Lockheed F-104G Starfighter

Luftwaffe JG 71 Richthofen JA+111, Wittmund AB

Germany, Air Defence Competition 1967

Hobby Master 1/72  HA1046

The Air Defence Competition evaluated the readiness of ground crews, pilots and radar operators. Pilots and aircraft would be situated at each end of the runways and when radar detected possible threats a scramble was issued. The length of time it took to launch aircraft and intercept the intruder was recorded. F-104G c/n 683D-8024 was assembled by Fokker in Holland, completed its maiden flight September 13, 1962 and was delivered as JA+111 to JG 71 at Wittmund AB on July 17, 1963. Withdrawn from use in December 1973 for spare parts and eventually scrapped.

F-104G Starfighter

Designed to meet the need for an aircraft capable of successfully competing with the MiG-15 in Korea, the F-104 Starfighter was put into service on February 20, 1958. The American pilots felt that the F-86 Sabre was too large and complex to outperform the lighter MiG, and they wanted a smaller, simpler, high-performance aircraft to replace it. The result was a light and aerodynamic cell wrapped around a powerful J79 turbojet engine. The F-104C was used by the USAF from 1958 to 1967, but most of the 2,578 production Starfighters were built and operated by NATO members, including the Italian Air Force, which withdrew it only in 2004.

The Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" range presents detailed, ready-made diecast models of military aircraft.

Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" diecast airplanes feature:

• Die-cast metal construction with some plastic components.
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
• Pad-printed markings and stickers that will not fade or flake like decals.
• Opening of the awnings, revealing details from inside the cockpit.
• Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear.
• Presentation stand to present the aircraft "in flight".
• Authentic detachable artillery loads with posters.
• Detailed bottom with hidden screw heads.