Lockheed / Canadair CF-104G / CL-90 Starfighter

Kits, Pictures & Text by Peter Mojzisek
Lockheed F-104G "Starfighter"
(license-build by Canadair as CF-104G / CL-90)

CF-104_002.jpg (24 kB)
Canadair CF-104G (CL-90) / Lockheed F-104G "Starfighter"
421 "Red Indian" Squadron - Royal Canadian Air Force
(1 Canadian Air Group / headquarters in Lahr/Germany)

This "Starfighter" (c/n 12805/104805) has been specially painted in 1983 for the 30th Anniversary of the airbase at Baden-Soellingen, FRGermany. The Royal Canadian Air Force (latter Canada Armed Forces) had some Starfighter-squadrons based there from December 1963 until December 1985, before they were replaced by the CF-18A Hornet.

Note (by Scott Hemsley): The first "Red Indian", painted in 1981, was to mark the 40th year of 421 Squadron's active service. In 1983, the second version of the "Red Indian" was painted up as 421 Sqn's contribution to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of Baden-Soellingen, the base (no longer designated as 4 Wing).
Note (by Sven-Åke Karlsson): The style of the Indian's head for the right side is not fully correctly represented in the Decal set from SuperScale nor in the Hasegawa SP25 kit. The headgear has a somewhat different binding (see the picture below).

The model is in 1/48 scale from Monogram (Kit No. 5447), re-issued in 1986 and based on a kit from the early '80s. It is a nice kit, although not to compare with the new molded Hasegawa-kits. Nevertheless, with some effort and the help of the Eduard PE-set (No. 48-198) it can be built into a beautiful replica.

CF-104_007.jpg (35 kB)

The kit is a "straight" F-104G, so I had to make some changes for the CF-104G. For this, I removed the IR-seaker in front of the windshield, then faired over the Gattling-gun (with a thin plastic-sheet and some sanding), added the three RWR (one beneath the nose-cone, and two beneath the engine) and finally put all the necessary aerials in place. The whole engine-/exhaust section is made from etched metal (included in the Eduard set). Although it is a very laborious work (almost like a Japanese origami), the final result looks much better than any resin-set.

Monogram decided to give the modeler the chance to represent open airbrakes, a removable tail and an opened and detailed gun. Well, I invested *a lot of time* to close all this hatches and sand them smooth - because these molded parts didn't fit at all!

correct style !

The decals for this striking scheme are coming from an old SuperScale (48-245), which I stored for many years. But they were absolute perfect, no yellowing or cracking, howsoever. That's quality!

As painting goes, I choose Xtra-Color's insignia-red and mixed it with Testor's Ferrari-red.

The cockpit-hood is absolute clear (I dipped it into Future), however on these pictures you cannot see this. Sorry, but this is digital-imagery .. :-(	The cockpit has been very much enhanced with the Eduard PE-set, while Verlinden's "Lock-On No.1" gave all the needed reference for this project.

Okay ... it's a little "off topic", but I couldn't resist ;-)

It's a Danish F-104G on display at Coventry / UK (and the guy on the ladder, that's me).

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