1:72 F-104A/C Starfighter early type wheels, w/ optional nose wheels & weighted tires

F-104A and F-104C Starfighter, resin early type wheels 1:72 (Armory)

The set replaces the landing gear wheels of a Starfighter model in the form matching the early A and C versions. The tires are weighted, that is with the deformation shaped in where they touch down, and an optional form of the nose wheels is included. Having a choice is useful here: a modeler picks the variant matching the particular machine and keeps the rest in reserve.

The real subject

The F-104 Starfighter is an American single-seat supersonic fighter with a very slender fuselage and short thin wings, created with the emphasis on speed and rate of climb. The early A and C versions differed from the later ones in a number of details, the form of the landing gear included, which is why the manufacturer lists wheels for the early and the later type separately. Before buying it is worth being clear about which version your model represents.

Working and painting

Wash the castings, let them dry and only then cut off the casting blocks. On the smaller Starfighter wheels work with a sharp knife and preferably in small steps, as resin is hard but brittle. Level the contact surface of the weighted tires so that both main wheels stand in one plane. Try the optional nose wheels dry first and glue them with cyanoacrylate only once you have chosen the variant. Paint over primer, the tire dark gray, the hub according to the scheme, and at the end a matte coat and only a hint of dust.

Who the set is for

• Builders of early Starfighter versions who want the correct type of wheels
• Modelers who will appreciate the choice between nose wheel variants
• Those who object to round plastic wheels with no contact patch on the base
• Collectors building up a set of the versions of one aircraft type

The set is supplied unpainted, as resin castings intended for further work. Paints, glue and the model of the aircraft are not included in the package.