B-52 "FICON": B-52 carrying F-104's *finished*

[zenrat]

Cool.
If you look for Rare Earth Magnets on evil bay then there is a plethora of shapes and sizes.
They would probably be strong enough to be mounted inside the Starfighter.

[sandiego89]

Finished

GB-52E FICON with 2 F-104s.

The United States Air Force desired a follow-on to the GRB-36 and RF-86 Fighter Conveyor "FICON". Clearly more speed was required for both the mother ship and the fighters.  With the improved B-52's coming off the line, specifically those strengthened for the low altitude penetration role and to mount a Hound Dog missile under each wig, it was determined that a F-104C could be placed underwing in a similar fashion as planned for the X-15. The F-104s could make high speed dashes once launched from the mother ship. 

Three distinct roles for the F-104's were specified: Fighter escort for penetrating B-52's, Nuclear strike, and reconnaissance.

14 Seattle built B-52Es were modified for the FICON role and were officially designated as GB-52E's.  32 F-104C's were modified, with nine having special photo reconnaissance equipment in the nose.  Modification included further strengthening of the wing and pylon, "hotel" services for the F-104's including pressure, fuel air, heat, electrical services, lighting, a hose and drogue in the rear of the bomb bay to refuel the F-104s and a homing system.   Like with the Hound Dog, the F-104 engines could be used to augment the B-52 takeoff, and the fuel tanks topped after reaching cruising altitude.  The B-52's were home based at Castle AFB and the F-104s at the relatively close George AFB.  The group made regular detachments to RAF Mildenhall and Moron AB in Spain, and occasional deployments to Alaska.

Flights were routinely taken near Soviet airspace, and there were reports of several high speed penetrations into restricted airspace, but the groups official activities remain obscure even to this day....   

The Kits:

1/72 Monogram B-52.  Home printed decals to portray B-52E 57-0014
1/72 Esci F-104C (x2)

[kitnut617]

Brilliant job on that sandiego   

[JayBee]

Brilliant, superlative, unbelievably imaginative, I love it. Well done Maestro. 

[PR19_Kit]

SUPER job! 

And the NMF is perfect, lots of different shades, just like the real thing.

[Steel Penguin]

a seriously good model     and really looks the part, and a fitting back story 

[loupgarou]

Terrific! A really impressive job.

[AeroplaneDriver]

Stunning build!

[buzzbomb]

Just Marvellous

[Dizzyfugu]

Literally great! Wow! 

[Snowtrooper]

Awesomeness redefined

[zenrat]

Like I said Dave, King of the Big Jobs.

[TheChronicOne]

Yebat!!!! 


Quite right to me, bud!!  Knocked that out of the park and I do love the finish on all that.     


Outstanding!!

[Doug K]

Wow! What a monster, brilliant!

[NARSES2]

That's absolutely splendid