1/32 Italeri F-104 Starfighter G/S 2514

• Type:Fighter aircrafts

• Period:Modern
• Country:United States
• SKILL:5
• Model Dim.:52,0 cm
• Box Dim.:560 x 280 x 115 mm

ITALIAN AIR FORCE ORPHEUS RECON POD – BULGED COVER FOR RECON PHOTO SYSTEM – 2 ALE 40 CHAFFS DISPENSERS – FINELY ENGRAVED RECESSED PANEL LINES AND RIVETS  – FULLY DETAILED ENGINE , COCKPIT , AND AVIONICS BAY – FULLY DETAILED GUN BAY WITH COMPLETE M-61 VULCAN ASSEMBLY – OPEN OR CLOSED AIR BRAKES – PHOTOETCHED FRET – 325 PARTS – 2 HUGE DECALS SHEETS FOR 8 VERSIONS – INSTRUCTIONS SHEET WITH COLOR PROFILES

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is one of the most famous fighters in the history of aviation and also one with the longest operational life; its history began at the end of the 1950s and ended, for some air forces, in the mid-2000s. Its unique airframe, with its slender fuselage and very little wing surface, made this aircraft ideal as an interceptor. Thanks to the thrust of its General Electric J79-GE-11A afterburning turbojet engine, it could exceed Mach 2.2 with an excellent rate of climb. But it was not very maneuverable and difficult to pilot. The F-104G Starfighter was produced on license by several European aviation industries. From the mid-60s on, it became the standard interceptor for many NATO countries, including Italy, Germany, Holland, Greece, and Turkey. The armament was basically the same found on previous versions, with a 20mm Vulcan cannon and the option to fit under the wings air-to-air missiles, bombs, or additional fuel tanks to increase the airplane’s range. With time, reconnaissance duties were added to the traditional interceptor service. The F-104G was therefore equipped with a dedicated “Orpheus” reconnaissance external pod that gave excellent operational results.