Small Scale Military Headquarters

I picked up a 21st Century Smoke 2 F-104 today at TRUs, and I really like it. The Vietnam era paint scheme looks cool on the Starfighter. I know this plane has been out awhile, I just had not seen one till now. What do you guys think of Smoke 2?

MOSQUITOMANIA:

I passed up on an F-104 Smoke II at ToysRUS for $40---I tink BBI's 1/32 Vietnam F-104 will be better---but maybe at a higher price.

I've caught sight of one intermittently the last year and a half, or so, I need to go ahead and get it so I will have all five!!!!!!!!!!!! I seem to want to use the money for gas, though.

I initially passed on this plane - they appeared at my local Wal Marts over the summer of 2006 then disappeared. That is until one resurfaced last year when they were having the 1:18 aircraft clearance sales. I picked it up for $25 and it was certianly worth the price!

I really like the scheme - it gives us at least one 1:18 scale plane in the Vietnam-era tri-color camoflauge that can go along with all the Hueys, Mutts, M-48s and figures, especially since an F-4 or A-1 in similar livery seem so distant. It is perhaps the most plain-looking of the F-104s, but that in itself is a plus as not all F-104s had bright red tails or tiger stripes The pilot's painted helmet is also pretty cool. Unfortunantly, there's no Mig-17, or Mig-21 for it to chase, but the Chinese "tiger stripe" plane goes well enough in a display with the "Smoke II" F-104.

Smoke 2 is s nice looking model. I find the paint scheme really adds to the sleek look of the F-104.

mosquitomania wrote:I picked up a 21st Century Smoke 2 F-104 today at TRUs, and I really like it. The Vietnam era paint scheme looks cool on the Starfighter. I know this plane has been out awhile, I just had not seen one till now. What do you guys think of Smoke 2?

Yes I do.

I still would rather have BBI's upcoming 1/32 Vietnam F-104 over 21st's 1/18 F-104 because BBI has more detail and weathering.
Also, 21st's F-104 is too big-----I'm saving room for 21st's 1/18 Steve Ritchie F-4D.


(Actually, I'm speculating that the upcoming Badcat/BBI exclusive 1/32 plastic plane will be a Ritchie F-4 retool of BBI's F-4J VF-84 Jolly Rogers. Admittedly, it's wishful thinking---but it keeps me going).

Hell with it, todays the day- I'm finally gonna get the smoke II-
nothing else big to buy for a quite a while and I'm tired of passing 'em by for a couple of years now.

you'll like it, it's quite nice. I have mine doing a napalm pass across my living room floor. I was going to get another one and pose it dodging a SAM, but i'm going to get an r/c F-4 and use that instead.

Smoke II is highly recommended and is one of those planes that if you don't get it, 5 years from now when they're $200+ you'll kick yourself.

here is my report done in 2006 .... still true !

viewtopic.php?t=4788&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20

it was at the time my final comment :


"my final comment is that with moveable leading edge flaps and tail + fully fonctinal landing gear + incredible look + history (first vietnam plane in our scale) and captain america at the control , you can have one : actually it s a MUST have item "

Just a reminder about BBI's upcoming 1/32 F-104:

this is the 1/18 forum......go remind them over there--->

AFERGUSON:

I just wanted to point out to those who don't visit the 1/32 SSHQ board that there is an alternative to the 1/18 F-104 for those looking at the 1/18 version.

well i'm sure if they're interested in a smaller version, they know where to look...

stop polluting the 1/18 forum with tiny toy info..

aferguson wrote:well i'm sure if they're interested in a smaller version, they know where to look...

stop polluting the 1/18 forum with tiny toy info..

Hear ...Hear ....

AFERGUSON:

OK, I agree, but based on my own experience, the 1/18 Smoke II--$40 isn't available at all ToysRUs stores---I visited several ToysRUs stores and found only one had a single Smoke II---up on a shelf away from the other models where most people wouldn't see it. I had to ask a clerk to get a ladder and get it for me so I could look at it. I decided not to buy it because it was too big (I'm running out of room and am saving space for 1/18 planes I want more than the Smoke II). So I was just suggesting for those who can't find the 1/18 Smoke II at ToysRUs, the BBI will be upcoming.

A 1/32 F-104 is better than no F-104 at all.

aferguson wrote:well i'm sure if they're interested in a smaller version, they know where to look...

stop polluting the 1/18 forum with tiny toy info..

I spit Pepsi out of my nose and all over the puter when I read that.

i thought the 1/32 F104 was a rumour ! i hope that BBI seeing the success of their F4 and other jets will go for 1.18


anyway thanks for the head up i will check better the 1.32 pages

BBIs 32nd scale F-104 should be a beauty. Their F-4J is as nice looking as a model gets in my opinion.

SUPERSONICFIFI:

Thanks. I was just trying to help those who couldn't find the 21st 1/18 version at ToysRUs or were unaware of the BBI version.