Airbus A330NEO 1:400 Scale New Mould Samples
|
Modified: September 2022
|
|
I'm back from the 2023 Amsterdam Aviation Fair and I have a truckload of model samples to get through. I begin with one of the more obvious ones in the form of the Airbus A330-800/900. Since NG Models already has an existing excellent A330-200/300 and since the NEO is gradually building a decent order book it is no shock to see NG produce the NEO. They are not alone as AV400 also recently got their first NEOs to market as well.
The Real Thing
The A330neo is basically an A330ceo with the new Rolls-Royce TRENT 7000 engine and new A350 inspired Sharklets. The series 900, below in Azul colours, keeps the fuselage length of the A330-300 whereas the smaller A330-800, below in Kuwaiti colours, has the fuselage length of the A330-200.
.jpg)
N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Colin Cooke Photo, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Competing A330NEO Moulds in 400 Scale
There are currently, as of September 2023, 3 competing A330-900 moulds in 400 scale, as shown above. All are reasonably decent but tend to have their flaws. The AV400 is the newest and the only one to have removable magnetic landing gear. It is so new in fact that I haven't had time to look at the example below in detail at the site, although I did review the original Aviation400 sample here. The Phoenix and JC Wings / Gemini versions were featured in a detailed A330neo scoring review back in August 2020.
I have been told that Phoenix have modified the incorrect form of the winglets since that review but I haven't seen the evidence for myself. It has a selection of other minor issues that generally make it inferior to the JC Wings version, which is very good but has too much dihedral on the wings. Looking briefly at the new AV400 A330-900 I'm not convinced by the nose and cockpit region or the position of the nosegear. Effectively, all three existing moulds have issues, but all are still viable alternatives depending on what aspect of each mould you prefer.
I have been told that Phoenix have modified the incorrect form of the winglets since that review but I haven't seen the evidence for myself. It has a selection of other minor issues that generally make it inferior to the JC Wings version, which is very good but has too much dihedral on the wings. Looking briefly at the new AV400 A330-900 I'm not convinced by the nose and cockpit region or the position of the nosegear. Effectively, all three existing moulds have issues, but all are still viable alternatives depending on what aspect of each mould you prefer.
The A330-800 has only two active moulds derived from the Phoenix and JC Wings castings. Aviation400 have not released an A330-800 to date.
A330NEO Mould Samples
NG have provided both series 800 and 900s. As you'd expect, since they already have an excellent A330ceo, the front of the aircraft, including nosegear, is basically indistinguishable to the A330ceo and therefore at the same time very, very good.
Vertical Stabiliser
At the rear the new NEO appears to share the same tail and tailcone as the A330CEO moulds. Arguably the top edge of the forward tail is a little too square and doesn't reflect the curve well enough.
|
|
RR TRENT 7000 Engines
|
|
|
|
I don't see any issues with the engine nacelles, exhaust sections, pylon shape or engine fans. Obviously, once again NG has decided on solid core engine fans, which allows for greater accuracy of fan blades including the correct number (20). The blades also curve in the correct direction. Overall, I prefer this accuracy to the novelty of see through engines and rotating fans.
DIHEDRAL, FLAPS & SHARKLETS
There is a significant difference between the shape of the NEO winglets between existing moulds. The curve of the NG winglets appears to be more accurate but they are a lot shorter than the winglets on both the AV400 and JC Wings moulds. I hadn't really noticed this before but after looking at photos of the winglets I actually think the NG version is correct. Dihedral is also not an issue with this mould (unlike the JC Wings version).
See the below photos for the winglet height and dihedral:
See the below photos for the winglet height and dihedral:
Less good and by far the biggest issue with the new samples are the shape of the flap track fairings. They ought to be a lot shorter and squarer but NG has merely replicated the form of an A330CEO flap track so they are long and pointed.
|
|
|
|
Note that the maingears don't pivot.
NG Models Airbus A330-800 Sample
NG Models Airbus A330-900 Sample
Summary
It could be argued that a 4th A330neo in 400 scale is not needed, however clearly it will be a major type over the next 20 years and all of the existing moulds have issues that render them beatable. This sample also has one major issue (the shape of the flap track fairings) and one minor one (tailtop curve) but they both ought to be easily fixable and if they are fixed then this model appears to have few weaknesses across the board. It would be my first choice for an A330neo unless you prefer the pivoting maingear and less accurate see through fans of the competition.
