1/72 F-104G Starfighter

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a sleek, high-performance interceptor developed in the 1950s and famously dubbed the “missile with a man in it.” Designed for speed and altitude, it was the first combat aircraft capable of sustained Mach 2 flight. While its service with the U.S. Air Force was relatively brief, the F-104 found long-term use among NATO allies, especially Germany, Italy, and Canada, with production continuing well into the 1970s under license. Its service history is complex, marked by both technical innovation and a controversial safety record.

In 1/72 scale, the F-104 has been a popular subject with numerous kit releases covering the main variants—F-104A/C for early U.S. service, F-104G/J/S for export and license-built models, and the upgraded Italian F-104S ASA/M. Kit quality varies by manufacturer, with Hasegawa’s long-standing tooling praised for surface detail and accuracy, while Revell and Italeri (old ESCI kit) have also produced good-value kits representing later European variants.

This tag page collects all known 1/72 scale Starfighter kits, providing historical background, notes on variant differences, and side-by-side kit comparisons to support modelers building this iconic Cold War jet.