1:24 ISUZU GEMINI (JT150) irmscher Turbo “RED COLOR”

Isuzu Gemini JT150 Irmscher Turbo, 1:24 Hasegawa

A plastic kit from the Japanese brand Hasegawa in 1:24 scale. The real subject is the second-generation Isuzu Gemini with the factory code JT150 in the sporting turbocharged Irmscher version. The addition RED COLOR in the name refers to the color finish in which the maker released this edition; how the plastic is done and which schemes the decal sheet holds is given on the box of the kit.

The real subject

The second-generation Gemini went into production in 1987 as a compact car with front-wheel drive and was offered as a hatchback as well as a sedan. The sporting top of the range came out of a collaboration with the German firm Irmscher, which prepared both styling and technical changes for Isuzu; the turbocharged version was among the sharpest Japanese compacts of its day and earned a reputation in Japan as a nimble car in the corners. The code JT150 sets this variant apart from the related JT190, which stands on a different engine and a differently tuned chassis.

Building and painting tips

The basis is a smooth body: sand the mold seams, go over them with a primer-filler and build the paint up in thin layers to a gloss. Sporting compacts live off small details: pick out the window frames, bumper grilles and lettering with a fine-tipped brush rather than masking them laboriously. Finish the interior and the dashboard before you close the body up. Glue the glazing only with a cement intended for clear parts.

Who the model is for

• For collectors of Japanese compacts of the 1980s
• For modelers looking for a less usual subject than the traditional sports cars
• For builders with experience of painting a body to a gloss
• For a collection of Japanese cars in a single 1:24 scale

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.