Airbus A330-743L Beluga XL in 1:400 Scale by NG Models

Modified: January 2019

I guess one of the fringe benefits of manufacturing aircraft is that if you need a special plane then you can just build it. This is exactly what Airbus did with their original Airbus Beluga (based on the A300) and has now done again with the new Beluga XL (based on the larger A330). The original Belugas are not only reaching the end of their service lives but are proving too small for Airbus' ramped up production of A320, A330 and A350s. 

By Julien.jeany, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71006885

Being based on the A330 the Beluga XL has 30% more capacity than the original Beluga. It is in fact a hybrid of the three major ceo variants of the A330 with the rear of an A330-300, front of an A330-200 and reinforced floor and structure from the A330-200F. Obviously the structural and design changes between this and a standard A330 are massive to enable the huge unpressurised cargo hold that sits atop the lower fuselage.

Five aircraft are scheduled to be built with the first flying for the first time on July 19, 2018.

In 1:400 scale these sort of one-off Airbus models have traditionally been made by Dragon Wings, who have had a contract with Airbus for many years for house colours models. Sadly the Dragon Airbus moulds are almost universally a bit rubbish and even when they have a decent shape are not up to 2019 standards in terms of detailing or design. Dragon made the original Beluga in 1:400 and although they have effectively stopped making civil airliners on the whole it wouldn't completely surprise me to see a Beluga XL from them at some point. Even so it is highly unlikely that it will be able to compete with this new mould from NG Models.

It was an even bigger surprise than the 787-9 and 737-800 for NG Models to decide to produce a Beluga XL mould but it is symptomatic of their interest and creativity in this scale that they have, even though the number of liveries is likely to be small and so the return on investment also presumably limited.

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The New NG Models Mould In Detail

Let's take a closer look at the new mould from NG Models, who have been kind enough to send me three sample examples (two constructed (one painted and one unfinished) and one deconstructed).

Straight away it is clear that the mould is very good, all the more impressive as NG do not have an A330 mould from which to start from. The shape of the fuselage is perfect, including the complex and bizarre underslung cockpit area. The main fuselage is all metal and one piece aside from the main cargo door, which is plastic. Inside the cargo hold is hollow and nicely shaped. Perhaps this accuracy and detachable door opens up the possibility of producing models with open doors and components (A320 fuselages and A350 wings) inside the hold? The only drawback is that the metal skin of the model is thicker than the skin of the real thing. I also expect detailing inside the hold would be near impossible.

Other components of the mould that are plastic are the engines, engine pylons, undercarriage and ventral stabiliser fins. The rest of the model, including the horizontal and vertical stabilisers, is all metal. The detailing on the new mould is very good. The wings and stabiliser have finely etched control surfaces and the fit of components is tight and seamless.

The bulbous shape of the fuselage is captured perfectly: 

The undercarriage and engines are very finely detailed and perhaps more importantly fitted in the correct positions.

Another feature that NG has got correct is the unusually angled attachment of the huge extra vertical stabilisers attached to the horizontal stabs. The engine pylons also look accurate.

I actually cannot find real fault with this moulding and look forward to the first model that utilises it. My only very minor concern is that the attachment of the cargo door and ventral fins needs to be performed really well. The first model is scheduled for mid-January so we'll see how it looks, but my expectations are that it will be superb. Note the now standard Airbus facemask has been modified into the mouth of a Beluga whale:

Below are a selection of photos of the sample models I have been sent. First the natural metal one:

And the one with primer: