Model Description
Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale HA1063 Lockheed F-104J “TAC Meet 1981” 46-8587, JASDF, Komatsu Air Base, 15th Nov 1981. Buy online at Flying Tigers.
The F-104 Starfighter was a revolutionary design with short razor-sharp wings. It was the first aircraft to be able to maintain Mach 2 not just in short bursts. The Starfighter shattered speed and rate of climb records that still are impressive today. This extremely high speed earned the plane the nickname “The Missile With A Man In It”. Because of financial considerations 15 or more countries purchased the F-104. The Starfighter flew with the USAF in 1958 and the last airplane was decommissioned in Italy in 2004.
Mitsubishi built F-104J c/n 683B-3087, model 683-07-14 was given the JASDF serial 26-8587 and was delivered on April 30, 1964 to the 201st Hikotai In 1970 it was transferred to the 202nd Hikotai (Squadron) / 5th Kokudan (Wing). In November of 1980 and 1981 46-8587 (587) represented the squadron at the ACM meeting, similar to the NATO Tiger Meet. In 1982 the 202nd and 204th squadrons of the 5th Kokudan shared the aircraft. In 1982 the 202nd squadron began to convert to the F-15 so in December 587 was withdrawn from service and eventually scrapped.
RRP £86.00
