1:32 TF-104G/CF-104D Starfighter ejection seats (Lockheed C-2 type)

The real subject

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a supersonic aircraft with a very slender fuselage and short, thin wings, for which shape it was called the missile with a man in it. The designation TF-104G belongs to the two-seat trainer form, and the CF-104D is its Canadian counterpart. Both versions have the crew positions one behind the other under a long canopy, so on a finished model the cockpits are visible along their whole length.

What the set solves

It replaces the ejection seats of the Lockheed C-2 type in 1:32 scale. At this scale a seat is a large part, and in an injection-molded kit it tends to be handled sparingly: a smooth shell, suggested handles and missing small items around the headrest. The replacement parts carry finer relief than a mold can manage, and on the two-seat version they moreover come into their own in both cockpits. The extent of the package is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

• Try the seating dry before you remove the seats from the kit.
• Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little from the part and sand the remainder down.
• The parts are not of polystyrene; they bond with cyanoacrylate glue.
• Wash and degrease them before painting, otherwise paint will not hold on the smooth surfaces.
• Paint the seats, pick them out with a wash and fit them before you close up the fuselage and put the canopy on.

Who it is for

For modelers building a large model with an open canopy who want the cockpit to stand being looked at closely. Before building, compare the dimensions of the cockpit and count on some fine adjustment. The kit, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.