American Airlines | Boeing 767-323ER | N377AN | Phoenix Models

Phoenix has continued to release more US models in 2023 than it probably has produced in its entire history before. Boeing 767s have made up a significant number of these recently, including examples from American Airlines, United and Delta. The 767 remains one of the few moulds in the Phoenix catalogue without a lot of competition. With new 767s on the horizon from NG Models this will not last but just how competitive is the Phoenix 767-300? In this review I aim to find out.

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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 mould dates from 2008 during the heyday of Phoenix when they were undertaking significant amounts of mould development and pioneering a range of new slot in wing moulds. That time is long gone but although many Phoenix moulds from this era are obsolescent their 767-300 remains a very serviceable effort, partly because there have been no new 767s since then. At least not until now anyway, since NG Models have recently announced a new range of them covering all variants.

Fundamentally, this looks and feels like a 767-300 well, but in detail it lacks some finesse. The 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 new NG mould.

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 bulge shape for the fairing. Instead, the fuselage is a little slab-sided around the wings. This isn't the only Phoenix mould to suffer from this - it is an issue with the A320/A321s too.

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.

At first glance the engines look good but it does appear that 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 AA 767s were fitted with. There is also a seam line running along the hot exhaust section too.

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 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). It makes an interesting comparison with the JC Wings / Gemini mould, which has the tailbumper, better engine exhausts and despite the seam arguably a better wing join fairing.

SCORE - 7

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PAINT & LIVERY

Massimo Vignelli's 1967 American Airlines designed scheme, with the addition of the eagle motif above the AA which he didn't approve of, remains a timeless classic. If it wasn't for the increasing use of composites in aircraft manufacture you feel that it might still be the American Airlines livery. It was still going strong in 1988 when the first 767-323ER was delivered, albeit this aircraft was built in 1992.

The first thing to mention is the chrome finish on this model is excellent. It really shines, admittedly a lot more than the real thing ever did. The cheatlines are placed well and the colours look accurate.

The tail logo is fine on the grey tail. Other composite grey areas such as the nosecone, wingroot and horizontal stab root are accurate too. The model shows off the earlier 767 Luxury Liner text well and has the reg number in tiny text on the nosegear doors.

The only criticism of the scheme is with the main titles. Although they are correctly outlined in white the font used on the model is too thin.

SCORE - 9

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PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

Printwork on the model looks good from distance and there is a commendable amount of detailing, even underneath which Phoenix isn't usually renowned for. On the negative side the emergency exit wing markings don't line up at all with the overwing exit doors. The nosecone printing doesn't quite follow the grey nosecone paint, especially on the starboard side. In closeup photos the paint finishing at the nose is a little rough too but you don't see it with the naked eye.

It is the quality control that rather lets this model down. It didn't appear to have a particularly rough journey judging by the box so I suspect this damage was already present before it got to the retailer. The vertical stabiliser was detached from the model. There's fortunately no paint damage so it just looks like a lack of glue.

More annoyingly the nosegear is bent to one side and pushed forward a little. The maingear units are also not 100% flush and on both not all the wheels touch the ground. 

SCORE - 6

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SUMMARY

I am fine with this mould given its age and Phoenix have done a good job with the livery too, however the combination of an older casting and some poor QC damages the final score for this model. Is it an ok model? Yes, clearly it is but would it have been done better by NG Models with their upcoming 767s? Almost certainly yes. That is the conundrum for collectors at the moment. Phoenix are choosing some great subjects but usually on inferior moulds and often with a lesser finish. Having said that, when it comes to 767s I'm still minded to give Phoenix a look.

FINAL SCORE - 22/30