Canadian Armed Forces CF-104 Starfighter 
417 Sqn Special

Leading Edge Models

The scheme itself is quite simple and, as such, doesn't require many decals to replicate it. This is immediately apparent by the fact that the decal sheet is only about 3/4 the size of the standard A5 sheet. This is by no means a reflection of the quality of the decals though. They are beautifully printed with bright, solid and crisp colours, they seem quite thin and have the absolute minimum of carrier film. The registration is spot on and the white seems solid and opaque (admittedly the real test would be application though).

Notes in the instructions indicate that, on the 1/72 scale sheet, decals have been included to reproduce a distinctive series of vents on the underside of the fuselage, next to the nose wheel well, which are (apparently) missing from the Hasegawa kit. Extra colour blocks have been included to aid in colour matching but they would also be useful as extra decal to cover any gaps or splits which might occur when applying the decals over some of the compound curves. There are some extra potions of the striping included to allow for the option of opening the air brakes (although the instructions do point out that Canadian CF-104s were parked with them locked closed). The stencilling on this jet was minimal but what there was is included on the sheet, again, crisply printed and clear.