ACADEMY 1/72 SCALE F-104G STARFIGHTER (CF-104 Starfighter Gate Guardian Diorama)

Описание: In this build video on the Academy 1/72 Scale F-104G Starfighter. You will see me convert the kit into a Royal Canadian Air Force CF-104 Starfighter. By making custom D.I.Y Decals, using inkjet decal paper. And using spare decals from my collection.

Due to the age of this kit, there is a lack of detail. In this case the lack of wheel well detail (there is no detail). As a result, I decided to make the model in flight and on a display stand. In fact, I decided to turn the display stand into a gate guardian plinth.

HISTORY OF THE CANADAIR CF-104 STARFIGHTER
In 1959, Canada had cancelled the CF-105 Arrow program and was looking for a replacement for their aging F-86 Sabres and the Starfighter was determined to be the best choice. The F-104 Starfighter was designed conceived and built by the legendary aircraft designer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, chief engineer at the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation’s "Skunk Works" in Burbank, California. The CF-104 was an upgraded version of the earlier F-104A with a higher thrust J-79 manufactured under license by Orenda Aircraft Canada. An order for 200 CF-104s was placed with Canadair Aircraft, Montreal, Quebec who would build them under license from Lockheed.

A total of 200 single-seat aircraft were built by Canadair (Bombardier) in Montreal. There were 113 Canadian aircraft lost during the 24-year service of the Starfighter. 37 pilots lost their lives while flying the CF-104, only four fatal crashes were due to aircraft system failures. The principal cause of crashes was due to bird strikes or other factors resulting in engine failure. Other crashes were from the nature of Canada’s NATO role which necessitated flying at high speeds at extreme low levels. Combined with the poor visibility of European skies this resulted in many aircraft being involved in controlled flight into terrain accidents. Canada retired the CF-104s from service in 1987.