1/72 F-104J "TAC Meet 1981" 46-8587 JASDF Komatsu Air Base 15th Nov 1981

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 In 1982 the 202nd squadron began to convert to the F-15 so in December 587 was withdrawn from service and eventually scrapped.

Designed to meet a need for an aircraft that could successfully compete against the MiG-15 in Korea, the F-104 Starfighter was first flown on February 20, 1958. American pilots believed that the F-86 Sabre was too large and complex to outmaneuver the lighter MiG, and they wanted a smaller, simpler, high-performance aircraft to replace it. The resulting design was a light, aerodynamic airframe wrapped around a powerful J79 turbojet engine. The F-104C was used by the USAF from 1958 until 1967, but most of the 2,578 production Starfighters were built and flown by members of NATO, including the Italian Air Force, which didn't retire it until 2004.

Features:

- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.

- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.

- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.

- Opening canopies, revealing detailed cockpit interiors.

- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear.

- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".

- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.

- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.

- Scale: 1:72

- Dimensions: Length 23.49cm x Wingspan 9.52 cm