Qantas | Airbus A380-842 | VH-OQD | Aviation400

I have developed something of a soft spot for the big Airbus, a type that I feel has been rather unfairly treated both by the media and airlines. This is partly because of the happy days when you could see three EK A380s on the ground at Auckland, my then local airport, at the same time and fly them short haul across the Tasman to Australia. It is also partly because Aviation400 have produced a wonderful mould that epitomises everything that is good about the brand and the extra features they have introduced. This QF release isn't alone in my pickups from the last announced group but is a stunner.

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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

This mould has been one of my favourites ever since I started receiving pre-production samples at the site way back in mid-2021. The feedback from collectors since it started appearing on the market in 2023 has been as positive as mine was at the time, but recently there has been some criticism.

Of the last set of A380s made by AV400 at least some (mainly Lufthansa editions) demonstrated an unusual nosecone shape. Some collectors thought that the mould had been changed, but in fact this was a case of overpolishing that has afflicted a few AV400 models at times. It is hopefully something that won't happen again and certainly doesn't impact this release so just to confirm it isn't a mould issue.

​In my estimation this mould is easily the best A380 in 400 scale even before considering the extra details such as detachable undercarriage. The form of the massive fuselage is excellent. Unlike the JC Wings / Gemini version the noseshape is shorter and more rounded - a lot more accurate.

​The wings fit tightly to the fuselage and have a nicely contoured join to the bulging fairing on the lower fuselage. ​I'm loving details like the flap hinges and the fuel dump pipe, which is really well moulded into one of the large flap track fairings.

Towards the rear of the aircraft the proportions are good and the tailcone nicely detailed. The APU pipe is present, but could maybe be slightly longer, and the upper edge of the tailcone could be slightly sharper but these are very minor considerations.

​The massive but quite narrow vertical stabiliser is well shaped and nicely detailed, especially at the lower boundary where it joins the roofline. The roofline itself illustrates one of AV400's strongpoints - aerials and beacons.

There are 3 aerials on the roof plus a raised domes ahead of the pair of side by side beacon lights. They all look excellent and the aerials are well sized and shaped. On the underside there is a single aerial forward of the wing.

​The wings curve beautifully to recreate the elegant profile of the real aircraft and the final shape of the wingtip fences has been modified to make them sharper and photo accurate. ​The engines hang perfectly from the pylons and have great shape and detailing. They are also hollow core with spinning fanblades but unlike many recreations of spinning blade engines the fan blades themselves are both good in number and correctly shaped.

Moving to the undercarriage and the units all have a nice form and plenty of detailing. The model also sits well on its gear, something the light Phoenix version sometimes fails to do. However it is here that the mould's only real fault is also present as the rear triple bogey units are slightly too far back and don't overlap the outer maingear units as they should. There has been some modification to the inner maingear units as the spacing between the tyres has been increased but it still doesn't overlap enough for me.

Of course if AV400 was known mainly for beacon lights surely now magnetic detachable gear is as big a feature. They are the only brand in 400 scale to attempt this and are gradually rolling it out across all their widebody moulds. On the A380 the magnetic gear is a resounding success. The magnets ​easily keep the gear in place, even with fairly violent shaking of the model. They remove just as easily and can be replaced with the closed gear doors for display of the model on its stand (all AV400 models come with a good plastic stand).

Removal of the closed gear doors is accomplished using one of a pair of pointed toothpick like tools provided with the model. These have themselves been modified and are now longer and sharper.

There isn't enough to fault on this mould to detract any points. As long as there is no overpolishing (which isn't a mould issue) then this is one of the best ever moulds in 400 scale and I can't see the need for another A380 mould anytime soon.

SCORE - 10

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PAINT & LIVERY

Qantas have an iconic brand and one that they have managed to upgrade sympathetically not once but twice this century. Arguably, the current scheme is actually better than the earlier ones. I love the modern upgrade but also the delightful nod to history of the roundel logo under the cockpit.

Changes to the scheme included a sliver of silver to the sweeping red portion of the tail, an all new Qantas typeface for the titles and a new armless kangaroo with shading, plus the aforementioned roundel. Few airlines (maybe Air France is an exception) have managed to upgrade a classic scheme to make it classier. Japan Air Lines I'm looking at you!

The new Qantas scheme was introduced in 2017 and the first A380 (OQF) was repainted in April 2018. This aircraft was repainted in late November that year but put into storage in July 2020 due to COVID. Qantas still operates 10 of the 12 380s it received and OQD was returned to service in February 2022. For some good images of this frame for comparison to the model see AussieAirliners here.

I'm loving the livery application here. The silver elements ahead of the red and the lighter grey on the roo shine beautifully. The shading on the roo reflects the light so that it is a rather hidden side-on but at angle comes into the picture well. 

The small livery elements are wonderful as well. Things like the tiny roo on the inside of the winglets and the tiny text of the aircraft name, 'Fergus McMaster' under the roundel, are exceptional even when viewed under strong magnification.

The text font and colour are superb (some of the photos here make them look black but they are definitely a good grey) and the 'Spirit of Australia' element is really finely printed. The overall finish here is faultless.

SCORE - 10

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PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

I have seen some criticism of AV400's printing fineness when compared to say NG Models but I have to say on the A380s they really manage to pull it out the bag. The fine line printing is amazing on items like the nosecone ring and blocked out windows. As always the underside tells a better story on this side of things and there is lots of fine print. I particularly like the detailing on the NACA intakes near the wingroot.

Considering the number of ​individual components that make this model up there is obviously a massive opportunity for build and quality fails. However, despite that opportunity I can't see any problems here at all.

Lastly, the model comes with the usual plastic stand, which in my opinion does the job well, and now has a slot in the plastic cradle specifically for it. The now standard style of AV400 box is perhaps not the most extravagant design in the world but does the job and at least matches well with the other boxes by the same brand.

SCORE - 10

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CONCLUSION

This is the third AV400 A380 I have reviewed here at the site and the second to get full marks, and I almost never give them out (the third model got a very decent 27). I'm obviously smitten with the mould, so it is a shame that the recent nose polishing issue has taken the shine of it for some. Almost entirely due to this mould's existence I am now building a substantial fleet of A380s. They may not fit most of my collection criteria but they are among the best 400 scale models ever made.

FINAL SCORE - 30/30