1:48 Lockheed F-104 E, CF-104

Wheels set for the F-104 E and CF-104 Starfighter, 1:48 scale, Reskit

A resin set of replacement wheels for the model of the supersonic Lockheed F-104 Starfighter fighter in the F-104E and CF-104 versions. It is not an aircraft kit but a detail accessory: it replaces the wheels from the plastic box with more accurate castings with crisper rendering of the tread, the hubs and the brakes. The tire and the hub are usually laid out so that they can be masked and painted separately. The set is meant for more advanced modelers who want a more true-to-life landing gear.

The real subject

The F-104 Starfighter is an American supersonic fighter and strike aircraft with unmistakably short, thin wings and a slender fuselage, nicknamed the missile with a man in it. The CF-104 is the Canadian license-built version made for strike and reconnaissance duties; the type also flew with a number of European air forces. Its high speeds and landing characteristics made demands on the landing gear as well.

Building and painting tips

Wash the parts to remove the mold release agent from the mold, cut off the casting blocks and clean them up. Resin is bonded with super glue (cyanoacrylate). Paint the tires dark gray rather than a deep black and dust them lightly; choose the hubs according to the particular machine. When sanding resin, protect your airways.

Who the set is for

• For modelers of the Starfighter in the F-104E and CF-104 versions in 1:48 scale
• For more advanced builders used to resin
• For builds on the landing gear, where the wheels are visible
• As a quick improvement of the landing gear without photo-etched parts or conversions

It is supplied as an unpainted resin wheels set for more experienced modelers. It is not a model of the aircraft; the plastic kit, paints and glue are not included in the package.