1:48 Lockheed F-104S Starfighter ASA-M

The real subject

The F-104S is the Italian form of the Starfighter, which differed from the original machine in armament and equipment. The designation ASA-M belongs to the last upgrade, with which the aircraft served to the end of their career. The model has a thin short wing and a long slender fuselage, so even small things stand out on it that would be lost on a bulkier aircraft.

What the set contains

A set of photo-etched parts. The metal fret is etched to a thickness injection-molded plastic will never reach, and that is precisely its point: it replaces thick plastic parts with thin ones. The extent of the set and the order of fitting are given in the enclosed instructions; they also show where the original plastic detail has to be sanded off. Go through the instructions in full before the build, because some of the metal parts are fitted in places you will no longer reach once the fuselage is glued together.

Building tips

Have a hard surface, a sharp blade, tweezers with a fine tip and if possible a bending tool ready. Cut the part through where it is held on the fret and sand the remainder down. Make the bend along the etched score line and do it at the first attempt; repeated straightening cracks the metal. Smaller parts are easier to paint while still on the fret and to separate only afterwards. They are glued with very small drops of cyanoacrylate glue, which you apply with the tip of a toothpick, not straight from the bottle.

Who it is for

For a modeler who has already worked with photo-etched metal and wants detail on a finished model matching 1:48 scale. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.