Hello PM's,
Time for a new project and during building of the D-XXI the idea gradually took root to build the Fokker G-1. However, in the end I chose something without cylinders and propellers, just for a change. So the G-1 will have to wait a little while.
I once built the 1:50 scale WMV F-104G Starfighter and after 20 years it’s still on display in my home. It was a pleasant model to make, every part fitted well and we’re talking pre-computer era here. I couldn’t resist posting a few pictures of this one to start with.
Even longer ago I built the 1:33 Revell plastic model of the F-104G as it flew with the Dutch Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht) until being replaced by the F-16. That one didn’t survive the passing of time; I must have blown it up with fire crackers because that's how the plastic models usually ended. High time to explore the F-104G in paper.
In 2013 Kartonowa Kolekcja (KK) published a wonderfully printed and detailed F-104G of the German Luftwaffe as it flew with JBG-34 based at Meminge Air Base in Southern Germany and I decided to build this beauty. It cost less than 10 euros at zeistbouwplaten.nl, which is an amazingly friendly price for such quality and hopefully many, many hours of building enjoyment. There’s an interesting movie on YouTube meant for instruction of German aircraft mechanics that shows a lot of details of the aircraft during pre and after flight inspections (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKv9lsdln7E). When watching the video I felt some of that Cold War atmosphere again, so familiar when I was a kid back in the seventies. Almost like youth sentiment.
The kit is contained in an attractive A4-size booklet, consisting of a detailed history, building instructions and 10 pages for the model itself; altogether over 600 parts. The text is almost entirely in Polish, except for the explanation of construction symbols, which is also in English. The instruction drawings are very clear and remarks in the drawings can easily be translated online so language isn’t really a barrier although my curiosity about the rest of the text remains. Perhaps mastering Polish should be made a mandatory skill for paper modellers.
Before starting to cut I sprayed the parts pages with Talens Oil/Acrylic based matt varnish and let them dry overnight. Assembly then starts with the cockpit. The pedestal is not glued in place yet, first the pedals have to be installed and at this point the assembly already consists of 44 parts. Everything fits perfectly. Next will be the highly detailed instrument panel and ejection seat. You simply wouldn’t believe this is all paper, especially when using the optional parts marked in blue, which give further enhancement of details.
Well, that’s it for now.
Erik
