F-104A Starfighter

Thomas Bischoff
Hi tyu
I am also planning to build a US Navy Starfighter and browsing through online pictures makes me believe that 757 was originall equipped with a C1 seat but the picture you posted shows a C2 seat. I see that you added the Hypersonic set to the project - is this required for 757? Pictures of 740 show the C1 seat however.
I admit that I am no Starfighter expert ...

tyu
I am no expert either and you are right 757 has the C2 seat in the project image but I like that scheme with the orange bands better. Pretty sure it would have had the C1 seat in its life because delivered August 19th 1957, went to China Lake in 1959, crashed April 7th 1961 and the C2 retrofits started in 1961. So my conclusion is it had the C1 seat during the Navy trials.

Here an image before the Navy and orange markings:
916-starfighter.de/Large/Special/CLK_06.htm

And I believe this is 757 with C1 seat but not 100% sure:
916-starfighter.de/Large/Special/CLK_12.htm

tyu
And I think 740 (despite the Caracal color profile for it) also had an orange painted area. That would be the area just in front of the nose gear well: 916-starfighter.de/Large/Special/CLK_04.htm

And in that image the C1 seat is clearly visible. So this is my second choice for markings. Now just trying to determine if the orange is dayglo or International orange for these orange areas on both aircraft. My guess is dayglo.

Thomas Bischoff
thanks for your replays - nice summary! I have already ordered the Caracal sheet and should soon have it .. and I put now the Hypersonic set to my wishlist