GSE Review Pt1: Gemini Jets Sets

You can't have a vaguely plausible model airport without having quite a lot of GSE (Ground Service Equipment). Recently I've been trying to bulk up my GSE collection and thanks to friends and some deals I've been able to add most of the major sets on the market in 1/400 scale. So I thought I'd take a look at what's been available.

We'll start with Gemini Jets.

Gemini Jets is one of the most senior of the 1/400 scale model manufacturers starting production way back in 1998 alongside Dragon Wings. They have also produced several sets of GSE - some of which date back a long way. I have the two major Gemini sets in my collection nowadays so let's take a look at what they've made.

Note: I've already taken a look at 1/400 scale buses including the Gemini / JC Wings buses of recent here.

GJAPS001 Set

This set dates all the way back to the start of things in 1/400 scale: 1998. Because of that it doesn't stand up to the quality you'd expect in 2016, however nonetheless it is an interesting set. It consists of 19 parts including a very primitive airbridge.

On the vehicle side there is a fuel tanker, fire engine, bus, tug, follow me van, belt loader, two airstairs trucks, deicer, food truck, 3 luggage loaders and a baggage cart with 4 trucks. The pieces are rather roughly shapely and have no moving parts. Obviously you can't compare these to modern efforts but some pieces - the tanker, baggage cart, de-icer and tug have quite a lot of charm. Then again some are pretty dreadful - especially the airstairs. They do tend to stand out quite a bit with other GSE but can still be worked into the background of scenes.

GJ 2014 Set

By 2014 Gemini's capabilities as a model manufacturer have come on leaps and bounds and the 2014 set of 14 GSE pieces is superb in comparison to the 1998 one.

In this set there are motorised airstairs, coach, small bus, two tugs, one tow bar, food truck, fuel tanker, cart and three trucks, belt loader plus a baggage loader. As you'd expect several of the pieces (loaders, stairs and food truck) have moveable parts. I really like this set though the pieces do perhaps have a slightly dated 1980s era look to them so perhaps don't perfectly fit a model airport.

It is easy to see the vast improvement in workmanship compared to the 1998 set when you compare them side by side:

Above - 1998 set food truck, belt loader and baggage loader. Below the same pieces in the 2014 set. The large baggage loader has nice detailing and moving parts. Its probably my favourite from the later set.

The 2014 bus has see through windows and internal seats:

The 2014 food truck has a working scissor lift mechanism and details such as wipers:

The 2014 tug has an attachable (albeit poorly fitting) towbar:

The 2014 Gemini set is still quite easily found and is a decent, though slightly dated set. Its non-specific but dull colours make it easy to fit it into almost any airport layout and the vehicles are really nice. The 1998 set is more of a curiosity nowadays but for its time was ground breaking.