- Member since
December 2014
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1/48 Gates Learjet 23
Posted by SteveFL
on Monday, April 30, 2018 2:40 PM
Long before Hasegawa created their 3 part Business Jet series, ICM first introduced a kit for the very first Gates Learjet, Model 23. Looking at the box, the model appears to be a hallmark in their model lineup with actual vinyl tires, posable flight surfaces, removable engine cover, removable avionics access panel, and a fully detailed interior along with 2 pilot figures. What a huge disappointment this kit was. I nearly threw it away a few times. Nothing fits well and the supposed details are just plain crumby. None of the alignment pins worked properly. The tooling and molds were likely fabricated by hand. I struggled but stayed the course as I really wanted to see what this finished model would look like. I’m satisfied, not thrilled, with the results. Some of my scratch-building helped out in certain areas like the avionics bay and the turbojet engine that just needed it. Curiously, Testors eventually bought the tooling from ICM and tried to update it from a Model 23 to a 24 by simply eliminating the 2 large round windows and replacing them with 3 smaller rectangle windows. Other than a new simple decal sheet, these 2 kits are identical in every way. Nevertheless, I don’t recommend this kit whatsoever unless you must have a Model 23 in your collection. I will never build another one. However, please enjoy the pictures. All replies are greatly appreciated.
    
      
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