 There has been a lot of innovation in 400 scale in recent years and while it hasn't all been a success it has given the collector a wide choice of model styles to collect. At one end of the spectrum you have the retro 2005 style of Aeroclassics and on the other the nav beacons and magnetic gear of Aviation400. Other brands haven't been slouching though and JC Wings has brought not only flaps down models to the scale but also a series of interactive moulds. Most recently these have included the 777 and this release gives me the first opportunity to look at one in person. Each review is to split into three key areas:
MOULD  The interactive 400 scale version of the 777-200 freighter is a relatively new innovation from JC Wings, following on from the 747s. While the 747s have proven to be something of a marmite mould (i.e. love them or hate them) the 777, lacking a nose cargo door, has less issue with obvious seams when the doors are closed. That hasn't ever really bothered me anyway as why would you buy an interactive model and display it with the doors closed?  So far the interactive version of the 777 has only been used for 3 Gemini Jets releases (Kalitta, FedEx and Emirates) and 2 JC Wings versions (Ethiopian and China Postal), with a third (Central Airlines) in the pipeline. The first release was the FedEx version dating from 2022.  I've been a fan of the JC Wings 777 for sometime and in my recent detailed review it remained competitive with the excellent NG Models version. See:  I reviewed a passenger JC Wings 777 back in April last year and it scored very well. The mould isn't perfect but few are. Complaints include the nosegear being slightly too high, the curve on the underside of the engine pylons not being strong enough, the engine fanblades being a little chunky and the aerials slightly oversized.  On the plus side the JC Wings mould has several standout features that are better than the NG version. The maingear detailing is better (especially the addition of the inner triangular doors), the underside detailing stronger, inner flap track fairing shape better and the detail and form of the tailcone more realistic. Ultimately they are both excellent moulds.   Of course the thing that is different here are the interactive elements. They include the large portside rear cargo door and the two starboard side belly cargo doors. The model comes with open and closed elements plus a small metal tool to allow the removal of the closed doors (each of which has a helpful hole in it).   I really like the look of the opened cargo doors and they are easy to fit. The closed door elements fit nicely too (there is a small seam but it isn't large). They can be a bit tricky to extract, even using the tool provided.  I am sold on the interactive feature, more so than I am on the flaps down variants. It looks great in an airport diorama and adds real interest to the overall model. I already think the mould is good. Historically I've scored this mould as a 10. In hindsight, and with the NG version side by side, that may be a little optimistic but it is definitely a 9 for me. The interactive feature does it no harm at all. SCORE - 9 PAINT & LIVERY  Nowadays cargo airlines often seem to have more visually interesting liveries than many passenger airlines. China Postal certainly has a bright, attractive scheme with a dark blue and bright yellow featuring to avoid an all white fuselage. This is one of two 777s in service with China Postal - the other being B-221Y.  The blue and yellow striping are fine colourwise, as are the main titles. The large EMS on the tail is well shaped and sized but not as bright as it ought to be. This is probably a result of printing the yellow onto the dark blue.   The fuselage striping looks good but is not 100% accurate in terms of the positioning. The thick blue stripe at the rear intercepts the horizontal stabiliser a little too high. This has a knock on effect with the thin yellow pinstripes above it which are squeezed into the smaller space.   The blue line is also ever so slightly high at the wing join and doesnt curve away from the yellow lines under the nose enough, but I admit it isn't that obvious. Other details, such as the wing titles and reg, all look good. SCORE - 8 PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL  Detailed printing on the model is very good, at least on the metal parts. I noticed in closeup that the closed SCD element has some untidy linework, perhaps a result of printing onto plastic.   I would also appreciate some more thought going into the inside fuselage area when the SCD is open. On the model it is just white. I think a darker colour would be more suitable.  From a quality perspective the model displays well but does have some minor complaints. The nosecone shape appears slightly sharper than usual - perhaps a result of overpolishing? I haven't seen this on non-interactive 777s and I'm assuming it isn't a mould issue associated with this interactive version.  There are a couple of other minor points, which I admit are really only noticeable at magnification. The nosegear is slightly bent to the right in its lower region and the fanblades on each engine have a nick out of them at the top - maybe a result of their fitting? SCORE - 7 SUMMARY  The model gets a solid score, albeit not an excellent one, although arguably the interactive elements could and perhaps should get it a bonus point. None of the issues I've raised really amount to much in the way of diminishing my enjoyment of the model overall but they do add up. For me, the interactive 777 is a triumph, one that I'll seek out for future freighter 777s, but even so there is some room for improving the finish. FINAL SCORE - 24/30 
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AuthorI'm Richard Stretton an aviation enthusiast and major collector of 400 scale models. On this page I take a detailed look at new releases. This site is free. Please donate to keep it going.
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