My plan was to build two CF-104s in the colour of the RDAF (Flyvevåbnet) for this Group Build. But as a former danish prime minister (j.O.Krag) so wisely said: “You have a point of view until you find a new point of view”.
When the RDAF received its F-104s as MAP in 1964 it got 25 CF-104s and 4 TF-104Gs The TF-104Gs came directely from Lockheed and falls outside the scope of this GB.
But 29 F-104s were only enough for 1½ squadron. So when RCAF reduced its forces in West-Germany and the Canadians offered 39 CF-104s for sale, RDAF was ready to buy. In the end RDAF signed a contract in september 1971 for the delivery of 15 CF-104 and 7 CF-104D at the price of 235,000 can $ a piece. The Canadians had at first demanded 400,000 can $.
As the CF-104Ds came from canadian service I think they will be alright for this GB.
My build will be based on the old Matchbox TF-104G. It will need a lot of improvement. The cockpitt for instance is just an empty void with two seats, that look like the comfy chairs from a living room. They will be replaced by Martin-Baker bangseats.
The RDAF was great Martin-Baker fans, and had already replaced the american ejector seats in its RF-84Fs, F-86Ds and F-100s with products from Martin-Baker.
The Lockheed C-2 ejection seat of the F-104 gave place to a Martin-baker DQ-7 seat. The Lockheed C-2 could only be used, when the plane was in the air, and if the pilot ejected at low level, he would under certain circumstances end up in the burning wreckage of his plane. The Martin-Baker DQ-7 was a zero-zero seat and rocket propelled.
