Cable

Ron Garcia
Thirty years later (1994 copyright) and I finally got around to building this kit. Looking at the box, it was a pretty expensive kit for the time. Retail was $55.00, but I got it on sale for 50% off back in the day. Anyway, as old as it is, the molding quality is excellent. As with all Horizon kits, make sure to add plaster of Paris to the hollow legs or the kit will eventually begin to sag.

The fit is decent if you heat the parts in boiling water first and then press them to the its corresponding location so it conforms properly. The upper torso fit to the bottom isn't great, though. No amount of heating and cooling ever got the two sections to fully line up. I ended up letting the back of the torso slightly overhang so the front looked flush.

There is a weird communications gizmo that is supposed to attach to his back and over his shoulders. Since it would just basically sit there with nothing for it to attach to, I left it off. I did a quick internet search of the 1990's Cable and didn't see any images of it so no loss anyway. There are also two strange little parts (24) that are supposed to be shaved off and attached to the forehead(?). I think these are supposed to represent bulging veins. I left them off as well as they didn't look right when I fiddled with their placement.

Since Cable has gone through so many costume changes during his publication history, you have artistic license to paint him however you like. I didn't like the kit painting instructions so I went with more of a classic X-Men color scheme as it seemed more appropriate. Painting was a chore, though. Large areas of metal, flesh, and costume all butt up next to each other. Since most major parts, other than the guns and a couple of stowage packs, are molded together as large pieces, there is no way to paint these sections separately. Once done, though, it does look very nice.

One thing I would have liked to have seen included is a clear part for his left eye to represent light radiating from the glowing eye. Alas, there was no such part so I painted the eye a glossy yellowish orange.

Overall, it is a nice, big kit that really stands out. Painting will take some time, but that's the fun of these types of kits. If this one is still in your stash, blow off all that dust and build it already!