Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1042 Lockheed F-104D Starfighter 4166, ROCAF

The Lockheed F-104C came about as the result of Tactical Air Command (TAC) decision that the F-104A wasn’t a capable supersonic tactical strike fighter. The F-104C was equipped with an in- flight refueling probe to extend its range and was capable of delivering a tactical nuclear weapon. Put into service during the Vietnam War the USAF realized the F-104C wasn’t the aircraft for Vietnam and was replaced with the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The surviving F-104Cs were transferred to the 198th TFS of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard.

F-104D (c/n 5038) 57-1326 “4166” was one of six F-104Ds purchased from the U.S. Air National Guard by the Republic of China that operated 244 Starfighters in total. The F-104Ds were used to equip the 427th TFW located at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base assigned to train pilots for combat missions using the Starfighter. All variants of the F-104 were retired in the early 1980s with some being sold to Jordan and Pakistan. 4166 was sent to the Aviation Technology School and later transferred to the Military History Museum.

Specifications for the F-104D F-104D Dual-Control Trainer variant of the F-104C Number of D Built - 21 Designation - originally a super-sonic interceptor but adapted for low level strike and reconnaissance Crew: 1 x pilot - “D” variant 2 crew Dimensions Wingspan - 21’ 11" Length - 54’ 9" Height - 13’ 6" Wing area - 196.1 sq. ft Powerplant 1 x Orenda Engines J79-OEL-7, 10,000 lb. s.t. dry / 15,800 lb. s.t. with after burner Performance Maximum speed Dash - 1,550 mph (mach 2.35) @ 40,000' 915 mph (mach 1.2) @ sea-level Climb to 30,000’ - 1.5 minutes Service ceiling - 50,000 ft (12,000 m) Range - 1,630 mi (1,420 nm, 2,630 km)

Weights Empty - 13,909 lbs. Clean - 21,005 lbs. Maximum take-off - 28,891 lbs External stores 5 hard points - 1 x under the fuselage, 1 x under each wing, 1 x at each wing tip Armament External bombs and missiles such as: Napalm bomb Cluster bomb BL755 cluster bomb 1 x 19 rocket rocket-pod Mk. 82 bomb MN1A practice bomb dispenser 1 x M61A1 Vulcan 1 x 20mm cannon added to later versions.

True 1/72 scale Comes with wing tip AIM-9 missiles Professionally painted unique scheme Great attention to detail All markings are Tampoed (pad applied)

Option to display the model on a stand that is provided Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions Canopy can be displayed open or closed Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic Highly collectable