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| Expected release date is 28th Feb 2025 |
| Hobby Master 1:72 HA1077 TF-104G Starfighter - Luftwaffe JG 74 Molders, 27+87, Germany, 1970s |
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| Scale: 1:72 |
Length: 9.25" |
Width: 3.75" |
Composition: Diecast |
SKU: HM-HA1077 |
Period: Modern |
HOBBY MASTER AIR POWER SERIES
Pre-Order Expected Arrival - FEB 2025
JG 74, or Jagdgeschwader 74, was a West German Luftwaffe (Air Force) fighter wing that operated the F-104G Starfighter. The F-104G variant was a key component of NATO's defense strategy during the Cold War, characterized by its high-speed performance and advanced avionics for its time. JG 74 utilized the F-104G primarily for air defense and reconnaissance missions, contributing to the collective defense posture of West Germany and NATO against potential threats from the Warsaw Pact. The wing's operations with the F-104G underscored its role in maintaining aerial superiority and strategic deterrence during a tense period of geopolitical rivalry in Europe.
Designed to meet a need for an aircraft that could successfully compete against the MiG-15 in Korea, the F-104 Starfighter was first flown on February 20, 1958. American pilots believed that the F-86 Sabre was too large and complex to outmaneuver the lighter MiG, and they wanted a smaller, simpler, high-performance aircraft to replace it. The resulting design was a light, aerodynamic airframe wrapped around a powerful J79 turbojet engine. The F-104C was used by the USAF from 1958 until 1967, but most of the 2,578 production Starfighters were built and flown by members of NATO, including the Italian Air Force, which didn't retire it until 2004.
Hobby Master's 1:72 scale F-104 Starfighter is a good looking model with many quality features. The exceptionally long fuselage is constructed in diecast metal, with plastic side-mounted engine intakes. The rear turbine blades and the exhaust with its "turkey feathers" are some of the high points of this model, along with a canopy that opens to reveal an ejection seat and pad printed front and side instrument panels. The M61 Vulcan Gatling gun port is beautifully recreated, and the complex main landing gear is accurately rendered, securely locking into place for ground display. Most releases include removable wingtip fuel tanks, with fuselage mounted missiles on some versions.
Info: TF-104G Starfighter - Luftwaffe JG 74 Molders, 27+87, Germany, 1970s
