]

Wow. Looks ready for action ! Love the weathering. Nice job !

[NARSES2]

RAF roundels on a Starfighter just look wrong to me.

Before I'd seen this I would have agreed.

Absolute stunner, just love the finish 

[Captain Canada]

I think it looks right. Needs a pitot tube tho  That would really finish her off !

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice. Even though the Firestreaks look so utterly worng on the Starfighter... 

[PR19_Kit]

I built the later, upgraded Starfighter F3, with Red Tops on the wing tips and the avionics pack on the spine, plus an IFR probe and RWR aerials on the fin top. 

It was the first Whiff model I ever built way back in 1972, and I still have the darn thing!

[DogfighterZen]

Although i think the F-104 is ugly, that is very nice work, by both Devilfish and Kit!

[Devilfish]

I think it looks right. Needs a pitot tube tho  That would really finish her off !

Pitot tube was on for about 30 secs, then I broke it off.....

[Devilfish]

I built the later, upgraded Starfighter F3, with Red Tops on the wing tips and the avionics pack on the spine, plus an IFR probe and RWR aerials on the fin top. 

It was the first Whiff model I ever built way back in 1972, and I still have the darn thing!

I thought about putting the missiles on the wingtips, but, unlike modern missiles the Firestreak and Red Top really on coolant from an online aircraft supply, and there's no way you'd get the pipework through those wings, lol. Although,  I suppose they got fuel pipes through from the tip tanks.....

[PR19_Kit]

I thought about putting the missiles on the wingtips, but, unlike modern missiles the Firestreak and Red Top really on coolant from an online aircraft supply, and there's no way you'd get the pipework through those wings, lol. Although,  I suppose they got fuel pipes through from the tip tanks.....

They didn't need to put pipes through the wings of the F3s. Hawker-Siddley, who did the conversions from the F1s, used some VERY long drills and drilled along the wings from the tips inwards to get the coolant out to the Red Tops.....................

[And if you believe that, you'll believe ANYthing........... ]

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Great looking metal finish on the F.1 - well done, Devilfish!
The F.3 looks good as well, Kit.

[TheChronicOne]

Fantastic work!! It looks great! Rather unexpected but I think it works like a charm. 

[su27rules]

 

[andrewj]

Very nice indeed, not a fan of the Starfighter , but with Firestreaks and 56Sqd markings what's not to love.

Andrew