Flight Miniatures vs. Long Prosper

Rusty · 12-07-2002, 08:54 PM

This is my first post on this great new (for me) forum I just discovered... I am in the process of buying my first 1/200 model, actually my first builtup airliner model in any scale. I am looking for the American Trans Air (ATA) liveries and see that both Long Prosper and Flight Miniatures produce the 757-200 in the ATA 25th Anniversary livery and the ATA L-1011 in the earlier '94 livery. Flight Miniatures also produces the 757-300 and the 737-800 in the new ATA livery. I believe GeminiJets also produces all four of these aircraft in 1/400.

My questions:

1. Is there any difference in level of quality between the Flight Miniatures and Long Prosper products? They seem very similiar looking at photos, and the pricing is similar as well.

2. (This may be a dumb question and inflame the 1/200 vs. 1/400 camps) Why do the 1/400 Geminis cost as much or more than the 1/200 models? I know they are metal rather than plastic, and they are completely assembled, but are they more detailed than the 1/200 models? These models are going to be on my desk in my office, and I would like something larger than 1/400 but less expensive than the admittedly gorgeous 1/100 carved wooden models.

Hope you expert collectors can help a total newbie with some of these pressing issues. Thanks --

12-07-2002, 11:04 PM

Flight Miniatures is the U.S. distributor of Long Prosper models so
they are both in the same.. As for snap fit models in plastic 1/200 scale Prosper has by far the biggest selection however the quality and accuracy is fair to ho- hum... If your stuck on ATA well thats going to be your only choice. Skymarks and Hogan offer much nicer snapfits and are more detailed.. the best buy for the
money and by far the finest 1/200 scale affordable models are
the Starjets 1/200 Airbuses.. they will be introducing Boeing products shortly and these models make prospers look poor
in comparison.. So if you can hold out those are the ones you will want to collect

As for 1/400 this is a much better way to go especially if its all metal (Gemini Jets for example) though in most cases models
are not investments these babiies will always hold their value
and are made in much smaller numbers than snapfit models.. The detail of any 1/400 model will also be much greater than the prosper or Wooster 1/200 modles..
Hope this helps!

Rusty · 12-08-2002, 02:55 PM

Thanks! I wanted some larger-scale ATA's for my office because I will be starting a new job soon working with ATA pilots. I figured the 1/200 snap-ons were less detailed based on the price, but wanted to be sure. Those 1/400 models are beautiful and I want to begin collecting them... but where to start? There are hundreds of choices...

jjorgemiami · 12-08-2002, 04:01 PM

Hey Rusty welcome. For good prices on 1:400 scale models, check out www.collectablejets.com and there you will see a link for Atlantic Models as well. They produce 1:100 scale and 1:144 scale display models in many different airline's colors, among them ATA including the new B737-800 with winglets and the B757s. Their telephone number is 305-883-1545 and they are located here in Miami.

Hope that helps you!

12-07-2002, 08:54 PM	#1
Rusty Junior Collector Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: 40 miles NW of ORD Posts: 3	Flight Miniatures vs. Long Prosper This is my first post on this great new (for me) forum I just discovered... I am in the process of buying my first 1/200 model, actually my first builtup airliner model in any scale. I am looking for the American Trans Air (ATA) liveries and see that both Long Prosper and Flight Miniatures produce the 757-200 in the ATA 25th Anniversary livery and the ATA L-1011 in the earlier '94 livery. Flight Miniatures also produces the 757-300 and the 737-800 in the new ATA livery. I believe GeminiJets also produces all four of these aircraft in 1/400. My questions: 1. Is there any difference in level of quality between the Flight Miniatures and Long Prosper products? They seem very similiar looking at photos, and the pricing is similar as well. 2. (This may be a dumb question and inflame the 1/200 vs. 1/400 camps) Why do the 1/400 Geminis cost as much or more than the 1/200 models? I know they are metal rather than plastic, and they are completely assembled, but are they more detailed than the 1/200 models? These models are going to be on my desk in my office, and I would like something larger than 1/400 but less expensive than the admittedly gorgeous 1/100 carved wooden models. Hope you expert collectors can help a total newbie with some of these pressing issues. Thanks --

12-08-2002, 04:01 PM	#4
jjorgemiami Complete Wacko! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: MIAMI Age: 47 Posts: 5,873	Hey Rusty welcome. For good prices on 1:400 scale models, check out www.collectablejets.com and there you will see a link for Atlantic Models as well. They produce 1:100 scale and 1:144 scale display models in many different airline's colors, among them ATA including the new B737-800 with winglets and the B757s. Their telephone number is 305-883-1545 and they are located here in Miami. Hope that helps you! __________________ Fly United Airlines we are R I S I N G !

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12-07-2002, 11:04 PM	#2
crownvic Guest Posts: n/a	Flight Miniatures is the U.S. distributor of Long Prosper models so they are both in the same.. As for snap fit models in plastic 1/200 scale Prosper has by far the biggest selection however the quality and accuracy is fair to ho- hum... If your stuck on ATA well thats going to be your only choice. Skymarks and Hogan offer much nicer snapfits and are more detailed.. the best buy for the money and by far the finest 1/200 scale affordable models are the Starjets 1/200 Airbuses.. they will be introducing Boeing products shortly and these models make prospers look poor in comparison.. So if you can hold out those are the ones you will want to collect As for 1/400 this is a much better way to go especially if its all metal (Gemini Jets for example) though in most cases models are not investments these babiies will always hold their value and are made in much smaller numbers than snapfit models.. The detail of any 1/400 model will also be much greater than the prosper or Wooster 1/200 modles.. Hope this helps!

12-08-2002, 02:55 PM	#3
Rusty Junior Collector Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: 40 miles NW of ORD Posts: 3	Thanks! I wanted some larger-scale ATA's for my office because I will be starting a new job soon working with ATA pilots. I figured the 1/200 snap-ons were less detailed based on the price, but wanted to be sure. Those 1/400 models are beautiful and I want to begin collecting them... but where to start? There are hundreds of choices...