Gates Learjet 35A

Stransky Kits, 1/144 scale

Reviewed by David Couche

Eduard's 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.VIII is available from Squadron.com

Stransky is a Czech model company that has come into the hobby as a new kit producer in 2005 with their 1/48 Letov S-328 and then nothing for many years. In 2016 they released a number of versions, again in 1/48, of Bucker Bu 181 Bestmann. Now they have entered the 1/144 scale with 2 kits of the Gates Learjet 35, all in military service.
I will just do one kit review as both kits are identical but will look at the boxing and schemes separately.

The kits come in end opening boxes with good artwork on the front. They supply, on the box rear, a section of airstrip on which to display your completed Learjet. Both kits have identical images for this.

The kit consists of a single white injected moulded sprue of 38 parts (10 not used in 1401 & 6 not used in 1402) with restrained recessed detail and 1 clear sprue with a windscreen and 10 window pieces.

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It has a small decal sheet and a double sided instruction sheet of about A5 size.

There is little sign of flash on the parts and enough detail on the main parts to give the model some life when painted up and very gently weathered.

Two different versions of the aircraft parts are provided so different parts are used and not used according to which version you build.

STR-1401 Gates Learjet 35A

This kit versions supplies the markings for;

Swiss Air Force, T-781, Switzerland – white aircraft with red tail

DRF Luftrettung, D-CCAA, Germany – red and white aircraft

Phoenix Air, N549PA, USA –grey with dark grey tiger stripes and shark mouth

Firstly, as can be seen from the profiles above there is a wide range of variance in the types, numbers and positions of various aerials on these aircraft. You will need to make these or, if available, buy some to create the aircraft you require.

Secondly, the decal sets only provide the codes, pin striping, national insignia and a few other bits and pieces. You will need to mask the airframe to achieve the main paint areas. This will be especially challenging for the Phoenix Air’s Tiger version, which is unfortunately the one I am going to build, so I look forward to this masking job.

STR-1402 Gates Learjet 35A

This kit versions supplies the markings for;

JMSDF, 9202 (02), Japan

Ilmavoimat, LJ-1, Finland

Royal Australian Air Force, VH-FOX, Australia

Again, as can be seen from the profiles above there is a wide range of variance in the types, numbers and positions of various aerials on these aircraft which you will need to make or, if available, buy some to create the aircraft you require.

The decal sets only provide the codes, pin striping, national insignia and a few other bits and pieces. You will need to mask the airframe to achieve the main paint areas. This will be challenging for the Japanese and Finish versions. For a change I will be building the RAAF version being Australian, so finally for a change I am taking on the simple all white scheme.

It is great to see totally new types added to the Micro scale (1/144) kits offered. This adds to the plethora of new mouldings that are appearing regularly now is the boom time for this scale. The range of schemes offered by Stransky for a fairly simple airframe shape really adds interest to the builds but these kits do have a fair degree of challenge to create several of these schemes well. I would suggest that this would not be a real beginner’s kit in this scale but to from the medium to experienced builders, it will be a most suitable new addition to the collection. Definitely recommended to the committed 1/144 scale modeller.

Many thanks to Stransky for the review samples.

Review Text & Images Copyright © 2018 by David Couche
Page Created 19 September, 2018
Last updated 19 September, 2018

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