Monarch Airlines | Airbus A330-243 | G-SMAN | Phoenix Models

The UK has a rich history of charter airlines, nowadays heavily diminished by the internet and low-cost carriers. The loss of Monarch, in late 2017, was particularly keenly felt by enthusiasts, but didn't result in any 400 scale releases. Since then there has been a lovely 757 from NG, in 2019, and an A320 by Aeroclassics, in 2023, but there are still livery combinations never before made in the scale. Nowadays Phoenix has become adept at discovering these kind of missing gems and this recent A330 is another good example of their selection criteria, since it is the first Monarch A330 since 2008, and the first in this livery ever.

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​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

The Airbus A330 is a competitive type in 400 scale, since there are at least 5 active moulds for the type (from Aviation400, Aeroclassics, JC Wings/Gemini Jets, NG Models and Phoenix). In 2024 alone there were 53 releases of A330-200/300s, slightly down on the 58 the year before.

Looking at the series 200 and in recent years the majority of the releases have come on the excellent NG Models, with, in 2024, only 1 from Gemini Jets, 2 from JC Wings and 8 from Phoenix. The other 23 are all from NG with the Aviation400 and Aeroclassics moulds being inactive.

As competition goes the Phoenix A330 has always been a solid mould, in my opinion superior to the JC/Gemini and Aviation400 variants if not quite up to the standards of the NG Models version. Four years ago I took a closer look at A330-200 moulds on my Youtube channel and the majority of the video still stands up today:

The only one of the moulds looked at during that video that has seen any real change has been the Phoenix edition reviewed here, which was modified in 2024 to fix its biggest failing. This was the horizontal stabilisers, which for years had been oversized, but have now been replaced by smaller correct versions.

Below: You can see the modified smaller Phoenix A330-200 horizontal stabs here compared with an earlier release.

I own 22 Phoenix A330s (two of which are series 200s from 2024) so it shows I still value this mould. In many ways it is excellent and definitely looks like a good A330. The nose and cockpit region are particularly strong.

The undercarriage has the trademark silvery finish but overall looks good. The nosegear door is a little large, however and it does seem as though Phoenix have slightly shortened the maingear legs, which means the aircraft does have an ever so slightly tail low attitude (the A330 famously of course has the opposite requiring a nosegear bulge on the freighter variant).

Below: Comparison with an older Phoenix A330-200 shows the undercarriage is slightly lower across the board.

The fuselage barrel itself is excellent throughout , although on the underside the detailing is a little simple - the NACA intakes for example are just printed on.

With the new horizontal stabilisers the rear of the aircraft looks great, helped by being one of the few Phoenix moulds with a free rudder, where the lower margin isn't attached to the fuselage.

There's little to complain about with either the engines, pylons or wing itself. A real nitpicker might comment that the flap track fairings aren't squared off enough at their rear.

In terms of detailing there are a commendable 6 aerials fitted. Altogether the Phoenix A330 remains a really good option for A330ceos and one of their stronger contender moulds.

SCORE - 8

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PAINT & LIVERY

The Monarch regal M logo is a design classic and looked best on this scheme before the cheatline was dropped. G-SMAN was delivered in 1999 and wore this livery until at least November 2005 (latterly with website titles at the rear). This model wears the version without those titles.

Getting the colour of the Monarch golden yellow correct has been a challenge for several brands. Aeroclassics version (on their A300 and A320) is way too bright and lemony and NG probably got it closest on their 757. Here too I think Phoenix have made it a little too yellow rather than gold, but it isn't miles away.

Most of the rest of the livery looks great here, including smaller details like the white boundary around the cockpit windows. The titles are ok, but in closeup the font is a little too blocky and off - most visible on the M, a, r and c.

SCORE - 8

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PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

Phoenix printwork has come on leaps and bounds in recent years and unlike a Phoenix A330 of four or five years ago there's plenty of detailing on places like the belly and underside. The geardoors look good, but still don't quite meet the gear legs.

There are no major issues with print or paintwork, although the completely black engine inners would be better with a titanium grey finish.

Build quality is just as nice, with just the tiniest hint of a tyre tab on the nosegear.

SCORE - 9

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SUMMARY

There's a lot to like about the Phoenix Models brand since 2023. Excellent release selections, improved moulds and quality delivery have made them the most resurgent brand in 400 scale (ignore any nonsense suggesting Gemini have been on the rise, the evidence simply doesn't support that). It remains to be seen whether Phoenix can keep on competing at the highest level, with more and more competition, but the A330-200/300 are reliable and effective castings that are well worth picking up.

FINAL SCORE - 25/30