British Airways | Boeing 787-10 | G-ZBLB | NG Models

INTRODUCTION

​Like other new aircraft the Boeing 787-10 has been hit by the Covid pandemic so that deliveries have been heavily delayed and prospective orders not forthcoming. British Airways has only received two of its 12 on order, and a third aircraft for them recently went straight into storage. With only 63 787-10s delivered the range of model possibilities is small but that hasn’t stopped moulds being produced by Phoenix, JC Wings / Gemini Jets and NG Models for a total of 48 releases to date. With unusually no 787-10s on order from Chinese airlines there hasn’t been a lot of interest on my end in acquiring this variant but I have just acquired the latest BA release, which gives me the opportunity to take a closer look in this review.

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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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THIS REVIEW IS SPONSORED BY BEDFORDSHIRE DIECAST

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MOULD

The NG 787-10 arrived a little later than their 787-9 – in late 2019 and this is the 8th model made using it. The series 10 mould has benefited from the changes made to the 787-9 mould, which have mainly been in relation to the undercarriage. As with the other 787-10 moulds it obviously shares the same features as the smaller 787-9 moulds from the respective brands, aside from the fuselage length.

The 2021 version of the 787-10 mould is very impressive. At the front reservations with nose shape and nosegear have been resolved. The curve down to the blunt nosecone and angle at the cockpit is perfect. The nosegear has been shortened and is very well detailed. Originally the shortening of the nosegear left the maingear too tall but this has also been resolved and the model sits correctly level.

The rest of the fuselage is similarly accurate with a particularly nice central fuselage fairing including the obvious central bar running alongside the underside of the fuselage. The model has all four major aerials, which are well sized, and the larger dome on the roofline forward of the wing, which is well shaped. It is missing the smaller bump on the roofline aft of the wing, which is printed on rather than being in relief.

​The wings and engines are up to the same high quality as the rest of the model. The engine fanblades do not spin, but I don’t have any interest in this rather pointless feature, and due to lacking this the fanblades are a lot more realistic in shape, size and number.

As with the smaller variant comparing 787s pits the NG Models and JC Wings versions against each other and leaves the Phoenix offering trailing miles behind. The Phoenix version has not got the same level of detail and the fuselage shaping is inferior almost across the board.

About the only criticism that can be made of this mould is that the main undercarriage slightly angles inwards when looking from the front. It should be straight, but it is a minor point and not in my opinion worth knocking a whole point off for. Whether you buy this or the JC Wings mould (which Gemini use for the 787-10 but not often for the 787-9) is a matter of personal choice. The distance between the two is very small. They are both superb – just don’t buy the Phoenix!

SCORE - 10

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PAINT & LIVERY

For some reference photos check out here and here.

​I admit to being a little underwhelmed by the kneejerk reaction to standardise on the Chatham Dockyard scheme, way back in the late 90s, but the changes made to the base livery since then have seen it improve quite dramatically. There have been three major changes – firstly dropping the Chatham text and enlarging the Union Jack on the tail in 2000, then adding the ‘To Fly To Serve’ crest in 2011, and finally in 2014 modifying the shade of white on the fuselage top to ‘Brilliant White’. 

The 787-10s obviously have all these modifications making a highly attractive scheme that is one of the world’s best while still being obviously a BA livery. All three manufacturers have made a British 787-10, although NG are the only one to have done both registrations. The Phoenix attempt was embarrassingly poor, with the blue belly in completely the wrong position. The Gemini Jets version was much superior but I think the NG version is the best.

The colours on this model are bright and vibrant with lovely deep shades of blue and red complete with the necessary shine and shade lines on the tail and speedmarque. The position of the blue belly and jack on the tail are perfect. The main titles use the attractive curving BA font correctly and the crest behind them is printed in exquisite detail.

Small details are not forgotten so the reg is repeated on the nosegear doors, the engines have the RR logo, the rego is on the wing underside and the Royal Mail logo is by the registration. Even the tony Oneworld logo is printed behind the L1 and L2 doors. This is livery perfection.

SCORE - 10

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PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

In respects of mould and livery this model matches up with the Gemini Jets version of a BA 787-10 but it is the printing that sets it apart. Not that the printing on the former is bad, it just isn’t as good. This is most evident at the nose where I’m not convinced by the cockpit placement on the Gemini version. No such issues with the NG version which has very nice cockpit placement and exquisite detailing throughout.

Build quality is of the highest standard aside from one area – the wheelhubs. It has been a recurring problem with the NG L-1011s that the wheelhubs have varying levels of detail on them. Some have several circle markings whilst others have none and look unfinished. This model also has the issue on the maingear where 3 of the 8 hubs are nicely detailed (all on the inside) but the other 5 have less detailing with just a central knob barely visible on some.

SCORE – 9

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CONCLUSION

This model approaches perfection and only just falls short of full marks, something that only NG have ever achieved in the 200+ detailed reviews I have done. I have come to expect a level of detail and fineness to NG Models that I rarely expect from their competitors and they rarely fail to live up to that high standard. Compared to the good Gemini release this model is a relatively minor improvement but compared to the Phoenix version this model is a quantum leap in terms of all three major areas I mark. On current strengths NG should always be the first choice where you have options.

FINAL SCORE – 29/30