In the real world the Dassault Mirage III beat out Lockheed for Australia's Sabre replacement in 1960. As part of this competition Lockheed proposed two different Avon installations as the RAAF had a preference for the engine already in service in the Canberra and Sabre. One of the proposed Avon installations had a longer rear fuselage, but the other fairly closely matched the outline of the J79 powered Starfighter.
Australia hoped to deploy Mirages to the Vietnam theater alongside Canberras as part of their involvement, but France opposition made it impossible. If the RAAF had been operating the F-104 there would be no such opposition, but instead most likely enthusiastic encouragement.
So What If..
In late 1960 the Australian government selected a Rolls-Royce Avon powered F-104 Starfighter as its new interceptor to replace the F-86 Sabre. Based on the F-104G, but with a Rolls Royce Avon engine and some specific RAAF modifications for weapons carriage and avionics, this new Starfighter was designated the F-104K. The initial order of 30 single seat and 10 two-seat F-104Ks was soon followed by a second order of 40 single seaters. The first 14 aircraft were delivered from Lockheed, while subsequent aircraft were assembled locally by CAC.
The first operational RAAF Starfighter A3-03 entered service with 2 OCU in July 1965. The aircraft went on to equip 3, 75, 76, 77, and 79 Squadrons with a total of 121 Starfighters procured over the service life of the aircraft.
In April 1967 3 Sqn deployed alongside 2 Sqn Canberras to Phan Rang Air Base in South Vietnam. The F-104s acted as escort fighters for the Canberra, initially carrying two AIM-9D and two AIM-7D AAMs. As the war progressed RAAF Canberras faced a greater SAM threat than fighter threat which saw modifications to the F-104 to carry the AGM-45 Shrike anti-radar missile and an ECM jamming pod on the centerline station. 3, 77, and 79 Squadrons all deployed to Phan Rang at different times, supporting Australian in involvement in the Vietnam conflict. Four aircraft were lost in combat, 3 to SAMs and one to a MiG-21 firing an Atoll missile. Two further aircraft were lost in accidents, one attributed to mechanical failure, the other to pilot disorientation.
This model depicts A3-12, in service with 3 Sqn in early 1969. It carries a single kill marking from a MiG 17 downed with a Sidewinder missile, as well as a USAF 'zap' on the left airbrake, the result of a maintenance diversion to Cam Rahn in late 1968.
Kit is the Hasegawa F-104G built completely OOB other than Tamiya Tape seat harness. I did a little filing on the afterburner petals to change the look a little for the Avon burner (reheat?). I'm not sure it made much difference to the finished article but I'm happy with it. Decals are from the Caracal Mirage set and kit decals for stencils. The lack of weapons and pylons in the kit means I have ordered a resin F-104S pylon set, but it is coming form the UK and wont arrive for another week. Once it does this one will gain a pair of Sidewinders and a pair of Shrikes.
Paints are all Vallejo. British Medium Sea Grey on the lower surfaces and US Light Green and NATO Green on top for a totally fictional camo scheme.
