1/72 Fokker Starhunter

Gallery Article by Ronald Dorenbos on Jan 14 2016

Silly Week 2016

 

      

In 1964, the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter began to replace the Hawker Hunter Mk.6 in the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) in the interceptor role. At the same time the Starfighter replaced the Republic (R)F-84F Thunderstreak/Thunderflash in the photo reconnaissance, conventional ground attack and the nuclear strike role. Soon it became apparent that the supersonic Starfighter was eminently suited for reconnaissance and in the strike and interceptor role, but less so in the conventional ground attack role because of its excessive speed and its poor payload/range ratio. This caused concerns both with pilots and within the RNLAF staff. One night, a Dutch Starfighter pilot discussed the issue over a glass of beer with his younger brother who worked as an aircraft engineer in the Fokker aircraft factory in Amsterdam. After a few drinks, the brothers sketched a hybrid aircraft on the backside of a beer coaster. If one would combine the fuselage of a Starfighter with the wings and the non-afterburning Rolls Royce Avon engine of a Hunter, the result would be the “Starhunter”; a high-subsonic aircraft with nearly triple the payload and twice the range of a regular Starfighter, even without external tanks… 

Click on images below to see larger images

As Fokker license-built both the Hunter and the Starfighter, they had ample experience with both aircraft types. Convincing the RNLAF commanders and the Fokker board of directors naturally took a little time, but finally a prototype was built. Performance of the Starhunter exceeded expectations, but unfortunately this applied to the production costs too, so only 18 aircraft were eventually built, coded V-1 to V-18. All aircraft were delivered to 329 “Lowland Indians“ Squadron, based at Woensdrecht Airbase. A few aircraft were lost during low-flying exercises and the type was finally retired from active service in 1977 in anticipation of the introduction of the F-16 in the RNLAF.

In 1968 the RNLAF celebrated 55 years of military aviation in the Netherlands with a large airshow for which several aircraft were given a special paint scheme. 329 Sq elected to paint a Starhunter in the approximate 1940 colours and neutrality markings of the Netherlands Army Military Aviation Arm when battling the German invaders. Markings are for “234”, originally a Fokker D.21 from 1JaVA (1st Fighter Wing), then based at De Kooij Naval Air Station. 1JaVA unit markings consisted of the “white mice” and “pointed shoes” cartoons. “234” was chosen in honour of Lt Bob van der Stok, who on 10 May 1940 in this aircraft claimed a Messerschmitt Bf-109E from 5./TrG186. He later escaped to the UK, flew in 41 Sq RAF, became a PoW and was one of only 3 successful escapees from Stalag Luft III in “the Great Escape”. He finished WW2 as Commanding Officer of 322 (Dutch) Sq RAF, flying Spitfire Mk XVIs.

The idea for this model developed when I was simultaneously building an Italeri Starfighter and a Revell Hunter in 1/32 scale, while reading up on my Air Force’s history in anticipation of Silver Wing’s Fokker D.21. The model is a combination of Italeri’s 1/72 Starfighter, Mister Craft’s (horrible) Hunter, Kora’s Multiple Ejection Racks and Snakeyes and Dutch Decal markings, plus lots of plasticard and filler. Don’t ask me the purpose of the “Sabrina’s” on the Starhunter, but don’t they look just wonderful? .

Ronald Dorenbos

Photos and text © by Ronald Dorenbos