1:32 F-104A/F-104C Startfighter FOD covers - type II.

The real subject

The Starfighter is an aircraft with a slender fuselage, short sharp wings and side air intakes that stay open on a parked machine. Ground crew therefore cover them: nothing is to fall into the intake, because an object drawn in can destroy the engine when it next runs. The covers tend to be conspicuous precisely so that no one forgets to take them off before flight. This set captures their form designated as type II.

What the covers do on a model

Fitted covers close the intakes off, so the inside of the duct is not visible and there is no need to build it up and polish it, work that on aircraft models is among the least rewarding. A model of a parked machine also reads differently thanks to them: it looks like an aircraft between flights, not a display case mock-up. In 1:32 scale the covers are large enough for it to pay off to render wear on them as well.

Building and painting tips

• Try the covers dry before the fuselage is glued together; on a closed model the mating surface is harder to adjust.
• The parts are not polystyrene; super glue or epoxy will join them.
• Cut the excess material and production marks off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remainder down.
• Wash the covers in lukewarm water with detergent before painting and let them dry.
• Soften a rich shade with a light dirtying of the edges; fresh paint looks improbable on an operational machine.

Terms of supply

The covers alone are supplied as described. The aircraft kit, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. Check the seating and any adjustments against the manufacturer's instructions.