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Okay, now here's a real "oldie". It started out as the Hawk kit, circa early 1960s. It was rereleased by Testors later. Another build from the early 90s, I bought mine around '88 or '87 when a local Michaels was going out of business.
It was painted with Floquil Bright Silver and Testors white gloss enamel, with the kit supplied decals. Oh, I also used Bare Metal foil on the horizontal stabilizer and brake doors. Befitting its origins, there was hardly any detail so I scratched together some linkage for the main gear and used the pilot to fill in the sparse cockpit. The decals now show serious staining from solvents...more weathering right? It had never been photographed before Tuesday, and so here she is now. Thanks as always for taking a minute to look her over! Gary
"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"
Is this the F-104A or C? I have the F-104C kit whose decals have the same markings as the plane pictured here. I'm doing something different with mine.
"Whaddya mean 'Who's flying the plane?!' Nobody's flying the plane!"
Gorgeous build. Takes me back to the one I build as a kid...ahhhh nostalgia.
I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.
Nice job on that tru Oldie there Tex! I must have built a half dozen of them in various boxings, Hawk and Testors, over the years...
Jim Barton Is this the F-104A or C? I have the F-104C kit whose decals have the same markings as the plane pictured here. I'm doing something different with mine.
The kit was originally released as an A, and later with no changes as a C, although it bears features from both- the downward ejection seat of the early A, and the tip tanks of the C. The decals there are for a C from the only USAF Wing that operated the C out of George AFB.
F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!
U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!
N is for NO SURVIVORS...
- Plankton
LSM
On the bench:
Tamiya F4U-1 Kenneth Walsh
Thanks my friends! Thanks for taking time to have a look and post these kind comments. I'm glad you like my old model. What's missing in detail on that ancient kit is made up for by spirit I reckon. In spite of her vintage, it still looks like a "missile with a man in it". I remember walking all around one, back in the mid-late 60s. It was plunked down in a Woolco parking lot. Now, there's an idea for a diorama.
Heck, I could walk all about that one, peering into every nook I could. The thin wings amazed me even then. Man, I should build another 104, a "proper" kit this time. Who has the best in 1/48?
Gary
Great build Gary. I am always amazed how you do these older kits justice. Great metal work! As far as the best zipper, the hasegawa kit can't be beat!
Woolco. That's one I havent heard in eons. That Floquil gives it a slight weathered look.
Another great build!
Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!
Thanks Nathan, Ernie and Glen! Thanks also for the tip on the zipper Nathan. I'm going to look into that I think.
Ernie, that old Floquil is hard to beat for a certain look. Glen, have you built the Monogram 104?
Nice work on that old HAWK kit.
The kit is still a favorite and looks like an F 104 when built ( or I think so) .
I built it in the mid 1960s when it was a HAWK brand F 104A.
Sure wish the Chicago Science and Industry Museum still had an F-104 hanging from the roof inside the main hall..............
Tex, I've built the Monogram kit (or at least I have it sidelined at about the 90% mark currently).
It's a very nice kit. Extremely fine raised panel lines, good cockpit, avionics and gun bays, nice wheel detail. Probably the weakest part of the kit is the afterburner petals are a bit underdone for my taste. But the wings are better than Hasegawa's, which has way to pronounced recessed rivet detail. The 104 is a VERY clean bird and I think Hasegawa sent the "mad riveter" over to Trumpeter after this molding
Thats a very nice build for such an old kit. Really like the pose with the hangar-looking structure behind it.
Stik,
Your 104's looking great. Looking forward to the finished kit.
No bucks, no Buck Rogers
allan Thats a very nice build for such an old kit. Really like the pose with the hangar-looking structure behind it. Stik, Your 104's looking great. Looking forward to the finished kit.
Thank you Allan! That build is getting close to 25 years old; I'm surprised that it's held up this well. That is a hangar; a new set of hangars that were just finished in the last year. I've been taking pics of my models out there at the airport for almost 20 years now. I feel fortunate to be able to use the airport for that purpose.
Goose, I really appreciate that, thanks a lot!
Stik, that is gonna be a fine looking 104, love the camo too. Come on, let's see her finished brother!
Very nice!
They also released an aluminum plated version of the kit, which I built. This was long before the days of Alclad and other metalizers. Turned out great.
This was the first model I shot using authentic backgrounds, a civil airport. Was a lot of effort taking rig to hang plane by thread, to depict takeoff. Decided after that to just photograph airport areas to make photo backdrops.
Don Stauffer in Minnesota
Nicely done, Sir!! Great looking bird.
BK
A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!
2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed
14 / 5 / 2
Very nice work!
"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen
Oh man, I never thought this old clunker would get any attention. Thanks Don, Brandon and Gamera, you guys make my day. I'm glad folks like this old build. The F-104 sits in the "Century Series" gallery of my display cabinet. First on the shelf is Maj. Schmenk's F-100, then my RF-101B "Black Magic" and then this zipper. The F-105 and the deltas, 102 and 106, all Monogram btw, wait in the wings (well, actually the model locker).
Thanks again gents!
One disappointment with the kit was the lack of instrument panel details, not even decals, and while I'm not out to replicate every dial and button, a simple scratchbuilt panel with at least some of the gauges replicated sure helps.
Jim Barton One disappointment with the kit was the lack of instrument panel details, not even decals, and while I'm not out to replicate every dial and button, a simple scratchbuilt panel with at least some of the gauges replicated sure helps.
Yeah, it's a pretty primitive kit. Well, it is an ex-Hawk kit, dating from the early to mid-60s. There is barely any landing gear detail either. Notice that Hawk didn't even cast the "recesses" alongside the intakes. Minimalism in 1/48 scale...
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