It's a paint scheme that says "I am
FAST!" Unfortunately, the heavy inked
panel wash detracts from the overall
look. The real plane never would have
been allowed to get this "dirty".
FAST!" Unfortunately, the heavy inked
panel wash detracts from the overall
look. The real plane never would have
been allowed to get this "dirty".
I don't know a lot about the Starfighter, but it did enjoy a very long service career with many different air forces all over the world. This
model depicts the last F-104 to serve with Italy (and I also the last serving air frame in the world) clad in a commemorative paint
scheme honoring this fact. The paint scheme mimics those used by Ducati racing, and the number 999 is an homage to a Ducati
superbike (pilot was a Ducati racing fan). It is red...no, is RED! This model will jump out on the shelve, trust me. It's an interesting
scheme that simply screams "I am fast," and this is quite appropriate for this air frame and the last serving Starfighter.
Unfortunately, HM chose to apply a fairly heavy black wash to the model, which really detracts from the look. The real deal would have
been buffed to perfection and kept looking showroom fresh. A more subtle wash might have been okay, but this one is very heavy and
overdone, which is a shame. Also, strange for a HM model, you do not get the optional wingtip fuel tanks with this model -- you do with
all other F-104 models from HM, and all pics of the real plane I've seen have the fuel tanks attached. In addtion, there is no pilot figure,
which, to me, renders the in-flight display option pretty much useless. (You do get raised gear parts and a display stand, however, which
are not shown.) Also, while this is a limited release there was not a numbered card in the box.
Otherwise this is a very solid model. The fit of the parts is quite good, though the gear is somewhat difficult to install -- the supplied
directions could be more clear. Most HM 104s I've seen have issues with the cant of the wings being even on both sides and/or the
horizontal stabilizer being crooked as well. This one was pretty good -- though the stab did take a bit of bending to get it to look right.
The pad-printed graphics are nice and crisp, and the interior cockpit detail on this model is probably the best I've even seen from HM.
It's just really too bad about the wash, as otherwise this would be an easy model to recommend to fans of the air frame.
model depicts the last F-104 to serve with Italy (and I also the last serving air frame in the world) clad in a commemorative paint
scheme honoring this fact. The paint scheme mimics those used by Ducati racing, and the number 999 is an homage to a Ducati
superbike (pilot was a Ducati racing fan). It is red...no, is RED! This model will jump out on the shelve, trust me. It's an interesting
scheme that simply screams "I am fast," and this is quite appropriate for this air frame and the last serving Starfighter.
Unfortunately, HM chose to apply a fairly heavy black wash to the model, which really detracts from the look. The real deal would have
been buffed to perfection and kept looking showroom fresh. A more subtle wash might have been okay, but this one is very heavy and
overdone, which is a shame. Also, strange for a HM model, you do not get the optional wingtip fuel tanks with this model -- you do with
all other F-104 models from HM, and all pics of the real plane I've seen have the fuel tanks attached. In addtion, there is no pilot figure,
which, to me, renders the in-flight display option pretty much useless. (You do get raised gear parts and a display stand, however, which
are not shown.) Also, while this is a limited release there was not a numbered card in the box.
Otherwise this is a very solid model. The fit of the parts is quite good, though the gear is somewhat difficult to install -- the supplied
directions could be more clear. Most HM 104s I've seen have issues with the cant of the wings being even on both sides and/or the
horizontal stabilizer being crooked as well. This one was pretty good -- though the stab did take a bit of bending to get it to look right.
The pad-printed graphics are nice and crisp, and the interior cockpit detail on this model is probably the best I've even seen from HM.
It's just really too bad about the wash, as otherwise this would be an easy model to recommend to fans of the air frame.
| Score: 2.5 (out of 5) Collectibility: Med Price (MSRP): $30 Production Run: 1,200 Catalog Number: HA1006 |
|
Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series
HA1006 F-104S Starfighter Italian Air Force 9 Stormo 10 Gruppo, Grazzanise, Italy, 2003
Released: July, 2007
Released: July, 2007
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