Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1051 Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter Luftwaffe, JG 31"Boelcke", 25th Anniversary 1983

True 1/72 scale 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 Loads of optional armament has been provided Canopy can be displayed open or closed Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic Highly collectable

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.

In 1983 the TF-104G selected for the special paint scheme “Blue Boelcke” commemorating the 25th Anniversary of JaboG 31 “Boelcke” was c/n 583F-5961. It was built by Lockheed and assembled by Messerschmitt starting on 19th July 1967 with the first flight on 20th November 1967 assigned the code KE+219. The aircraft was delivered to JG 74 on 22nd January 1968 as 28+31 and transferred to JG 31 25th November 1974. On 8th November 1989 the aircraft was struck off charge (SOC). On 23rd November 1989 this aircraft became the property of the Hellenic Air Force coded TF-5961. In 1993 the aircraft was withdrawn from service and sat in the elements for several years. The aircraft was finally restored and is located at Tanagra Air Base.

F-104G specifications Manufacturer: Lockheed Designation: F-104G Starfighter Crew: 1 (pilot)

Length: 16.66 M. Height: 4.09 M Wingspan: 6.63 M Wing Area: 18.22 Sq. M Empty weight: 6345 Kg. Gross weight: 9362 Kg. Max. weight: 13171 Kg Range: 1754 Km Cruise Speed : 821 km/h Max. Speed : 1844 km/h Climb : 14,630 M/min Ceiling: 15240 M. Wing loading: 563kg/m2 Powerplant: 1 General Electric J-79-GE-11A (A/B 7,067 Kg.) Thrust: 4356 Kg