Icelandair | Boeing 757-208 | TF-FII | NG Models

I haven't reviewed a NG Models 757 for a long time, not since before the reviews transferred over to this site, but that isn't because I don't think they are excellent or collect lots of them. I admit that this year there have been less that fit my criteria but the September announcements contained a wonderful trio I couldn't resist. I could easily have reviewed the Transavia or AA retrojet but I've chosen the one that is closest to my heart - the Icelandair classic colours. Incidentally it is primarily close to my heart thanks to a wonderful Schabak version of it I used to own.

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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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MOULD

Even though NG Models has continued to produce excellent moulds it is still the 757 which is my favourite, perhaps because of the soft spot I have for the type, but also because it is an exceptional casting. In fact, I can't see there ever being a better 757 in 400 scale.

The fuselage shape of the NG Models mould is excellent across the board, particularly the attractive nose shape and wingroot area. The latter is a really nicely contoured design with a very tight fit for the wings. The biggest weakpoint of the old Gemini 757s has been the landing gear and although this has recently been updated to compete more evenly against the NG mould it is still inferior to the delicate and finely detailed nosegear leg of the NG. It’s not just the leg either – the tyre is lovely and the gear doors accurately sized. 

​This attention to detail transfers over to the maingear legs and doors also. The control surfaces on the NG mould are full metal but still crafted to a fine degree. The wings and stabilisers fit tightly to the fuselage and flaps and ailerons are beautifully etched.

​This version of the NG mould carries the RB211-535E engines, which were fitted to all Rolls-Royce equipped 757s in the 1990s. There have been some minor gripes about the shape of the underside of the engine but it is a minor detail hardly worth mentioning.

​As a mould the NG Models 757 is, to my mind, effectively faultless and easily beats all previous versions of one of the most attractive airliners ever built be they Dragon Wings, Gemini Jets or Phoenix model examples.

SCORE – 10

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PAINT & LIVERY

NG have made quite a variety of Icelandair models but all have been in either special schemes or the later colours, which although nice just can't compete with the classic cheatline scheme that uses the national flag colours so well (aside from the red anyway). 

Aspects of the scheme are done to perfection. The blue colour is rich and the cheatline and pinstripe arrangement are perfectly positioned with the cheatline just being above the cockpit windows and pinstripe just intersecting the lower cockpit window.

The tail logo is correctly sized and shaped and positioned high on the fin as it ought to be. The engines also correctly replicate in reverse the cheat and pinstripe. In addition the aircraft name of 'Fanndis' is replicated delicately on the nose under the cockpit.

It is only the main titles that slightly let the scheme translation down. I feel the titles are not tall enough and are also slightly too thick. The effect isn't drastic and you'd have to look hard to see it was wrong.

SCORE - 9

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PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

NG Models’ ability to print fine detail on their models is unmatched in 400 scale. They include nosecone radome lines, engine paneling, fine window framing and other sumptuous details as standard. This model is up to the usual high standards with the wingtops and the belly providing huge rafts of detail. The overwing emergency exit markings for example aren’t just a white area with two sets of arrows, but also have red hatching, a third set of smaller arrows and a fine black outline.

Build quality shows no problems.

SCORE - 10

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SUMMARY

NG has been getting a few rather average, for them, scores recently but their 757s rarely disappoint and this one lives up to the usual high standards everyone has come to expect from them. Obviously NG has, like everyone else, been hit by the worldwide shipping issues and the Chinese factory issues, but the excellence of September's releases is a potent reminder that NG's models are worth the wait.

FINAL SCORE - 29/30