Sichuan Airlines | Airbus A350-941 | B-304V | Aviation400

Aviation400 has really made a name for itself since its Airbus A350 debuted in 2017. They have focused heavily on adding detail and features to already strong base moulds and created a great range of modern widebodies. Yes, they don't always get their models out quickly but what they do produce is usually worth waiting for. Now they are branching out into narrowbodies with their new A320s but for this release I go back to where it began with one of the recent A350 releases.

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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

I really like the Aviation400 Airbus A350 mould and own 17 of them out of a total of 24 A350s I have. In detail I have found it marginally inferior to the NG Models version but the distance between the two is minimal and probably in the margin of error space.

I am a fan of the AV400 rendition of the complicated A350 nose form, although they have had some issues recently with over-polishing of the models here. That isn't a mould issue but a quality one, however on this model is fine. 

The nosegear is really nice as well and is something AV400 has modified in the past few years. They have changed the colour to be more metallic and modified the tyres to have smaller more accurate hubs. 

Towards the mid-fuselage the wings join to the fuselage tightly and with some lovely detailing of the shape. The maingear has been modified and has a nice pivot effect. The maingear doors are pretty good too but could be slightly longer even if the shape is overall not bad.

The engines and pylons are effective but do have some weaknesses. The engine pylon attachment at the rear of the engine is too far off the hot section and inferior to both the JC and NG versions. The engine fans are incredibly thin - far more so than other competing moulds.

The rear of the mould looks great and of course the big bonus with AV400 is the level of detailing on the fuselage. There are four aerials (3 above, 1 below), the large rear Wifi dome, the two small bumps on the roofline over the wing and of course the red jewel beacon lights that are synonymous with AV400.

This is a great A350 and one I choose over the JC Wings and Phoenix versions. The NG version may score slightly better in detail, but it isn't enough to stop me choosing this lovely mould regularly. 

SCORE - 9

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PAINT & LIVERY

Sichuan Airlines has a variety of colourful special schemes many of which feature Pandas, who are most common in that region of China. To be honest I had lost track of how many Sichuan A350s in special schemes there are but after some revision I have confirmed there are four - two of which are releated to the Chengdu 2021 FISU Universiade Games. This scheme is focused on the games' Flame Relay.

The games themselves were supposed to be held in August 2021 but where then delayed until June 2022 and now will be held in 2023. The mascot is a Panda called Rongbao and "incorporates fire elements in the design of its ears, eyes and tail, while facial structure takes into account traditional Chinese aesthetics, as well as the masks of Sichuan opera, a heritage of the host city".

The emblem of the games has a lot of colour and that makes a vibrant special scheme. There are at least 8 or 9 colours used and they look accurate enough to me. The gradual lightening of the rear fuselage as it moves forward is difficult to achieve and although on teh whole it works I think on the model it lightens prematurely and so is a little too white on the lower rear and between the orange/gold and gold/green bands. 

Otherwise though the colours are nice and vibrant. The position of the livery elements is also good. I think the huge colour bands are supposed to be the flames coming out of the top of the Panda's torch and they work really well. Rongbao itself looks very detailed and photo accurate, as do the petals behind it. 

On the forward fuselage the Flame relay logo is present and the tiny Universiade titles behind Rongbao have an impressive amount of detail despite their size. This is a top class rendition of a challenging livery.

SCORE - 9

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PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

Aviation400 are all about the details both in moulds and printing so it is no surprise that the fine detail printing on this model is excellent. The paint finishing is also grand including the blue engine exhausts. There isn't a lot more to say other than the colourful scheme shows off the white aerials and domes on the roof really well, so it is imperative that they fit well and the printing around them works. It does easily and the model looks superb.

Quality control is good, except for the obvious lack of one of the outside rear tyres. The way the gear works the hubs are part of the undercarriage truck and not separate with the tyres so it is only the black plastic outer tyre that is missing, but it's still a little annoying it isn't there.

​SCORE - 9

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CONCLUSION

This model further illustrates the general excellence of Aviation400 releases. Not only have they created a very good A350 but they have gone the distance in adding detail features to it that add a lot of value. Unlike some brands that can't even manage basics, like sensible rolling gear with realistic hubs or aerials, AV400 try to push the envelope. It is a very welcome approach and the result is usually, as in this case, a fine model. 

SCORE - 27/30