Air Pacific | Boeing 767-3X2ER | DQ-FJC | Phoenix Models

Diversity has been a big talking point recently in 400 scale, although partly driven somewhat ironically by American collectors complaining about NG making too many Asian models and not enough US ones. Certainly, diversity has taken a hit in 2025, which I'd lay the blame for mostly at the foot of tariffs. By far the most diverse brand in the scale at this point is Phoenix Models, both in terms of geographic region and airline choices. They have developed a keen eye for more varied release sets and this Fijian 767 is a great example. Of course the issue Phoenix often does have is the quality of their moulds, so is this a great model?

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This review is 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

I last reviewed a Phoenix 767-300 in November 2023 and in that review I mentioned the approaching threat to the mould from the new NG Models version. That hasn't really come to pass, since NG have barely used their 767s and they haven't been without issues (winglet form and windowline / cockpit printing). Another new competitor has appeared however and that is from the Panda Models stable.

There's no doubting that the Panda Models 767s are significantly superior to this 2008 Phoenix mould, however Panda's business model nowadays appears to be to act almost entirely as an OEM for others and that means a significant narrowing of release diversity. I can't see Panda, or a brand working with it, ever likely to produce a model from Fiji.

That means the Phoenix 767 remains an important option for the type even though it isn't spectacular. Fortunately, despite its age it remains a decent casting. Most fortunately, ​the general shape of the fuselage barrel is excellent. There are no problems at the nose or cockpit, which have the characteristic rounded blunt look they should.

On the underside the NACA intakes are not moulded in and merely printed on. At the rear of the fuselage under the tail region the small tail bumper fairing is also missing. Neither are massive issues but they are both present on the newer moulds.

The shape and dihedral of the wings is fine and the flap structure and flap tracks accurate. I am less happy with the wing to fuselage join. Although, unlike the competing JC Wings / Gemini mould, this is a slot in wings casting the way the wing joins to the fuselage doesn't create an accurate shape for the fairing. Instead, the fuselage is a little slab-sided around the wings and the area with the landing lights is part of the wing rather than the fairing. This is much better styled on the Panda mould. 

​Likewise it isn't the only Phoenix mould to not have a fully free rudder lower margin, although there is at least an attempt here, just not one that properly takes into account the real rudder width.

​Phoenix only has a generic engine moulding for the 767, much like Gemini / JC. The exhaust portion here looks more like a PW4000 than the slightly longer General Electric CF6s that this aircraft was fitted with. There is also a seam line running along the hot exhaust section too. The engine to pylon join is also not up to the best modern standards.

​The undercarriage is decent and certainly has much better shaped maingear doors than the Aeroclassics 767-200 or JC Wings / Gemini 767-200/300. It is also nice to see four well shaped and sized aerials fitted, including three on the underside, one small one offset to port on the belly.

For its age this mould stands up well and is a fine 767, albeit one that is missing smaller definition details (tailbumper, NACA intakes, full length rudder gap, engine specific exhausts, a better defined wing join fairing and wing-pylon join). It competes well with the even older Gemini Jets / JC Wings version but is clearly some distance behind the much more recent moulds from NG Models and Panda Models.

SCORE - 7

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PAINT & LIVERY

Air Pacific's liveries got gradually less colourful through the 1990s and 2000s as the rainbow striping retreated back along the fuselage. At one point it had been banished to just the rudder region, until the 747-400s arrived when it covered the entire tail once again. The airline logo also gradually diminished from the jumping Marlin to eventually just be the word Fiji.

This 767 was leased from September 1994 until January 2012. This livery was worn by it from 1994 until mid-1999 and features the Fiji logo on the tail with the rainbow that replaced the old Marlin.

I know Phoenix put quite a bit of effort into colour matching the scheme, especially in relation to the yellow. Lighting conditions have an impact on the look of photos making it look quite dark at times but I think they've done well with the colours when you compare to well lit shots like this one. 

It seems this aircraft carried different names at different points in her career. Later she was named 'Island of Taveuni' but earlier, and on this model, she was known as 'Island of Vanua Levu'. The rest of the livery is carried off with good quality.

SCORE - 10

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PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

The improvement in print detailing on Phoenix models over the past 5 or 6 years has been marked, to the extent that when you turn this model over to look at its underside there is plenty of good work on show. 

There is one significant print issue to my eye though and that is the windowline. It is probably a little high all along but is more noticeable at the rear fuselage to me. It isn't out by a massive amount but is noticeable.

Build quality is good aside from the nosegear not being straight. It angles forward a little and this isn't the first time I've seen that on a Phoenix 767.

SCORE - 8

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CONCLUSION

Given the more varied subject matter that Phoenix have been producing for the past few years I am minded to forgive some of the moulds they use (not all mind), which are usually weaker than the best of the competition. Models as unique as this Fijian 767-300 deserve a space in any collection however and are unlikely to get a release on a better mould. Nonetheless, I admit where there is strong competition for a popular airline I'm rarely likely to pick the Phoenix option as my first choice. As long as Phoenix keep on picking great selections like this though they are likely to still get my money.

FINAL SCORE - 25/30