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Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter

by Danny Coremans & Peter Gordts

DACO Publications

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number, Description and ISBN:

DCB005 - Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter
by Danny Coremans & Peter Gordts
DACO Publications, Antwerpen, Belgium Second Edition 2013 Printed in Belgium ISBN: 9789080674707
Media and Contents: 160 pages, softbound, 875+ colour detail photos, 2 large foldouts ~1m long each containing 1/72 and 1/48 detailed scale drawings and various cockpit layouts.
Price:

€34.75 available online from DACO's website

USD$47.24 plus shipping avaialable online from Squadron
Review Type: FirstRead
Advantages: Comprehensive coverage, very clear images, perfect size for the work bench.
Disadvantages:  
Conclusion: The most comprehensive reference book for the European F-104’s. Get yourself one if you’re a fan of the Starfighter. Recommended.

 

Reviewed by Michael Drover


Uncovering the Starfighter is available online from Squadron.com

 

FirstRead

 

What can only be described as the modeller’s bible for the F-104G, the second edition release of this book should be met with a sigh of relief for those that missed out on it the first time around. Covering every nook and cranny of the European version of the F-104, this book is the ‘go to’ for reference. The book contains more than 850 full colour photos of of the F-104G and it’s two seater variant.

 

  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
  • Uncovering the Lockheed (T)F-104G Starfighter Book Review by Michael Drover: Image
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The coverage of the airframe begins at the pitot probe on the radar nose cone and slowly and thoroughly moves aft covering in great detail and clarity both internal and external features. The areas covered are:

  1. Radome
  2. NASARR Radar
  3. Front Fuselage Area
  4. M61 Vulcan Canon
  5. Refuelling Point
  6. Air Intake
  7. Mid Fuselage Area
  8. Wing Area
  9. Sidewinder Rail
  10. Wingtip Fuel Tank
  11. Pylon Fuel Tank
  12. Fuselage Aft Area
  13. Speed Brakes
  14. J79-GE-11A Exhaust
  15. J79-MTU-J1K Exhaust
  16. Tail Section
  17. Chaff & Flare
  18. Stabilizer
  19. Underside
  20. Underside Nose Section
  21. Nose Wheel Door
  22. Nose Landing Gear
  23. Fuselage Middle Area
  24. RF-104G Camera Pods
  25. Fuselage Pylon
  26. Wing Underside Area
  27. Main Landing Gear
  28. Main Gear Doors
  29. Hydraulic Bay
  30. Arresting Hook
  31. Drag Chute Housing
  32. ECM
  33. F-104G Cockpit
  34. C-2 Ejection Seat
  35. MB Ejection Seat
  36. F-104G Computers
  37. Ammunition Bay
  38. TF-104G Two Seater
  39. Twoseater Fuselage
  40. Twoseater Fuses Bay
  41. Twoseater Nose Gear
  42. TF-104G Front Cockpit
  43. TF-104G Aft Cockpit
  44. Twoseater Computers
  45. F-104F Front Cockpit
  46. F-104F Aft Cockpit

 

A dedicated section is also provided covering the maintenance of the F-104. Various photos of the airframe undergoing deep maintenance have been sourced which will greatly benefit the super detailers out there.

Covered in this section is

  1. Vulcan Gun Bay
  2. F-104G Cockpit
  3. Fuel Tubing
  4. Fuel Cell Tanks
  5. Fuselage Wing Joint
  6. Wing Area
  7. Tail Section
  8. Engine Bay
  9. J79-GE-11A Engine
  10. J79-MTU-J1K Engine

 

The final section covers the ground support equipment and stores and ordnance.

  1. Ground Support Equipment
  2. Armament
  3. AIM-9B Sidewinder
  4. AIM-9N Sidewinder
  5. Catamaran Launcher
  6. AS.30 Missile
  7. Kormoran-1 Missile
  8. GP & Cluster Bombs
  9. Rocket Pods
  10. Practise Bomb Dispensers
  11. Napalm & Travel Pods
  12. Orpheus Recce Pod
  13. Target Towing Devices
  14. Nuclear Bombs

 

The final gem in the book is the almost 2 metres long, YES - TWO METRES!!! (almost 6.5 feet long) double sided set of 1/48th and 1/72nd diagrams drawn by Danny Coremans  for the different airframes covered. Layout diagrams drawn by Willy Peeters are also provided for each of the different cockpit configurations for the Fighter/bomber, interceptor and two seat variants. This should keep most rigorous of dimension checkers keen as the drawings are all based on 1:1 airframe measurements.
           

 

 

Conclusion

 

Simply put, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. If you’re any kind of fan of the F-104 and are looking for reference material on the European variants of this famous aircraft then there is no other alternative to this book. The coverage of the airframe is second to none and every image is clear an extremely informative. Danny Coremans and Peter Gordts and their contributors should be heaped with praise for the extensive coverage and completeness that is evident in this book.

Thanks to DACO Publications for the review sample.


Review Copyright © 2015 by Michael Drover
This Page Created on 16 August, 2015
Last updated 16 August, 2015

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