Hasegawa 1/32 F-104G Starfighter

By Ronald Dorenbos

Since 1960, the Royal Netherlands Air Force participates in the NATO nuclear burden sharing agreement by providing aircraft and pilots to deliver US nuclear weapons when authorized by NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group. 311 and 312 Squadron, initially equipped with F-84F Thunderstreak aircraft and operating out of Volkel Airbase, assumed this duty. When re-equipped with F-104G Starfighters, both squadrons contributed to a 24/7 nuclear alert capability, with aircraft bombed-up and ready for immediate take-off in case of a Warsaw Pact surprise attack.

This model depicts a 311 Squadron Starfighter bombed up with a B43 nuclear bomb, ca. 1966. The contemporary picture shows ‘D-8300’ being outfitted with 312 Squadron’s ‘D-6666’ tail section. In this period Dutch Starfighters gradually went over from the overall grey scheme to the NATO standard 3-tone camouflage pattern. Of course a 311 Squadron Starfighter showing just the competing squadron’s crest on the tail was out of the question so 311’s own badge had to be applied in a non-standard manner. This combination of camo schemes and units in one model was irresistible to me.

The model is the old Hasegawa kit, augmented with the drop tanks from Italeri’s kit and the Reskit B43-1 bomb. I had to modify the bomb’s tail section to have the fins in a + shape instead of the regular x shape. On Starfighters, in this way the fins would not interfere with the retracting main gear doors. The model was airbrushed with XtraColour enamels. The pitot tube is Master’s, decals were provided by Dutch Decal and DACO, landing gear parts by CMK and the aircraft code was airbrushed using Maketar custom masks. Exhaust and wheels are Aires.

Hasegawa 1/32 F-104G Starfighter

By Ronald Dorenbos

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