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F-104 Starfighter
Control Stick Grip

ADV, Full Size

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number: ADV - F-104 Starfighter Control Stick Grip
Scale: 1/1 (Full Size)
Contents and Media: Seven parts in grey resin.
Price: Contact ADV Models by email for pricing and availability information on adv.models@libero.it
Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: Cast from an original F-104 column; beautifully detailed; perfect casting; relatively straightforward construction.
Disadvantages: Very limited production run, so be quick!
Conclusion: A highly desirable but strictly limited display piece

 

Reviewed by Mick Evans


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FirstLook

 

Beautifully moulded in resin, ADV has captured all of the fine detail of the control stick grip fitted to the F-104 Starfighter.   The detail from the bottom through to the top of the stick grip has been faithfully reproduced. 

The resin contains no flaws or air bubbles, which is quite a feat in a casting of this size. 

 

  • ADV 1/1 scale F-104 Control Stick Review by Mick Evans: Image
  • ADV 1/1 scale F-104 Control Stick Review by Mick Evans: Image
  • ADV 1/1 scale F-104 Control Stick Review by Mick Evans: Image
  • ADV 1/1 scale F-104 Control Stick Review by Mick Evans: Image
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The stick grip is made up of one major part, (stick grip) and six minor parts containing three micro-switch buttons, two screws and one nut.  These smaller parts will have to be carefully removed from the moulding block and glued to the appropriate area of the control column. 

The stick grip requires some casting blocks to be removed and these areas will need some minor cleanup work prior to painting.  The moulding and casting process has captured the knurled grip area, screw heads and micro-switch stems and fastening devices perfectly.  The treaded section that fastens the base of the stick grip to the control column is so crisply moulded it looks like you could just screw the knurled nut at the top of a real control column straight onto the resin stick grip.  The gun trigger is nicely undercut through the moulding process that it actually looks like a separate trigger waiting to be squeezed.  The most impressive item though is the top hat switch for actuating the aileron and elevator trim motors.  This item is prominent on the top of the stick grip and is actuated by the pilots thumb to trim the aircraft during flight.  The switch is also nicely undercut during the moulding process so that it looks as though it is a separate and operatable switch. 

The actual stick is basically a satin black colour which is not as easy to replicate as it sounds.  Usually the stick is moulded from a black plastic or poly substance that has a particular sheen to it. 

The modeller needs to pick out a few details such as the metal screws, gun trigger switch and trim direction arrows.  Finally some of the details could be highlighted with levels of wash and dry brushing to add an authentic and aged appearance. 

 

 

Conclusion

 

 

After building the Tailboom Bf 109 control stick and Revi gunsight I am thoroughly impressed with these 1/1 scale models of aircraft components and I am getting quite a display of aircraft cockpit components some real, some models.  I hope both ADV and Tailboom continue to produce these unique 1/1 scale items.

Thanks to Andrea De Vincentiis for the review sample.

Text Copyright © 2010 by Mick Evans
Images Copyright © 2010 by Brett Green
Page Created 6 May, 2010
Last updated 6 May, 2010

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