So it turns out that the Swiss 747-300 (http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...rs-ticino.html) wasn't my last Apollo after all and not even my last 747-300. Thanks to Waffle I have received recently two more Apollos including the exceptional Bigtop 747-300 in the updated colours post 1988 colours.
Interestingly doing a bit of web research I have discovered that the SQ logo is called the Silver Kris (hence the name of their frequent flyer programme). The kris is a form a south east asian dagger, highly prized and often passed down through generations. But Kris is also known to be a spiritual object, often considered to have a presence or considered to possess magical powers. Kris are used for display, as talismans with magical powers. The bird (think its a crane) is apparently meant to be similar to the handle of the Kris dagger.
Singapore Airlines experienced huge growth after its 1972 split from MSA. The first of 90 747s arrived in 1973 and 19 series 200s were delivered between then and 1981. These were replaced on the prime trans-pacific and European routes by 14 747-300s from 1984. The 747-300s were leased from Rothwell leasing and all wore US registrations. The series 300 was named ‘Big Top’ in the SQ fleet but only two years after the last arrived ‘Megatop’ 747-400s entered service and eventually 50 would be delivered. The series 300s were sold on in the mid-1990s, but several including N122KH were leased to Ansett in the period 1994-1998. Returned to the lessor she was sent to Cameroon Airlines as TJ-CAE in 2001 and then Phuket Airlines as HS-VAB in late 2004. She was finally retired in 2006.
I do love this 747-300 mould but Apollo only made 5 aircraft with it (the other 3 don't interest me). Dragon made 19 models of the series 300 but I'd love to have some of what they did remade on the Apollo mould. I'm thinking:
Singapore delivery clrs
SAA Ndzani
Qantas Nalanji Dreaming
TAAG
Aeroclassics (Varig, Sabena) and Big Bird Mk1s (JAL, Cathay Pacific, UTA) are very hard to come by too whilst of the 105 747-300s made in 1:400 there is a lot of rubbish out there (I'm looking at you Gemini, Jet-X, Phoenix in particular). Let's hope the Apollo mould doesn't disappear for good.
Surinam would be nice too:
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Richard
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Curious comment...this is the best mould available (besides the DW now not used).
I have many in my collection and they're excellent.
I'd be interested to know what you believe to be the faults with it.
Nice model Richard!!! And thanks for explaining what a "Kris" is - I've flown SQ between Tokyo and Shanghai and Singapore and have hung out in their awesome lounges at Changi, but I never knew what all the "Silverkris" stuff was about.
Now - about the mold - it's lovely but is the Apollo 747-400 mold very nice as well? I'm always interested in these Witty or Apollo 747s but am afraid of getting a "dip" in the nose roof. Stay away from Aviation 400 and Witty 747s but buy Apollo, is that a good rule?
Now - about the mold - it's lovely but is the Apollo 747-400 mold very nice as well? I'm always interested in these Witty or Apollo 747s but am afraid of getting a "dip" in the nose roof. Stay away from Aviation 400 and Witty 747s but buy Apollo, is that a good rule?
It depends on the variant. I have no issues with the Aviation 400 and Witty 747-200s. It does seem their 747-400 has the Phoenix problem (or at least the old Phoenix problem - the new Phoenix 747-400 is even worse). Apollo seems ok all round as despite being just a Witty Brand it used different moulds (different factories I assume).
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Richard
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Debate which leads to the inevitable question: Who is going to secure this admittedly fabulous mold and produce the aforepictured -300s, and re-release an Apollo example or two for good measure ?
-UTA, -SAA, -QANTAS, -JAL, -Cathay, and -Surinam are "musts"
What was that song : "I want to be a millionaire, so freakin' bad..."
Be my finaces as they are however, I wish they land in Aeroclassics hands !!!
Check out the other database. They have done Mahan Air and a pair of Orient Thai's also.
Those are Witty releases, which I believe are on a different mould. At least the wing/fuselage joint is different.
And yes, Witty/Aviation400 744s have what looks like a dip, but Apollo (even if it's just another Witty brand) uses a different mould. Same seems to apply for the 743s
Last edited by atomicfungus; 10-10-2014 at 07:45 AM.
You're correct, the Apollo is a different mould. Their wing is the same as the old BigBird (I assume it is the re-named BB mould) with the Witty having separate wings joined to the fuselage. I have models from both manufacturers and they are definately different moulds. The Apollo 747's are superb.
Pulled the trigger on a BA OneWorld 747 400 from Apollo earlier this summer. Now I am on the hunt for the remaining three BA 744 releases from said maker. I completely agree, they are superb!
Apollo KrisFlyer: BigTops to Singapore
