LF: Lear 55

[elmayerle]

Some 30+ years ago, I put a lot of professional effort into the certification (both US and European) and development of this one (the auxiliary tank on the 55SR is mine) and I'd love to find a model.   Does anyone know of a kit (injection, resin, vac-form, or what-have-you) of this aircraft?

[kitnut617]

A company called 'Just Plane Madness' was going to do one but it never came about before they folded.

[raafif]

the Revell 1/48th Learjet kit (has interior) is a good start - nothing much changed externally other than winglets & an extra ventral fin ?
I have one half-built & it goes together very nicely. it has tip-tanks molded on but they are easy to remove.

[elmayerle]

Lear 55 is a good bit taller, and possibly wider, than a Lear 35/36 that the Hasegawa/Revell kit represents (note, for those inclined to do lots of cutting, trimming, and PSR, the 35/36 fuselage can be shortened, if sectioned in the right place, and combined with the wings and engines of the IMC/Testors 23/24 to allow a Lear 25 to be modelled - more info and details if requested).

[jcf]

Yep, larger fuselage in all dimensions.

Internal Dimensions (ft):
Learjet 35A, LR-35A
Internal Length (Overall/Net Height) 12.9
Internal Height   4.3
Internal Width (Max/Floor)   4.9/3.0

Learjet 55, LR-55
Internal Length (Overall/Net Height) 13.7
Internal Height   5.7
Internal Width (Max/Floor)   5.9

From this site:
http://jetav.com/aircraft-resource-directory/

[Rickshaw]

I believe Mach 2 has just released a Lear in 1/72.  I'm unsure as to which version it is.  Apparently it's quite nice according to MartinH over at Whiff forum.

[elmayerle]

I believe Mach 2 has just released a Lear in 1/72.  I'm unsure as to which version it is.  Apparently it's quite nice according to MartinH over at Whiff forum.

I believe it's a 1/72 30-Series Learjet, but I can hope a Model 55 will be out subsequently.

[GTX_Admin]

A couple of 55's




plus a 60XR:

[elmayerle]

Lead me not into temptation!!  I can see I'm definitely going to be buying some.  Now, if they'd do a 25G...

[GTX_Admin]

Not knowing what specifically differentiates the 25G model, isn't the old Testors kit supposedly a Learjet 25?

[kitnut617]

Only it's in an odd scale Greg     

[elmayerle]

The old Testors/IMC kit was originally produced as a Model 23 by IMC.  Testors updated the molds (revised vertical tail contours and rectangular "high altitude" windows (in place of the Model 23's ovals) of a late Model 24.  The Model 25 has a longer fuselage than the Model 24 and it is not a constant diameter extension.  In addition to the turbofan engines, the Model 35/36 (originally Model 26) feature a constant diameter 1 foot long extension just behind the cockpit wonders (so a Model 35/36 fuselage could be cut down to use as a late Model 25 fuselage).  The Model 25G incorporated a drag reduction package developed by one of the after-market modifiers in an attempt to keep the 20 series in production.   The Model 28/29 combine the basic Model 25 fuselage with the "Longhorn" wing developed for the Model 55.

Thus ends a quick primer on the main Learjet models.  If anyone is interested, I can give quick thumbnail descriptions of some of their unique testbed aircraft.