British Airways | Aerospatiale-BAC Concorde 102 | G-BOAA | ARD Models

Aviation Retail Direct (ARD) is a longstanding bricks and mortar store in the UK that has always made exclusive releases, but mainly in larger scales than 400. In recent years they have developed a relationship with Aviation400, and more recently Panda Models, C Models and Aero Polaris for 400 scale exclusives, mostly focused around British Airways for whom they have the license (and aggressively defend it in the UK). There's no more iconic aircraft than Concorde, but the type hasn't been especially well treated in 400 scale making ARD's announcement of 5 new versions very welcome. 

---

---

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

---

This review is sponsored by Northeast Diecast. Check out their store for an excellent range of hard to find 200 and 400 scale collection sale models and get 15% off!

---

MOULD

In 400 scale the default Concorde mould has always been the Gemini Jets version that dates from 2001 and has also been used by Phoenix, Black Box and JC Wings. That mould has been used nearly 50 times, mostly recently in 2020, however although it is a solid mould for the early 2000s it is rather obsolescent for 2025.

Ignoring the Dragon Wings mould from 2003, the other Concorde in 400 scale has been the highly thought of Herpa mould. This is a better mould than the Gemini, but was last seen in 2011. There is however a 4th mould for the type and that is the one being used for this model.

This mould was developed for the French store Socatec. An early version of it appeared in 2012 with a pair of Air France releases, however that early variant had a stubby nose, weak printing and clumsy tailwheel. Those Socatec Concordes could be picked up quite cheaply, but it seems the mould was redeveloped as a pair of later Socatec Air France Concordes are far superior and use the same mould being utilised here.

Then there was Aviation400's debut model, made in 2017 (a Fantasy colours CAAC Concorde) that also used this mould. I have heard Hogan's name mentioed in relation to these new ARD versions, but this is 100% not the old Herpa mould and I have had it confirmed it was made in the Aviation400 factory, but it owned by Socatec (now OneBird).

Regardless of ownership what's the mould like? It is at least as good as the Herpa, with which it shares many similarities. The nose is pointier than the Gemini and the angle of the cockpit to it better. ​

The landing gear is also better than the Gemini, although not without fault. The nosegear leg is correctly taller giving the Concorde the correct nose up angle, but the gear leg itself despite being nicely thin is rather amorphous. The maingear has the doors fitted, which is something lacking on the Gemini.

All Concorde moulds in 400 scale are cradle fit and it is the join of the forward wing seam that enables easiest identification as it is subtlely different for each. The seam on the Herpa and this mould is slightly further forward than the Gemini, which allows a better connection for the wing leading edge to the fuselage.

This mould also has far superior detailing of the large wing trailing edge Elevons (Concorde wasn't fitted with standard flaps). The Olympus engine nacelles are well shaped, but this is one of the few areas where the Gemini has better detailing. 

Along the fuselage roof this mould has the two large long fairings moulded in (they are only printed on the Gemini) and also has the VHF 1 aerial fitted forward. 

At the rear fuselage there are no issues with the vertical stabiliser shape, although its fit to the fuselage could be tighter. The tailcone is sharper and more accurate than the Gemini and the tailbumper better detailed.

This is not an all-new Concorde for the scale, but it is as good as the Herpa mould, with which it shares a lot of similarity. It is superior to the old Gemini in terms of nose pointiness, cockpit shape, nosegear height, maingear detail, rooftop fairings, elevon detailing, tailcone and tailbumper. That doesn't make it perfect as the nosegear is still quite simple, tail fit a little loose and engine nacelle detailing a little lacking, but it is definitely an upgrade on previous non-Herpa BA Concordes out there.

SCORE - 8

---

---

PAINT & LIVERY

Concorde always wore a simpler version of the BA scheme, due to heat issues at the supersonic speeds it operated. That meant no blue belly for the type when it was delivered in a variant of the Negus scheme. Indeed, G-BOAA was the first Concorde that was delivered to the British flag carrier, on January 14, 1976.

Ultimately the delivery Concorde scheme is quite simple with just the dark blue cheatline and speedbird logo under the cockpit. The replication of those parts and the Negus tail are all excellent. 

I'm less impressed with the main titles, which appear a little too short to my eye. The registration is correctly on both the wingtop and underwing and the AA is even printed on the tiny nosegear doors.

SCORE - 9

---

---

PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

I acquired the pair of enhanced Air France Concordes using this mould from 2020 and the printing on these BA versions is a definite improvement, with finer detailing and more of it. That is evident on the underside forward where the printing is equal to that on the Gemini versions.

The printwork is good enough that the tiny white text inside black box on the engines can be read at magnification saying ROLLS ROYCE SNECMA OLYMPUS 593.

It is worth pointing out that this mould, unlike the Gemini, does not come with a standhole on the underside. I acquired four of the five releases and the quality on all of them has been good aside from a single loose aerial. This model has no QC issues.

Each of the models comes in a long thin box, with a flip-top style lid. This model is unique among the four I bought for having some 50th anniversary text inside the box lid celebrating the first commercial service of G-BOAA.

SCORE - 10

---

---

CONCLUSION

The ultimate Concorde in 400 scale would be a version that was interactive and allowed the different nose configurations to be displayed. Until then this quintet of exclusives for ARD are the best that are available to represent the iconic jet. At £49.95 each they weren't cheap considering their small size, but what is a 400 scale collection without featuring at least one Concorde?

FINAL SCORE - 27/30