Small Scale Military Headquarters

A quick question -

What is the best way to remove the tail section of the 21c F-104?

I'm wanting to disassemble one of my planes, but this part of the operation seems a bit difficult and I'm not wanting to cause significant damage...

Thanks for the help

tmanthegreat wrote:A quick question -

What is the best way to remove the tail section of the 21c F-104?

I'm wanting to disassemble one of my planes, but this part of the operation seems a bit difficult and I'm not wanting to cause significant damage...

Thanks for the help

I thought the same as well, but if you slowly and gently work at it, it should pop out. That said, when I assemble my 104s I generally leave them out for months at a time.

On my USAF one it just slides right out but on my german one its a little difficult but with a little force it slides right out....

MCalamari wrote:I thought the same as well, but if you slowly and gently work at it, it should pop out. That said, when I assemble my 104s I generally leave them out for months at a time.

Thanks - I'll try that. I really don't want to force or break anything.

I know what you mean by leaving the F-104s assembled for long periods of time... I've had my three F-104s assembled since I got them. In one case that means since 2005

derek_001 wrote:On my USAF one it just slides right out but on my german one its a little difficult but with a little force it slides right out....

I wonder if when putting them together if it would help to put some soap or silicon gel on the two latches?

Tman ... you've had them out all this time? Wow? I was close, with my Marine Flieger out until this summer.

My longest display has been my winter stuka, but that is only in part because of my appreciation for the plane ... its wings are impossible to take apart. (BTW it was my first 21c plane.)

MCalamari wrote: I wonder if when putting them together if it would help to put some soap or silicon gel on the two latches?

Tman ... you've had them out all this time? Wow? I was close, with my Marine Flieger out until this summer.

My longest display has been my winter stuka, but that is only in part because of my appreciation for the plane ... its wings are impossible to take apart. (BTW it was my first 21c plane.)

I dont know what it is with some of the 21C planes w/ their wings like my F4U i broke the wings at the folding point because of it wings still fit snug though just cant have them folded but my 109 wings will just slide right off...
But im trying to SELL my 109 now... nomore room for it...

I was able to get the tail section apart this weekend... It took some strong pulling and prying with a screw driver to get it off. Luckily I did not damage the model.

Then I realized why disassembly was so difficult: aparently, when I had assembled the plane in 2005, I had put a dab of superglue on either end of the prong, which was why it was so difficult to get out. I guess I used the glue so the tail section would stay in place

The 21c F-104 is one of my favorite 1:18 toolings Since 2005, I've had my S1 silver USAF F-104 on display (or occasionally hanging in my storage attic when I switch it out with another plane) and I've never disassembled it up till now.

tmanthegreat wrote:I was able to get the tail section apart this weekend... It took some strong pulling and prying with a screw driver to get it off. Luckily I did not damage the model.

Then I realized why disassembly was so difficult: aparently, when I had assembled the plane in 2005, I had put a dab of superglue on either end of the prong, which was why it was so difficult to get out. I guess I used the glue so the tail section would stay in place

The 21c F-104 is one of my favorite 1:18 toolings Since 2005, I've had my S1 silver USAF F-104 on display (or occasionally hanging in my storage attic when I switch it out with another plane) and I've never disassembled it up till now.

Well the F-104 is one plane you do NOT need to glue. Not no where!

I was watching the Star Trek episode "Tomorrow is Yesterday" which features F-104s. Fun to see the old footage of them.

-M