[b-huj]

I am sorry to say this but I just saw the Witty F-104 Really George and since the shop had the HM release sitting next to it I could do a close up comparison and here are some of my conclusions:

Cockpit: Witty is known for lack of detailing inside the cockpit, but this time it probably made a big mistake by painting the back of the seat silver, continuation of the fuselage colour! If my memory doesn't fail me they did get rid of the green alien inside!
Ordinance: Witty decided Really George needed no missiles...
Paintjob: disco glitter on the Witty if you know what I mean. glittering silvery particles in the paint. HM has a paint with much finer particles, mocking the bare metal better.
Landing gear doors: Witty's plastic doors have some flashing or uneven, unstraight borders...looks unfinished and painted in a hurry...or the mould just wouldn't keep the plastic in the right place.
Engine intakes: same improvised look of the gear doors...doesn't join the rest of the metal fuselage very well.
Panel lines: no overdone black lines, no huge deep gaps, I like this

overall the Witty final product looks unfinished, uninsteresting. The older HobbyMaster release, although bearing darker than desirable panel lines and probably "thicker" appearance overall, does make a more interestig collection piece. My opinions only, you can make your own conclusions once you see it.

[F-104 Paul]

Hi
So a Witty Wings F-104, any online store have it so I can get a look at it (not over here yet)....doesn't sound too promising..
maybe even I can pass on this one !!!

[flyXwire]

Thanks for your candid assessment on the Witty F-104, b-huj. Sounds very disappointing!

Any sighting of the P-38 yet? Could you also paint us a picture of the P-38 diecast quality would be like? Thanks!

[ZS-VAN]

Thanks for your insights b-huj. I've been slow out of the blocks with Witty after I bought their first Spitfire. Very different with Hobby Master, have a few already including the F104 Pussy Cat. Still have to get the Sea Fury, and now the Canadian one is out, may just get that one now.

[F-104 Paul]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

Thanks for your insights b-huj. I've been slow out of the blocks with Witty after I bought their first Spitfire. Very different with Hobby Master, have a few already including the F104 Pussy Cat. Still have to get the Sea Fury, and now the Canadian one is out, may just get that one now.

Just seen the F-104's from Witty Wings as well not very impressive at all, especially when on the WittyWings company site the 479th TFW USAF is called an F-104S!
The other is in Pakistan Air Force livery The Pakistan Air Force 9th Squadron were equipped with F-104A 's and F-104B's neither of which had a refuelling probe this I believe was introduced with the F-104C. Also the less said about the "Riveting" on the rear fuselage section the better

[Lakota Mech]

Looks like the only reason to buy the Witty F-104 is to get the refueling probe and use it on the Hobby Master C model's, Not a C model if it doesn't have a probe. Ref Flight Journal Magazine June 2006

[zed550]

would be cheaper to get the italeri f-104a kit for the probe thats what i did pussycat is now the new owner along with the correct ecm pods at the rear and under the nose

[F-104 Paul]

Originally Posted by Lakota Mech

Looks like the only reason to buy the Witty F-104 is to get the refueling probe and use it on the Hobby Master C model's, Not a C model if it doesn't have a probe. Ref Flight Journal Magazine June 2006

I know this is one of the things about the die-cast makers that gets to me, loads of "liveries/color schemes" but not a good deal for collectors who would like to collect accurate-ish variants (not as exact as the plastic modeller can achieve I know)...Am I being too fussy?

[SKUNKY]

Originally Posted by F-104 Paul

I know this is one of the things about the die-cast makers that gets to me, loads of "liveries/color schemes" but not a good deal for collectors who would like to collect accurate-ish variants (not as exact as the plastic modeller can achieve I know)...Am I being too fussy?

...NOPE...

[F-104 Paul]

Originally Posted by Lakota Mech

Looks like the only reason to buy the Witty F-104 is to get the refueling probe and use it on the Hobby Master C model's, Not a C model if it doesn't have a probe. Ref Flight Journal Magazine June 2006

Hi couldn't stop thinking that I had seen pictures of F-104C's without the "removeable probe" as it is sometimes called so I tracked one down

The serials appear to be for F-104C's

...........very confused .
REF:Warbird History Lockheed Starfighter pg 45