Airbus A340-600 Detailed Mould Comparison
Updated: August 2025
The A340-600 only saw a production run of 97 aircraft, as it suffered from intense competition with the Boeing 777-300ER, but that hasn't stopped renewed competition in 400 scale for the type, even though less than a third of the built fleet remains in service. In 400 scale there have now been 150 releases, but between 2010 and 2025 of the 66 models made 49 were made by Phoenix. It has been widely recognised that their A340-600 is better than the older Gemini Jets / JC Wings version, but now there is a new contender in the form of the HX Models mould how do they all compare? I should also mention that NG Models have said they'll be making an A340-600, but that isn't likely to be out for at least a year.
The moulds to be compared in this detailed comparison will be the following three from my collection:
NOTE ON SCORING: The review will take the form of a comparison of various areas of each mould to the real aircraft, with a score out of 5 allotted for each mould for each area. Adding the combined scores together gives you the winner. I generally try and score by knocking a point off for each issue, sometimes two depending on my opinion of seriousness. No mould is perfect but these are 400 scale models, there are limits to how perfect a mass produced model can be.
Obviously this is my opinion, hopefully backed up by evidence. I don't expect you to agree with everything so take the scoring as a guide - maybe try your own along the way and see what result you get?
Obviously this is my opinion, hopefully backed up by evidence. I don't expect you to agree with everything so take the scoring as a guide - maybe try your own along the way and see what result you get?
Scoring
NOSE / NOSEGEAR
The three moulds make an interesting contrast at the front. I would argue the Phoenix has the sharpest and most accurate nose form. The HX Models has a good cockpit region (ignore the window print) but the nose is a little blunt. The GJ/JC has a too rounded cockpit region. From above you can see the HX is slightly blunter and seemingly wider at the nosecone, but it isn't massively dissimilar to the GJ/JC.
The nosegears show a wide variation. The updated GJ/JC rolling gear is surprisingly well detailed, the right height and has a well sized gear door. The gear door on the Phoenix is way too large but the rest of the leg is a good height. Arguably the nosegear tyre is a little small. The HX has the opposite issue. The tyre is too large and the nosegear too short, but it does have a better sized gear door.
ENGINES (SIDE ON) & PYLONS
The wing / pylon join is an area where the relative age of the moulds comes into play. Both the Phoenix and GJ/JC moulds have a rather clumsy join to the wing. The shape of the pylons on the GJ/JC is easily the worst, being too far from the hot section exhausts and too rounded. The Phoenix is better, but not as good as the HX, which itself isn't 100% accurate at the outer engines. The engines on the Phoenix and HX are excellent. The HX has hollowcore engines so the rims are a separate piece, but I don't think this is a problem. The GJ/JC engines are not as well shaped for me and have rather thick rims to the nacelles.
WING / FUSELAGE JOIN
The GJ/JC mould is old enough to be cradle fit and so has a major seam, which rather obliterates the correct shape of the fairing and the wing join itself. The Phoenix has a much better forward join but the Phoenix A330/340 is slightly cursed by the wing join ending just after the overwing exit. The wing join is full width on the HX Models mould and arguably the drooping curved join is a slightly thicker and more accurate shape than the Phoenix too.
MAINGEAR
The maingear units of both the GJ/JC and the HX Models pivot whereas the gear trucks of the Phoenix mould are static. The gear legs of the Phoenix are also a little featureless whereas the gear trucks of the GJ/JC are a little flimsy and the shape of the gear doors the weakest. The HX Models maingear is in my view the best of the three, with no real issues aside from perhaps the lower margin of the gear doors not being angled enough.
TAIL & TAILCONE
There's a lot going on at the backend of the A340-600. The rudder line cuts in at the lower end and the tailcone exhaust for the APU has an interesting shape with some small protrusions on it. The old GJ/JC mould does not have the detail to show either of those points and the bulge on the lower side of the tail is not well streamlined at its rear. The entire tailcone feels a little short. The Phoenix version tries to mould in the rudder cut in, but not well and the APU exhaust is too rounded. The leading edge at the tail top is also too square. HX Models accurately models the rudder cut in and the unusual APU exhaust, although as with the Gemini it feels like the tailcone is a little short.
FUSELAGE & WING DETAILING
The A340 has squared off flap track fairings with the third from the inside also featuring the fuel dump pipe. The level of detail on the wings of the HX Models mould is far greater than the other two and includes well shaped flap tracks and the fuel dump. Neither the GJ/JC or Phoenix get the flap track form correct (both are too pointed) but the GJ/JC also has incorrect flap detailing on the underside. The cradle mount seam obviously has quite an impact on the form of the underside for the GJ/JC. The only one to have the NACA intakes moulded in is the HX Models.
FRONT & SIDE
From the front and side all three models display well. The wing dihedral of all 3 is good and it is very much a toss up whether you prefer the solid core fans of the Phoenix or hollow core of the HX Models. I'd argue the fans and rims of the GJ/JC look the worst. From the front for me it is the engine pylon/wing join and fans that are the big difference, but the angle of the winglets is also a concern. They are too upright for both the Phoenix and Gemini / JC moulds.
From the side all 3 models also look good and it is surprising how well the GJ/JC performs - helped massively by the gear height and detail. From this angle the nosegear of the HX version stands out to me and the cockpit windows aren't helping either. Of course the wingseam on the GJ/JC is quite visible.
Summary
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As always there is no expectation that an old mould like the Gemini Jets / JC Wings A340-600, even when updated with rolling gear and aerials, should compete against a mould from 2025. I included it as the mould is still in use, by JC wings at least.
The real competition is between the Phoenix and HX Models versions, but even then the former dates from 2010. The Phoenix holds its own on a macro-level, but when looking closely at detailing it unsurprisingly comes out second-best. That doesn't mean the HX Models A340-600 is perfect - far from it. You could argue the cockpit windows (which weren't scored here), along with the nosegear are significant issues for it.
Nonetheless, when looking at many areas of the mould, especially the wings and engines, the HX version is easily superior. I own quite a few Phoenix A340-600s and I will not be racing out to replace them, but the HX Models mould certainly has plenty of potential.
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