1:48 F-104C

The real subject

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a slender supersonic aircraft with a very thin straight wing of small area and with tail surfaces in the shape of the letter T. The F-104C version was single-seat and served with the US Air Force as a fighter bomber, that is with the ability to carry armament under the wing and on the fuselage. It was this version that also went into combat use outside the territory of the United States.

What the set offers

These are photo-etched parts, that is thin metal shapes etched out of sheet. Etched metal is used where a plastic part is too thick for the scale: grilles, loops, instrument bezels or thin edging. The particular contents of the set and the recommended placing of the individual parts are to be found in the manufacturer's instructions, because every set aims at a certain kit.

Building tips

Working with photo-etched metal has its rules:

• separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not by twisting
• sand the remains of the tabs down with a fine file after separating them
• make the bends over a rule or in a bending tool, so that the edge is straight
• glue with cyanoacrylate glue applied drop by drop, or with a two-part adhesive
• degrease the parts before painting, otherwise the paint will hold poorly on metal

Who it is for

The set is intended for modelers who already have experience of building and want to take a model further than a plastic kit reaches. Sharp tweezers and good light suit the tiny parts. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.