RAF Starfighter F.1, RAF Germany 1961-COMPLETED

[Aeroplanedriver]

Well...this was started two days ago in an attempted entry into the 40 Hour GB...I failed.   

So I'll post her here...Hasegawa 1/48 F-104C as an RAFG F.1 operated briefly from 60-62 to give the RAF a supersonic interceptor while the Lightning was experiencing 'teething troubles'.  It is in the same basic dark green over silver that the RAFG Gutersloh Lightning F.2 fleet wore simply because I like how it looks. 

Loadout will likely be 2 or 4 Firestreaks depending on whether or not they fit on the underbelly Sidewinder rails. 

Here is how far I got in 48ish hours. 

[Old Wombat]

48 hours ... but you didn't "fail", you chose not to compromise your build quality to fit into an artificial time frame!

[ChernayaAkula]

If I'm lucky and work hard, I may be able to fail like this one nice day, too! 

"RAF Starfighter" - this should be episode 1 of a miniseries. 
Eagerly awaiting episodes F.2 til F.6....

[Aeroplanedriver]

Well here she is all done. 

When the EE Lightning suffered a string of accidents in flight testing it was clear service entry would be delayed until 1962 at the earliest.  Eager to field a supersonic interceptor the RAF turned to the Lockheed F-104 Lighting as an interim solution. In early 1960 the RAF ordered 34 F-104Cs and 10 two-seat F-104Bs.  The C model was chosen because it had that ability to carry a tactical nuclear weapon, though in practice RAF Starfighters were never used in this role.  The aircraft received minor modifications, primarily for the carriage of DeHavllland Firestreak missiles becoming the Starighter F.1. Fitting a Martin-Baker ejection seat was studied but in the end this was abandoned given the cost of modifications and the aircrafts expected short service life in the RAF. 

Two RAF squadrons operated F-104s, 74 Sqn and 92 Sqn.  The aircraft depicted served in Germany with 92 Sqn from February 1961 until replacement by the Lighting in early 1964.  It was restored in the 1980s and is currently on display at the Royal Air Force Museum.  Starfighters left RAF font line service completely by late 1965, but three two seat versions (T.2 in RAF terms) were retained until the early 1990s two at the Royal Aircraft Establishment and one at Empire Test Pilot's School. 

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Nice work!  You had mentioned in an earlier post that you wanted to use four Firestreaks, I was thinking ground clearance would be an issue with the pair that were intended for carriage under the fuselage.  Was this assumption correct?

[Aeroplanedriver]

Nice work!  You had mentioned in an earlier post that you wanted to use four Firestreaks, I was thinking ground clearance would be an issue with the pair that were intended for carriage under the fuselage.  Was this assumption correct?

They technically do fit, but to me they looked a bit close...not much clearance.  Decided on just the wingtip rails instead. 

[elmayerle]

Even with just two, it looks gorgeous!

[Buzzbomb]

Very, very nice job.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Nice work!  You had mentioned in an earlier post that you wanted to use four Firestreaks, I was thinking ground clearance would be an issue with the pair that were intended for carriage under the fuselage.  Was this assumption correct?

They technically do fit, but to me they looked a bit close...not much clearance.  Decided on just the wingtip rails instead.

Probably for the best.  As a point defense interceptor hanging around to dog fight was probably not recommended.  Besides his wingman needs an opportunity to launch his missiles. 

[Old Wombat]

Sweet!

[GTX_Admin]

Outstanding.

[Robomog]

Was worth not rushing, its turned out really well. Lightning scheme  suits it 

Mog
>^-.-^<

[ChernayaAkula]

Came out great!  Now do the other Lightning schemes.... 

[apophenia]

Very nice    That green-over-silver Lightning scheme really suits the Starfighter (and reminds me a bit of one of the RCAF CF-104 schemes).