I expect most of you already know this but I also blog over at my friend Donald's site Diecast Flier. There I do detailed reviews. Here are the last two - an Aeroclassics DC-8 and a Phoenix A350:
It's not often I get to directly compare two models that should be identical. However this week I get the chance to see not only which 787 is best but which manufacturer did a better job with the UN dream scheme. It's Phoenix vs JC Wings:
Great assessment of the AC Max8 mould. I was disappointed with the Air Canada and Southwest 8s that I received. They also suffer from some of the flaws pointed out in your review, with the most glaring being the port wing being too high. Unfortunately I won't be purchasing another AC 8 unless they do some major improvements to their mould in future releases.
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Another excellent new mould with a flaps down version has landed from JC Wings who deliver something special with this Ukrainian example. Check out the full review here:
I can't get enough local service airlines and this recent Aeroclassics Ozark DC-9 gives me the chance to compare it to the old Phoenix version. Go Getters Go Ozark!
Panda Models shift towards Indonesian, Lufthansa and non-Chinese subjects means I've been buying a lot less of their models this year, however they are still putting out decent models. This week I take a look at the Expo 2019 737-800:
__________________ The greatest need in 1:400:Reissues of Major Passenger-Carrier 747 Classics: -100/200, -300, and SP, of NG / Aeroclassics / Big Bird Mk. 1 quality. Examples: American; United Blue-Star, Bass; TWA double globe, double stripe; Pan Am delivery; British Airways Negus, Landor; KLM 70's-80's blue top; Air France 70's-80's; Lufthansa 70's-80's; Aer Lingus delivery; Sabena 80's circle-s; Japan Air Lines 70's-80s; All Nippon 70's; and Qantas 70's-80's.
Interesting review, great stuff, thanks. This original BB400 cradle mould first appeared in November 2002 actually, from researching the archives. I think the JAL Disney Seas were amongst the earliest releases on it - all of which fell victim to Zinc Pest. AC first released a model using the mould in September 2003 with the AdamJets Exclusive, the Iberia 742, EC-DIB 'Cervantes'. I also note that the nosegear is coming ready attached again, and not in a separate bag? They were notorious for breaking in transit. Is this still packaged in the same way as the originals were? As the other issue was 'cradle rash' - adding foam padding in the key areas solves this problem (the top of the fuselage, rear sides and tail area especially is where rubbing occurs and can take small amounts of the tampo print off).
It's a very lovely model, great to see that classic BB400 quality back, although tbh, I find the addition of the aerials on 1:400 models a bit fidgety and it's another delicate detail to have to be careful of when handling them, but they do add to the realism I guess. I can take it or leave it with those, as the original BB400 releases look just fine without them. This one is too late for my collecting criterea but if some classic delivery colours and regular releases started happening again, that would be awesome - but it's not looking likely, unfortunately!
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Interesting review, great stuff, thanks. This original BB400 cradle mould first appeared in November 2002 actually, from researching the archives. I think the JAL Disney Seas were amongst the earliest releases on it - all of which fell victim to Zinc Pest. AC first released a model using the mould in September 2003 with the AdamJets Exclusive, the Iberia 742, EC-DIB 'Cervantes'. I also note that the nosegear is coming ready attached again, and not in a separate bag? They were notorious for breaking in transit. Is this still packaged in the same way as the originals were? As the other issue was 'cradle rash' - adding foam padding in the key areas solves this problem (the top of the fuselage, rear sides and tail area especially is where rubbing occurs and can take small amounts of the tampo print off).
It's a very lovely model, great to see that classic BB400 quality back, although tbh, I find the addition of the aerials on 1:400 models a bit fidgety and it's another delicate detail to have to be careful of when handling them, but they do add to the realism I guess. I can take it or leave it with those, as the original BB400 releases look just fine without them. This one is too late for my collecting criterea but if some classic delivery colours and regular releases started happening again, that would be awesome - but it's not looking likely, unfortunately!
Mine arrived in a normal plastic cradle. No separate gear in a plastic bag, no extra foam.
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Jacob
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Wanted:
AeroClassics Aer Lingus B 747-100 EI-ASJ
AeroClassics Aer Lingus B 747-100 EI-BED
AeroClassics Boeing B 747-100 N7470
Mine arrived in a normal plastic cradle. No separate gear in a plastic bag, no extra foam.
Shame!! Although of course being easier than fiddling around installing the gear yourself, it can be a real issue for breakage in transit (the 747 is a heavy model); also, it's annoying if they are not glued in straight. The other benefit is having the choice of using a non-permanent method when attaching nosegears yourself; so you can remove them if needs be. The manufacturers like use a permanent method of attachment.
That packaging should really be updated. I recommend getting some soft foam sheets and cutting them to size for the nose, tail (cut square and place underneath) and fuselage areas (cut to length and placed on top) to protect the model from the hard plastic cradle when in storage/transit, and dispense with the plastic sheets as they don't offer much in the way of protection. I've done this with all of my birds and it sorts out the problem with the risk of cradle rash on these models. Because the gear is already attached, a small hole needs to be cut in the foam to allow the gear to poke through. Sounds fidgety but it's worth doing to protect the model better for the long-term. That soft plastic film/nosebag can also start to stick, or even bond, to the models' surface over time - there is a detailed thread somewhere about this - with the potential to even damage the finish if in long-term storage. I've noticed that Aeroclassics now use a more brittle type of plastic sheet in their packaging, which may be better, but a cradle made completely out of foam is the ultimate solution to the problem.
