Aeroméxico | Boeing 767-3Q8ER | XA-APB | JC Wings

JC Wings has spent a lot of money in recent times producing high quality new state of the art 400 scale moulds but they have also upgraded many of their, and Gemini's, older moulds and continue to use them. The Boeing 767-300 has had a good selection of moulds and releases in the scale but rather oddly hasn't had an all new new mould since 2008. That means all of the 767-300s out there are using old technology, but it doesn't necessarily mean they aren't great so let's take a look at one of the most recent examples from JC Wings.

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FORMAT

​Each review is to split into three key areas:

• The model mould
• The paint and livery reproduction
• Printing and quality control

Each section can get a maximum score of 10 for a maximum combined score of 30

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MOULD

This 767-300 release uses a mould that originally dates from 2001 when it first appeared from Gemini Jets. It was, in fact, only the 2nd 767-300 to be made in 400 scale after Dragon's version. As Gemini moved their production to the Phoenix factory they actually began to use the similar, but slightly inferior, first Phoenix version and then later the new Phoenix mould, when they needed a winglet equipped model, until 2015.

However, the original Gemini mould has kept going and Gemini's move to the JC Wings factory led to a rebirth for it when in 2009/2010 JC added new rolling gear and then in 2015 also added aerials (I call this the 1b mould). It has since been used by both Gemini and JC Wings for a good variety of new models.

The 767-300 is one of the few aircraft types where there isn’t a clearly obvious best of breed casting too. Of the 37 767-300s I own 12 use the Gemini / JC Wings mould, 10 the Aeroclassics / Big Bird, 3 the Witty Wings / AV400, 6 are Dragon Wings and 6 are Phoenix. It is only Gemini / JC and Phoenix that still have moulds in use as of 2022.

​Of the two active moulds both are good quality efforts but in my opinion the Gemini / JC Wings 767-300 is the better of the two. The fuselage shape is excellent, and captures the type well, but it is the wing/fuselage fairing that makes the difference between the two for me. The Phoenix mould is flat sided at the wingroot and does not accurately show the, admittedly gentle, bulge it ought to.

​Ironically the Phoenix is a slot in wings mould so should be better, but like on their A320 series the slot in wings have allowed Phoenix to ignore the shape at the wingroot. The JC Wings mould being of older origins is a cradle mould, but having the cradle at least allows for the fairing to be rendered accurately and the seam line that results follows the fairing shape forward well. It is far from the only time a cradle mould is better than a slot in wings one but it is the most obvious example I can think of.

I also really like the rolling gears that JC Wings have fitted to the old mould to update it. They are superior to the old static gear and have very nicely detailed gear legs and well sized tyres. A minor complaint is the shape of the maingear doors, which haven't got the correct angle or form at the lower edge.

Three aerials are fitted to the mould, the correct number for this aircraft, and as is often the case for JC Wings they are a little too tall and pointy. The only other criticism I can level at the mould is that the tailfin is perhaps slightly too thin, but if it is it is hardly noticeable.

The wings and CF6 engines are well shaped and attached. Overall this is a very effective older mould, which has been tastefully updated. While I'm sure a newer better mould could be made for the series 300, this version is still great and actually better 767 than the more recent Aeroclassics series 200.

SCORE - 7

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PAINT & LIVERY

Aeroméxico have had a history of lovely liveries, which I've detailed at the site before - Aeroméxico livery history. This scheme was actually worn only between 1997-1999 before the cheatline was lowered and no longer swept up onto the tail.  Prior to that the Eagle Knight on the tail was a lot more angular and the titles were only on the tail too. Although this livery had been superseded in 1999 this frame was still wearing this scheme in August 2001.

The model has a lovely dark blue tone but the red itself is too dark and not the bright red worn in real life. Positionally the cheatlines are well placed. The titles use the correct font and are well-sized.

Aeroméxico was a founder member of Skyteam and so the stickers were added to the aircraft then. This model therefore illustrates the aircraft in that 2000-2001 period as the plane was repainted by mid-2002. 

The tail logo is very well printed and shaped but arguably slightly oversized with the rear edge and beak almost not fitting on the tail. Altogether it adds up to handsome and well detailed livery rendition, albeit not 100% correct.

SCORE - 8

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PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

Detail printing is a strongpoint of JC Wings and that is one reason why I acquired this model rather than the Aeroméxico Aeroclassics 767-200s made recently. Everything is printed straight and the fine print detailing is accurate and plentiful, even on the bare metal. 

Paintwise the engine fans are not bright silver but could probably do with being a little darker than they are.

Build quality of this solid mould is also good. The only aspect not perfect here is that of the rolling gear only 2 of the 5 trucks actually roll, then again rolling gear are an unnecessary feature for me so it has no impact on the finish of the model in my opinion.

SCORE - 9

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SUMMARY

This is just the latest in a series of very nice 767-300s JC Wings has been producing recently (others include British Airways, Iberia, KLM, LOT, EL AL, Air Canada and Mongolian). Don't let the cradle mount put you off this mould - it remains very good and in combination with updated gear, added aerials and high quality detailed printing the result is a very nice model.

FINAL SCORE - 24/30