CityFlyer Express (British Airways) | ATR-72-212 | G-BYTP | JC Wings

400 scale seems increasingly dominated by widebody releases and the Airbus/Boeing duopoly, to the exclusion of everything else. Thankfully there was a time when JC Wings put a lot of effort into smaller regional moulds so they at least have the potential to touch on modern turboprops from time to time. Even though the ATR family has been the number 1 selling aircraft in this space for many years, and remains in production, it is almost impossible to see another diecast brand making a mould for it. That leaves the door open for 3D printed brands, but JC Wings can more than compete - when it wants to!

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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

JC Wings has an impressive stable of excellent little prop regional moulds for types such as the DHC-8-100/200, Saab 340, Shorts 360 and Fokker 50. All four of those types have received less than 25 models even when you take into account production for Gemini Jets. That's a shame as the moulds date back to around 2009/10, but I guess illustrates the challenge of selling such small models.

Fortunately, the continuing success of the ATR family means there have now been 25 ATR-42s and 67 ATR-72s produced using the moulds, both of which debuted in 2011. Both the ATR moulds are excellent.

Like the Shorts 360 mould the ATRs are helped by the shortness of the undercarriage, which avoids issues with size and thickness of long gear legs - often an issue with tiny regional types. That doesn't however stop the nosegear door from being oversized.

The fuselage barrel is well shaped at both the nose and tailcone. The lower fuselage undercarriage fairing is well shaped and equally the fairings that connect the wing to the fuselage at the roof are nicely styled as well. 

The wing is very fine and the engines attach to it cleanly. I am especially liking how the one piece wing attaches to the fuselage. It slots into a gap between the fairings in a way that successfully hides the seam lines and looks very natural.

The stabilisers at the rear are equally well shaped and the one piece horizontal stab slides in to position on the vertical tail from the rear almost totally hiding the connection. What is surprising with this model is the total lack of aerials. While it is normal for Gemini Jets to skimp on aerials on its ATRs all the 12 JC Wings releases from 2023 and 2024 have 2 or 3 added on. 

Both the ATR-42 and ATR-72 are impressive little moulds in 400 scale. The challenges of construction of such a small mould have been met very well. Aside from the nosegear doorsize and lack of aerials there's nothing to complain about here.

SCORE - 9

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PAINT & LIVERY

CityFlyer Express took up the name in 1992, having been formed as Euroworld Airways in May 1991 (itself formed out of the wreckage of Connectair / Air Europe Express). Initially their ATRs flew in their own scheme, but CityFlyer became the first BA franchise partner in 1993 and their ATRs were quickly seen in th Landor scheme. This aircraft had been delivered to British World in 1996 and only joined CityFlyer in April 1999 by which time the World Tails were already controversial. 

I've personally always loved the Utopia schemes and BYTP gained the Irish 'Colum' livery. In English Column means Dove. Upon delivery in 1999 the aircraft wore the CityFlyer Express name beneath the cockpit, although this had been removed by 2001 following BA's total purchase of the regional airline.

The model also correctly wears the livery name in English on the portside lower fuselage ahead of the L1 door and in Gaelic on the starboard side. The overall livery application is good. Arguably the 'Ireland' and registration are both a little too boldly printed.

At the tail the replication of the Colum scheme is excellent. The colours and placement are good, with the only criticism being the size of the semi-circle with cube inside component on the rear of the rudder.

SCORE - 9

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PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

Printing on such a small model can easily destroy it as errors tend to be magnified. Fortunately, JC Wings has not committed any print errors on this release. The cockpit windows especially are well sized and positioned. There is plenty of small detailing, such as panel lines on the engine cowlings and the Oneworld alliance roundel aft of the L2 passenger door.

I particularly like the fineness of the prop blades on the engines and the remarkably small size of the nosegear tyres is impressive. It must be a nightmare fitting such tiny parts to the model.

Build quality on this example is topnotch. In macro closeup not all the tyres touch the ground, but at such small size I'd be amazed if it were possible to get them to considering the number of parts involved.

SCORE - 10

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CONCLUSION

Presumably small regional types do not sell anywhere near as well as 787s, but even with the tiny size in 400 scale they can be just as good an example of what the scale can present. JC Wings and Gemini Jets have created a nice diversity of ATR models in recent years. They haven't always been a success, the Gemini Aer Lingus ATR with disastrous cockpit windows springs to mind, but when done right they are charming models, essential to any collection trying to represent the range of civil aviation over the past few decades or illustrating operations at almost any airport in 400 scale.

FINAL SCORE - 28/30