The F-104 Starfighter, one of the Century Series of fighters, was designed by Lockheed as a single seat interceptor which saw service in the U.S. Air Force from 1958-69 and then with Air National Guard units until 1975. It saw many variants and was operated by at least fifteen countries worldwide.
The Starfighter is one of my personal favorites in as much as it looks like a rocket with wings! It's sleek and just looks fast standing still! Our featured toy today on Toys and Stuff is Japanese however the maker's mark was deliberately obliterated at the factory. By adjusting the contrast of the photo where the mark appears it's possible to make out some wording that appears to be 'Brand Toys' or something similar. If you can tell what it actually says please let me know. The removable wings reveal the sparkler mechanism and our example still has a flint in it although it doesn't really spark when rolled forward. Unlike many airplanes in which the cockpit is part of the fuselage stamping this jet has a separate clear plastic canopy and only the pilot's head is actually a part of the fuselage stamping. It's a nifty toy from the Age of Tin - Enjoy!
