Eduard 1/48 F-104G Bundesfighter Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

We recently had a first look at Eduard's F-104G NATO Fighter release and that made me want to find a copy of their Bundesfighter release from a few months earlier. You can see a brief summary of the F-104 and a look at the NATO Fighter here. The main differences between the two kits are the photo-etch and the decal subjects. In the case of the photo-etch, this Bundesfighter release has a slightly different instrument panel layout.

Like the NATO Fighter release, this kit is molded in light gray styrene and presented on ten parts trees plus a single tree of clear parts. What makes this kit different than the standard Hasegawa release is the inclusion of a set of color-printed photo-etched parts and two Brassin (resin) ejection seats. The kit has a nice set of colorful decal options, one set of airframe stencils, and a set of Eduard Kabuki-tape paint masks. Among the features and options in this kit:

• Choice of color photo-etch or decal instrument panel and side consoles in cockpit
• Choice of Lockheed or Martin Baker resin ejection seats
• Positionable canopy
• Positionable leading and trailing edge flaps
• Positionable ailerons
• Positionable stabilator
• Positionable rudder
• Positionable speed brakes
• Choice of short (early) or long (late) J79 afterburner nozzles
• Choice of flat or bulged main gear doors

External stores options:

• Wingtip fuel tanks
• Centerline pylon

This release provides markings for five subject options:

• F-104G, 20+02, JaboG 32, Tactical Air Meet '80, Ramstein AB, June 1980
• F-104G, DC+1-9, JaboG 33, Decimomannu AB, Sardinia, 1964
• F-104G, 22+74, Marinefliegergeschwader 1, Hannover, 1980
• F-104G, 63-13269, 58th CCTW, Luke AFB, 1982
• F-104G, 26+63, Marinefliegergeschwader 2, 1986, Farewell F-104 Colors

This release from Eduard, like the NATO Fighter kit, takes the Hasegawa kit to a better level of detail than the stock Hasegawa kit. Eduard has also provided optional Brassin sets for this kit including:

• F-104 early (short) exhaust nozzle set
• F-104 late (long) exhaust nozzle set
• F-104 late undercarriage wheels

Now if you're really wanting to take the Hasegawa to the ultimate AMS level of detail, you might remember last year when DACO released the 1/48 F-104 'Improvement and Completion Set'. When you open that box, you wonder if there isn't a complete Starfighter in that box. Even though there are over 500 parts in that box, there isn't a complete Starfighter kit in there but it does provide an extensive array of parts to correct and complete the Hasegawa kit. You can click the link above to see the items included in the set but needless to say, the DACO set provides additional details not addressed by Eduard as well as the most extensive set of F-104 pylons and external stores available in less than 1:1 scale.

This Eduard release provides some colorful examples of the F-104G in German service which, combined with the Eduard parts in the box, makes this version of the Hasegawa kit worth finding. With all of the great aftermarket detail options also on the market including the items mentioned above, you can build the ultimate Starfighter in 1/48 scale. As I mentioned above, I like the NATO Fighter release enough to grab a copy of this release as well. Between the options in these two kits, the Brassin and Eduard photo-etch options, and the above-mentioned DACO kit, there are some serious make-over options on the market now!