StarAllianceFlyer

Can someone list manufacturers of all metal models at 1:400 scale?

Picked up a bunch of DWs today and found a Blue Box mixed in. The livery looked nice (old Gulf Air B747-200), but the feel of the metal wings and tail was what got my attention. May consider looking for all metal now.

Thanks!

BuddyK

Uh oh .... can we talk about something a little less controversial ? ... like religion or politics ?

Buddy

sammyk

As far as I know only Dragon and old Jet-X have plastic wings. Older Herpa's had them too but their recent releases appear to be all metal. I think some of the odd brands like Magic and C&C have them too but it's different from model to model.

Cebu Pacific

The Aeroclassics Trident 2E has a plastic stabilizer. The older Gemini B747 have a plastic tailfin.

dboyd001

..... When the old metal vs. plastic debate rears its ugly head, I end up not caring either way. So I'll start out not caring either way.
..... If a model is done well, doesn't matter if the wings and/or other parts are metal or plastic. In some regards plastic is an advantage, other instances metal is an advantage.
..... The one thing I'm absolutely not fond of is the rolling gear. All it does is make the landing gear look a bit klunky (close examination of course) and is prone to coming apart much more than fixed wheels on landing gear.
..... Bottom line: if you like the model, satisfied with the accuracy and find it a pleasure to own, don't worry about the components' plastic or metal content. I have many DW & Jet-X models with plastic parts and I'm not bothered in the least.
Dave (was building airplane models as a kid that were ALL plastic. *GASP!*)

David Hingtgen

And they all have plastic nacelles...

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goldy

What percent of and AeroClassics L-749 L-1049 is plastic? Anyone know? Another thread survey revealed that although DW do have plastic wings and tail that they make up by in large either the top, by percent of collection, or number two in most peoples collection. Some claim that the plastic wings allow for a more finer detailing of the wings. Perhaps too because of the cost of the plastic as opposed to metal that the overall production costs of a DW are lower than others?

Peewee

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QFA388

don't forget rubber wheels.
let's start a debate about whether the wheels should be rubber, metal or plastic.

StarAllianceFlyer

Rubber would be a nice touch!

Don't think this (plastic vs metal) should be a controversial topic. Its a topic on preference. Aside from how the model looks, another reason I like to collect things (models or otherwise) is how it feels. Being new to this hobby, I pretty started much collected all kinds. After buying a bunch of DWs yesterday, I just found myself preferring an all metal model.

Not forcing my preference on anyone...just trying to get some information, that's all!

QFA388

I have many of both in my collection and I am happy with them all.

Midway1979

One advantage of plastic would be no "zinc bug rotting" for those of you familar with that term. Of course, I am sure plastic may have other similar issue I am unaware of.

SFView

Plastic or metal are both good with me. I like plastic where sharper details can be shaped. I am happier if the plastic doesn't look too translucent or plastic, but I am usually careful not having such models viewed through light. Sometimes the quality or density of the plastic color makes a difference. Actually I would prefer all the plastic surfaces to be painted, rather than molded in color. Paint over black plastic would be most ideal to help prevent light leak. Although plastic can yield finer detail, metal looks more like the metal of real aircraft. It also adds weight, and makes the model seem less toy like.

I am also hoping for more extra fine detail someday with brass, photo-etched, and metal turned parts for more precise looking landing gear, flaps, antenna, gear doors, and engine details, etc. I don't yet know if we will see such features in some future line of upscale 1/400 scale models. That depends on the industry. Aside from that, I think the combination of what is best from brass, zinc, plastic, resin, rubber, paint or other materials has potential for making much more realistic finely detailed models. However, for now I will settle for what is currently offered. I think the level of quality and price is right where it should be for most. I wouldn't mind spending a little more money on a more carefully chosen, more finely detailed upscale 1/400 scale model once in a while though.

Basically for me, it doesn't really matter to me if it is metal or plastic. As long as the model is done reasonable well for what I am paying for, and I like the subject, I am happy with it.

A Tupolev

I'm sure the airlines purchasing 787's and A350's share your thoughts on "all metal" airplanes. With the price of fuel continuing to rise, in the future, all metal planes will be museum pieces sitting next to wood and fabric airplanes.

We will all be telling our grandchildren in the future, "I remember the days when airplanes were all made of metal, those were the good old days."

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L-1011-Heavy

All Metal Or Partial Plastic.
Material.
Material Is Immaterial AFAIC.
To Me ACCURACY & REALISM Is EVERYTHING.
Sorry But THICK WINGS, Stabs, Fins Don't Cut It For Me. It SERIOUSLY Detracts From The Model.
Coupled With ROUNDED Tips, Winglets & Poor Scribing Most Metal Wings Look Like Toys.
However. Introducing Aeroclassics Second Generation Models.
Wings & Stabs Very THIN Even On The DC-9, F-28 & Bac-111s.
The 707 Has Amazing Wing Detail & Scribing. The New DC-10 Is Unprecendented
For That Model Type In This Scale.

That Said Lets Look At The Pros Of Plastic.
Scribing & Detail Is Still Superior For The Most Part Than Even The Newest Aeroclassics (With The Exception Of The 707 & DC-10)
Flexible Wings.
I Don't Know About Anyone Else, But I Like to Pick Up My Model & Flex The Wings As If Inflight. Adds To The Realism & Additional Joy As Opposed To Just Collecting Things That Just Sit On The Shelf To Be "Admired"
Try That With A Metal Winged Model.


On The Subject Of FEEL.
Well That's What Chicks Are For. Who Cares What The Model Feels Like?

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STEVEJ

The main reason I prefer plastic is that if something needs to be corrected (as it does from time to time), you don't need a blowtorch to do it. Plastic landing gears seem to be more durable then metal gears, try fixing an AC gear when it breaks, drives me #$%ck&*$g nuts. Plastic gear, no problem. Metal gears also seem to break for no reason at all, I have picked up more that one AC model only to find the main wheel bogey left behind on the shelf. For some reason this is not a problem with GJ and DW uses plastic.

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David Hingtgen

Yeah, IMHO plastic gear is FAR superior. Despite being "weaker" it's bent/misformed a whole lot less often. And if it is--just bend it back into place! I have yet to actually crack/break DW landing gear.

Nothing ruins the look of a plane faster than when it's got weird crooked gear at all different angles and only 3 tires actually touching the ground. Just have to live with it a lot of the time on a GJ/AC, as trying to adjust it more than a TINY bit will crack them.

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