Some time ago i found the site of Tokyo Solid Model Club with a bunch of jet models at 1/72 scale.
Between others I found the F-104 ASA of the AMI (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) and I downloaded it, planning to build it some day.
After long time and after i completed my LM, I printed the model (only one page) and I started to build it, with the intention to build a model simple but beautiful.
The model is beautiful but not so simple as I thought.
The major difficulty was the lack of a structure inside that could give some rigidity and shape to the model, and at certain stage i realized that the rear part of the fuselage was awry. So i had to re-build the model.

I used some drop of cyanoacrylic glue for stiffen the landing gears and i doubled the wheels for make them more thick.
The Sidewinder Missiles are a bit stubby at the tip. I tried to correct this with a drop of glue for simulate the glassy tip of the guidance system.
The result is beyond my expectations, but next time i build a TSMC model I'd like to use the tabs but inside, cutting the given ones. This could give a surface smooth and continue, and a better fit, and a better strength of the parts.
I think that, with the experience accumulated i'll build some other TSMC jet model, that with the perfect fit, the detailed graphic design and the beautiful rendering of the shape are very enjoyable models to build.
Best, Nando
Between others I found the F-104 ASA of the AMI (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) and I downloaded it, planning to build it some day.
After long time and after i completed my LM, I printed the model (only one page) and I started to build it, with the intention to build a model simple but beautiful.
The model is beautiful but not so simple as I thought.





The major difficulty was the lack of a structure inside that could give some rigidity and shape to the model, and at certain stage i realized that the rear part of the fuselage was awry. So i had to re-build the model.






I used some drop of cyanoacrylic glue for stiffen the landing gears and i doubled the wheels for make them more thick.

The Sidewinder Missiles are a bit stubby at the tip. I tried to correct this with a drop of glue for simulate the glassy tip of the guidance system.

The result is beyond my expectations, but next time i build a TSMC model I'd like to use the tabs but inside, cutting the given ones. This could give a surface smooth and continue, and a better fit, and a better strength of the parts.



I think that, with the experience accumulated i'll build some other TSMC jet model, that with the perfect fit, the detailed graphic design and the beautiful rendering of the shape are very enjoyable models to build.
Best, Nando
