TAAG Angola | Boeing 777-3M2ER | D2-TEK | Aviation400

Aviation400 is a progressive brand in 400 scale that has introduced a selection of innovative features (or gimmicks depending on your view) including magnetic detachable landing gear. They have been gradually pushing this out to all their widebody moulds, but the implementation time has sometimes been extended. That has proven the case with the 777-300ER. This model was announced in November 2023, but is only now just hitting the market after the detachable gear 777's debut around mid-2025. Although Aviation400 are definitely not a brand I'd preorder, due to the often lengthy wait times, the end product is usually worth it.

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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

The Aviation400 Boeing 777-300ER has been reviewed at the site here before, but that was last back in March 2022 and was the earlier version of the mould. AV400 has now added magnetic gear to the following moulds - A330-900, A350-900, A350-1000, A380, B777-300 and B787-8/9/10. That leaves only the A330ceos and A340s without it, and as I understand there is mould development going on in those spaces to replace the existing versions.

As discussed in the introduction, the timeline for the 777 to get the mag gear has not been short, but AV400 has now, I believe, released all 15 of the 777s that were announced with it. Overall they have now made 63 777s since the original mould debuted in 2019.

The primary competition for the AV400 version comes from JC Wings, NG Models and Phoenix, of which the latter is easily the weakest version, although all four are strong contenders. The AV400 certainly competes well with the JC and NG versions, and arguably more so now that it has mag gear. I'm also not fully convinced by some of the recent NG 777s using their updated mould.​

The fuselage barrel is excellent and has no issues in terms of shape around the nosecone or cockpit. I have heard complaint that the fuselage itself is not wide enough and although there is some truth to this I do not think it is a major issue - in fact the difference is tiny. 

Depending on the source you use the 777 fuselage is 6.19-6.21m wide. In 400 scale that equates to 15.47mm. The Aviation400 model has a fuselage width of 15.26 so slightly smaller than the real thing but only by 0.2mm. The JC and Phoenix moulds are closer to the correct figure (at 15.4) and the NG is slightly more inaccurate (at 15.7) but over rather than under.

At the rear AV400 has modified the tailcone to make the small light protuberances better scaled. These are at least as good as those on the other moulds and nowadays only the Phoenix version omits them.

The model comes fitted with AV400's signature beacon lights, plus 3 aerials on the roofline, the drain mast underneath plus two rooftop domes. The dome over the wings is a little too large but the rest are well sized.

The wings are excellent and include the fuel dump pipe moulded in at the rear margin outer edge. The fit of the wings to the fuselage is tight and well shaped. Likewise there are no concerns with either the engine pylons or nacelles. 

In keeping with their style AV400 are big into hollowcore fans. This means they can't compete with the realism and accuracy of the solidcore fans of the NG version. The number of blades is good, but the thinness of each blade makes it look unrealistic. The JC and Phoenix moulds take the opposite approach of having thicker fans but less of them.

The detachable landing gear is a highlight of the mould. The AV400 landing gear already showed more detail than competition, but the mods to make it detachable have enabled improvements to maingear doors. They previously showed too much leg, but now are accurately sized and shaped. The tyre configuration of the 777 maingear also allows the pivoting feature of the gear trucks to not detract from accuracy. 

The AV400 777 has been improved with the addition of magnetic landing gear, in the process fixing one of the issues I had with the mould. In my opinion this mould has now leapfrogged the new NG version with a better nose/cockpit region and maingear. It is at least as good as the JC Wings mould and a firm contender for best 777-300ER. I could score this a 10 if it wasn't for the fanblades.

SCORE - 9

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PAINT & LIVERY

TAAG was one of the last bastions of a classic livery with cheatline. Alas, their new 787s sport a mediocre new eurowhite scheme with billboard titles - sigh. At least the 777s fought off a previous attempt to replace this beautiful livery with something less exciting. 

The two tone red/orange looks fabulous on the model. The Sable Antelope on the tail is broadly accurate but is missing several detail elements, such as the line defining the ear and the eyebrow and eye. 

The cheatline placement and height is accurate, aside from the lower margin line. At the front it should encompass the entire nosegear doors but you can see on the model the orange intersects forward of the rear margin of the gear door. At the rear the lower margin is too straight and doesn't curve up enough. 

Arguably, the tone of grey used for the belly isnt quite dark enough, as in photos it often looks a little darker than that used on the engines. The multi-lingual titles, website address, logo on the engines, Angolan flag and other small details set off a nicely replicated livery. The mistakes are all quite small.

SCORE - 8

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PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

The printing on AV400 models does tend to be slightly less fine than on say NG releases, but is still very good with plenty of detail added. Certainly, this model performs well from a print perspective. Cockpit placement has been something of an issue with a lot of NG 777s recently and I'm happy AV400 don't have those issues, although the outermost cockpit windows should be less wide.

The paint finish is top and for a brand that has the potential for so many QC issues, given the extra parts involved, the fit of elements, such as the multi-part engines is excellent.

I have not had any issues with the magnetic landing gear on any of the AV400 models I have acquired equipped with it. The concept has been proven to work very well and the fit and grip of the elements is exceptional. As always with AV400 models this one comes with a plastic stand (which slots nicely into its own compartment in the plastic jewel case) that allows you to show off the model with the gears up.

SCORE - 10

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CONCLUSION

This is a 777 that has been worth the wait, although if I'd have preordered this in 2023 I might not agree with that! I admit that magnetic gear isn't a feature that I personally utilise a lot with my own model displays, but it is a nice to have and one that has been excellently realised by AV400. It is this sort of attempt to innovate and improve that helps to elevate the brand in my eyes. Certainly, they can compete often with the very best in 400 scale and this TAAG release is superb. 

FINAL SCORE - 27/30