Finally, Fine Molds new F-104 Starfighters in December 2025

[ya-gabor]

News of the day is the announcement of Fine Molds of two new kits for December 2025 release. First birds in a hopefully long line of F-104 Starfighters in 72 nd scale.

 

Here:

 

https://www.finemolds.co.jp/2025THS-new.html

 

Best regards

Gabor

Edited September 12, 2025 by ya-gabor

[ya-gabor]

Here are the sprues for the new Starfighter kit. Nice to see a one piece tail section so there could be other versions in future. The slide mould one piece injection production was perfect on the Zero, so it should be nice here too!

But also the Lockheed C-2 ejection seat is a separate item so anything is possible including the Martin-Baker seat also somewhere in the future!  : )  : )

 

 

Here. It includes the paint schemes for the two kit versions:

 

https://www.finemolds.co.jp/FF/FX07.html

 

https://www.finemolds.co.jp/FF/FF07.html

 

 

Best regards

Gabor

[Rob de Bie]

7 hours ago, ya-gabor said:

Here are the sprues for the new Starfighter kit. Nice to see a one piece tail section so there could be other versions in future. The slide mould one piece injection production was perfect on the Zero, so it should be nice here too!

But also the Lockheed C-2 ejection seat is a separate item so anything is possible including the Martin-Baker seat also somewhere in the future!  : )  : )

 

What a nice surprise, I hadn't heard about this future release!! Although I have 5 or 6 Hasegawa kits, I'll surely buy a few.

 

In the sprue / runner drawing I see that they a pretty unique insert for the lower fuselage. Generally I really don't like glue joints coinciding with panel lines, so that has me worried a bit.

 

Rob

[ya-gabor]

Hi Rob,

We will have to see the plastic parts for how good the fit is. Have to say that the 48th scale Zero in places had similar solutions and it all turned out good with no problems. So lets hope that the same is going to be here. 

 

Starfighter is something very special! Also have several Hase kits but will look forward to this.

 

Best regards

Gabor

[ya-gabor]

A nice collection of ordnance in the new US armament set from Fine Molds. I know it is not directly connected to the F-104 but it was part of the package of new items from Fine Molds.

 

Best regards

Gabor

[Rob de Bie]

Also, I'm happy to see no rivets disfiguring the model. Except for the middle panel of the tail barrel section it seems. Why??

 

Rob

[JNordgren42]

I'm looking forward to this. My F-4B is still on the build pile, but I couldn't resist doing a quick dry fit on it and the engineering and tolerances appear to be exquisite, hopefully this will be the same. I love the sheer insanity of the Starfighter, but I'll probably wait for a German F-104G down the line. I'd love to do a JG 71 Richthofen version of the Erdnagel.

[ya-gabor]

Some detail of the new kit. Don't forget it is in 72nd scale!!!  Based on the sprue drawing there will be two version, one as illustrated here, the other has a flat surface. Obviously the second is easier for decal application, but have to say that even on the first version with a Sol liquid there is no problem. 

 

From here:

https://x.com/finemolds_t/status/1966344083145994353

 

Best regards

Gabor

[Murph]

[Ruud]

very happy to see this.  And glad  started building my 3 Hasy Zippers earlier this year.  

[Jay Chladek]

Two canopies as well. One open, one shut. Now I'm tempted to try doing an NF-104 from this kit as this could be the best Starfighter in 1/72 on the planet!

[hemspilot]

Afraid that Fine Molds missed the bus by not providing the possibility to display the leading and trailing edge flaps lowered.

Perhaps there is still time if some influential individual contacts them.

[ya-gabor]

23 minutes ago, hemspilot said:

Afraid that Fine Molds missed the bus by not providing the possibility to display the leading and trailing edge flaps lowered.

Perhaps there is still time if some influential individual contacts them.

 

All the sprues are made and the kit is ready. Fine Molds has a different company policy, they announce new kits when they are already made. No CAD images of would be kits and after that years of nothing happening, like many other companies do.

Don’t think there would be any changes.

 

The other thing is that the Fine Molds company Boss had a video presentation where he explained that they have never in the past made anything so big and THIN! Like the wing of the Starfighter, in 72nd scale there is simply no place/space to have tubs or any locating pins for movable surfaces.

I think this is the main reason why the wing is given as one single part.

 

But also remember that on the recent Phantom kits flaps and the likes were given as integral part of the wing.

On the other hand on this new F-104 one gets an open electronics bay behind the cockpit, just like for the F-15 kits.

 

Best regards

Gabor

[ya-gabor]

Here is a print screen from the video with the test build kit in the hands of the Boss just ten or so days ago at the announcement of the Starfighter kits.

 

Best regards

Gabor 

[hemspilot]

All we now need is a 1/72 scale Godzilla.

[ya-gabor]

If anyone has missed before, here are the marking options for the upcoming Fine Molds 72 nd scale F-104J kits to be released in few months time. There will be the “standard” FF07 version and the limited FX07 with special schemes from the “Sen-kyo” tactical training. 

The difference apart from the colourful markings in the later version is that with FF07 you will get an alternative gun cover panel to cater for differences.

 

Best regards

Gabor

[Craig Baldwin]

New video up.  Auto-translate works reasonably well. Excellent close up of actual parts.

 

 

[Craig Baldwin]

Fine Molds created a spot on the engine/intake assembly that supports the wings, to allow for proper fit and wing anhedral angle.

 

 

[Rob de Bie]

I saw that too. But now wing anhedral relies on the proper vertical position of the engine - I find that a tad worrying..

 

Rob

[ya-gabor]

It is just a test build, not everything cleaned properly, quick build . . .

But that underside looks magnificent!

 

Best regards

Gabor

[Ruud]

so much detail!  Can’t wait for the G. 

[ya-gabor]

Here are some views of the new Fine Molds F-104j kit built and painted.

 

And a cutaway to show some internal details, how it all looks like.

 

 

Best regards

Gabor

[ya-gabor]

To go along with the new Fine Molds F-104J kit in December this year two Nano sets will be also released with straps for the Lockheed C-2 ejection seats. The set also includes three mirrors for the Starfighter. Two versions of this Nano set will be released, one for the 72nd scale F-104 (NA 17) and the other for 48th scale (NC 16) C-2 seats.

 

If the Nano straps for the Fine Molds Zero kit anything to go by then these F-104 straps should also be nice and useful!

 

Best regards

Gabor

[MoFo]

I have to say, I’m a little disappointed by the subject. I’m not the biggest fan of the -104, but the Hasegawa kit is still really nice all these decades later.  I’d have preferred an F-1/T-2, or a comprehensive F-86 series, personally. (It would be kind of cool to get a modern F-1 to go with the litaki Orao and - hopefully - new tool Jaguars from Airfix)

[hemspilot]

5 hours ago, MoFo said:

I have to say, I’m a little disappointed by the subject. I’m not the biggest fan of the -104, but the Hasegawa kit is still really nice all these decades later.  I’d have preferred an F-1/T-2, or a comprehensive F-86 series, personally. (It would be kind of cool to get a modern F-1 to go with the litaki Orao and - hopefully - new tool Jaguars from Airfix)

I believe Platz released a fairly new mold of the 1/72 Mitsubishi F-1/T-2