Hasegawa 07220 1/48 Lockheed F-104G Starfighter NATO Fighter

This is a plastic model kit, which comes unassembled and unpainted. So glue, model paints and other basic modelling tools are additionally required.

While the F-104 had originally been designed as point defense interceptor, typical of many aircraft, it was developed into something more. While the USAF purchased and operated 153 of the earlier F-104A, It wasn't really what they wanted. 77 F-104Cs were then built that incorporated the ability to carry bombs, but still, it did not provide the payload wanted and like the earlier F-104A, these were soon relegated to operations by the Air National Guard.

Lockheed then went on to develop the F-104G, none of which were bought by the USAF. However, Lockheed's aggressive marketing resulted in 1,122 aircraft produced as multi-role fighter-bombers. Manufactured by Lockheed, and under license by Canadair and a consortium of European companies which included Messerschmitt/MBB, Dornier, Fiat, Fokker, and SABCA. The type featured strengthened fuselage and wing structure, increased internal fuel capacity, an enlarged vertical fin, strengthened landing gear with larger tires, and revised flaps for improved combat manoeuvring. Upgraded avionics included a new Autonetics NASARR F15A-41B radar with air-to-air and ground mapping modes, the Litton LN-3 Inertial Navigation System (the first on a production fighter), and an infrared sight.

The type had a very checkered early career with the Bundeswaffe as pilots used to the much more easy to fly F-84s and F-86s were not ready for the much more pilot intensive F-104s. A rather large percentage of these planes were lost with rather high casualties. Some WWII era pilots in the Bundeswaffe at the time felt the aircraft were dangerous. However the truth was that the pilots needed to be properly trained in Starfighter operation and once that was in full swing, accidents dramatically decreased and it turned into one of the safest aircraft operated by the Germans. Interestingly, none of the other operators had the sort of troubles experienced by the Germans.