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Location: Hangzhou, Zhejiang; Peoples Republic of China
Posts: 7,259
Re: Detailed 1:400 Scale Model Reviews
If that forward entry door were any higher, I would mistake it for the escape hatch, like on the 747. Nice livery, but doors/windows are way too high!!
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Enjoying aviation from a "TSA-free Zone"!!
Take the money-grab & deceit out of our hobby, and bring back ethics and quality!!
Just say NO to Apollo400/Black Box/NG(No Good)/Panda Models/Junk-X/First Choice/C&C/IF400/Witty400/Magic/AV200/AK200/Flightline/Flightline200/Flightline400/Pegasus/Blue Angle/5stars & any BigBirds (real or fake)
If that forward entry door were any higher, I would mistake it for the escape hatch, like on the 747. Nice livery, but doors/windows are way too high!!
Yes!
I wonder how manufacturers get this sort of thing right on some models and wrong on others. Andrew, as a producer, do the standard items on a model like the windows, cockpit, doors get redrawn every time a new model is produced, or do you have a standard template for these things over which you apply the livery?
PWA is probably the most interesting 767-200 yet from Aeroclassics and also one of the best they've yet made. Even so the score could be higher with a little fine tuning:
It's still 2018, just, so there's time for one more review before the end of year round-up. I can't get enough African flag carriers and Mozambique has long been lacking from 1:400:
Thanks for your lovely article on the Boeing House Colours 777-200 N7771 kit set by Phoenix Models.
Sometimes, I actually do prefer if they could actually ship it out as a kit set and let us glue it to 'perfection'.
Just take a look at that dreadfully off-centred nose gear from the front shot you took. Inspired by the VC-10 perhaps? The only thing stopping it from going any further off-centred is the gear door. They seemed to be struggling to not get their nose gear off-centred.
Whilst I'm at that, is engine #1 closer to the ground than #2? The wings are not leveled too!
Disappointing.
Last edited by Beetlecounter; 01-28-2019 at 03:46 AM.
Location: Hangzhou, Zhejiang; Peoples Republic of China
Posts: 7,259
Re: Detailed 1:400 Scale Model Reviews
Quote:
Originally Posted by mark4323
Yes!
I wonder how manufacturers get this sort of thing right on some models and wrong on others. Andrew, as a producer, do the standard items on a model like the windows, cockpit, doors get redrawn every time a new model is produced, or do you have a standard template for these things over which you apply the livery?
Yes Mark, there is a standard windows/doors film used on each aircraft typre which doesn't have multiple windows variations, as well as a "fixed" location for printing those.
Unfortunately, many workers are stupid and careless, my own included, and they don't pay attention to what they are doing, so ****-ups like this occur. Hopefully we can catch it before the model is shipped, or even assembled. The fix, is to remake it all over again.
__________________
Enjoying aviation from a "TSA-free Zone"!!
Take the money-grab & deceit out of our hobby, and bring back ethics and quality!!
Just say NO to Apollo400/Black Box/NG(No Good)/Panda Models/Junk-X/First Choice/C&C/IF400/Witty400/Magic/AV200/AK200/Flightline/Flightline200/Flightline400/Pegasus/Blue Angle/5stars & any BigBirds (real or fake)
Richard - in your review: Comparing A320s – 1/400 Scale Detailed Mould Review, the AV400 A320 mould is not reviewed. I think it is a recent addition, and has been discussed on DA.C and is considered to be not one of the better moulds. In another article you mention AV400 as being part of the 'Inflight empire'. Appreciate your reviews and utilize them in my 1/400 purchases. Doug
Last edited by doug seeley; 03-18-2019 at 08:22 AM.
Reason: sybtax
Richard - in your review: Comparing A320s – 1/400 Scale Detailed Mould Review, the AV400 A320 mould is not reviewed. I think it is a recent addition, and has been discussed on DA.C and is considered to be not one of the better moulds. In another article you mention AV400 as being part of the 'Inflight empire'. Appreciate your reviews and utilize them in my 1/400 purchases. Doug
There is no AV400 A320 Doug. They have an A330, A340 and A350 only. I have reviewed both of the latter.
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Richard
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Richard: There is no AV400 A320 Doug. They have an A330, A340 and A350 only. You might wish to reconsider your position on that...I kinda like this version of the A320, better than some, but not at the top of it's class, Doug
Last edited by doug seeley; 03-18-2019 at 06:55 PM.
Reason: tweak
Richard: There is no AV400 A320 Doug. They have an A330, A340 and A350 only. You might wish to reconsider your position on that...I kinda like this version of the A320, better than some, but not at the top of it's class, Doug
Yeah that's ancient Doug. I have one of those (Rossia) and is is without a doubt the worst A320 I have seen, aside from the Dragon version - in fact it's the only model I don't display. It is covered in the full mould review, which includes old moulds:
Back from the Islands and into the next review. Grab a Guinness because this week we're off to Dublin for the first 1:400 release in Aer Lingus' new scheme:
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Detailed 1:400 Scale Model Reviews
Re: Detailed 1:400 Scale Model Reviews
Re: Detailed 1:400 Scale Model Reviews
. Anyway here she is from JC Wings:
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