Super Starfighter F.8

Super Starfighter F.8

(Lockheed-Aeritalia F-104S Super Starfighter)

Esci/AMT, 1/72

Primary Role: Medium-range Interceptor.
Secondary Roles: Limited CAS, Limited Anti-Shipping, Limited Tactical Reconnaissance.

The need for an expanded Interceptor capability became clear to the Strategic Studies Group after the reassignment of the Mirage F.3 from Interceptor to Tactical duties in 1979. Thus, the possibility was raised of purchasing two more Wings of Fighting Falcon F.1s which were quickly becoming popular in the NATO Alliance as the F-16. Unfortunately, by this time all production facilities in both the United States and Europe were at or above capacity and further orders of airframes were not being accepted.

However, this meant that a large number of used (but not necessarily obsolete) aircraft were now on the market at quite reasonable prices. Among these were several hundred NATO-standard Lockheed F-104Gs being retired from service by Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and others. A major exception was Italy -- which itself had manufactured the Starfighter under licence. (By Aeritalia. [Originally Fiat.]) -- which had bought a number of German airframes and preferred to keep the Starfighter in frontline service. An advanced Interceptor version, the F-104S; able to carry and launch either the American-built AIM-7 series "Sparrow" or the Italian-built "Aspide" AAMs; was also being manufactured.

The SSG recommended the purchase of over 300 airframes from several NATO Air Forces for the purpose of either retaining them at present capability for tactical use or upgrading them to "S" standard. Purchase of surplus airframes from NATO stocks was initiated in February 1981 and several dozen were sent to the Aeritalia factory where they were overhauled and modified to F.8 (F-104S) standard. The last of these modified aircraft were delivered to squadron service in the Summer of 1982, with the last of the Aeritalia-built aircraft being delivered in March of 1984. Even accounting for attrition due to accident losses and airframe retirement, the F.7/F.8 series should be able to serve until an adequate replacement is found sometime in the early 21st century.

The Model

Kit & Modifications:

AMT/ERTL 1/72 Scale F-104C/G ("Wings Aviation Collection" )

Hasegawa 1/72 Scale Weapons Set #3: Sidewinder and Sparrow Missiles.

M.V. Products Lenses.

Kit and spare decals.

This is actually a pretty decent kit. The panel lines are small, but crisply engraved. The cockpit is represented by decals, but a good resin and PE set can bring it up to Hasegawa-quality.

Background

When I was young (i.e. Elementary school age), I had a rather rampant imagination. One of the products of this was a Country that I "invented" so that I could experiment with camouflage schemes for various aircraft and armored vehicles. I gave it a name (St. Cyril & St. Martins) and created a semi-plausible history that would allow for a mix of old and new American and European types. All of what I wrote down from those early days is, of course, lost now; but I still use certain ideas whenever I want to create a "What if" that doesn't easily fit into "real World" scenarios.

Page created September 8, 2004