Boeing 707-320/420 Moulds in 1/400 Scale
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Updated: September 2017
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The stretched 707-320 Intercontinental represents the beginning of a series of versions of the 707 that most people associate as the standard aircraft as opposed to the earlier 707-120 (and its later variants the 720 and 707-120B/138/220). The type certainly outsold the DC-8 and was responsible for a lot of passengers first jet experience not the least due to the huge fleet built up by Pan Am. The longer 707 series also acquired by far the highest sales numbers with 617 civilian sales out of just over 1000 true 707s (so not KC-135s) built. In fact airline 707s were still being delivered as late as 1977 by which time the type was really obsolete.
Long 707 Variants
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As is typical with 707s across the board the series 300 was updated continuously through its manufacture and there are multiple variants.
For any discussion of the complicated differences between marks of 707 I recommend David Hingtgen's masterful 'Ultimate Boeing 707 Guide' which can be found here. |
Above we have a 707-420 with Conway engines, turbocompressor on engine 1, a ventral fin and the early style nosegear doors.
Below we have a 707-320B Advanced with turbofans, no turbocompressor on engine 1, no ventral fin and the new style nosegear doors.
Below we have a 707-320B Advanced with turbofans, no turbocompressor on engine 1, no ventral fin and the new style nosegear doors.
Boeing 707-320/420 in 1:400 Scale
The long 707 has had a decent representation in 1/400 scale but as you'd expect the majority of the models have been made by Aeroclassics. The manufacturers have also paid only lip service to the different variants as well so that nobody has ever made an original 707-320B with a ventral fin. In addition a lot of the moulds are very old and from a time when more detailed undercarriage was not common in this scale. Here's the breakdown of the 6 moulds that have been used:
Gemini Jets Mould (1999-2011)
The Gemini Jets 707 is one of the earliest 1:400 scale moulds and although it carries off the general shape of a 707 reasonably well it has aged poorly and is no competitin to the Aeroclassics moulds. Even so it is still superior to the Dragon and Herpa moulds so shouldn't be totally discounted. The fuselage shape is good but as with all first generation Gemini moulds it has a seam at the horizontal stabilisers. The rest of the mould is poor. The vertical stabiliser is too small and has a a clumsy tailtop aerial. The wings are very thick and the engine pylons hang far too low. Lastly the undercarriage is very simple. There are no gear doors on either main or nosegear. Gemini have still seemingly got this mould and released a 707 as recently as 2011 by which time the mould was hopelessly outdated. There are few models Aeroclassics haven't made on their much superior mould so there is little reason to own many of these old Gemini 707s anymore.
Aeroclassics 707-320/420 (2002)
Aeroclassics are the only manufacturer to have tried creating a turbojet version of the long 707 and it is one of their earliest moulds. As such like the Gemini 707 it is definitely showing its age and I'd like to see a replacement mould for it especially as Aeroclassics have such an awesome 707-320B/C mould. The wing shape of the early 707 with its straight tips and curved rear edge is well realised as are the engine pylons and turbojet engines. The fuselage is the mould's weakest area. There is a well hidden seam at the horizontal stabilisers and the nosecone isn't quite long and tapered enough. The HF antenna on the tail is a bit chunky and lastly the nosegear is a simple stalk and fitted a little too far forward on the mould. Early 707 nosegear was quite simple, with a small rear facing door, so the simple nosegear is almost forgiveable.
Aeroclassics used this mould for the shorter 707-100 and 200 for which it is not suitable but also produced a small range of 707-320 and 420s. Excellently when they made the 420 the wing is fitted with the extra HF antenna. This mould seems lost nowadays and the early generation 707s remain one of the most under-resourced areas of 1:400 scale models.
Aeroclassics are the only manufacturer to have tried creating a turbojet version of the long 707 and it is one of their earliest moulds. As such like the Gemini 707 it is definitely showing its age and I'd like to see a replacement mould for it especially as Aeroclassics have such an awesome 707-320B/C mould. The wing shape of the early 707 with its straight tips and curved rear edge is well realised as are the engine pylons and turbojet engines. The fuselage is the mould's weakest area. There is a well hidden seam at the horizontal stabilisers and the nosecone isn't quite long and tapered enough. The HF antenna on the tail is a bit chunky and lastly the nosegear is a simple stalk and fitted a little too far forward on the mould. Early 707 nosegear was quite simple, with a small rear facing door, so the simple nosegear is almost forgiveable.
Aeroclassics used this mould for the shorter 707-100 and 200 for which it is not suitable but also produced a small range of 707-320 and 420s. Excellently when they made the 420 the wing is fitted with the extra HF antenna. This mould seems lost nowadays and the early generation 707s remain one of the most under-resourced areas of 1:400 scale models.
Herpa (2002)
Sometimes I'm grateful that Herpa produce so few 1:400 scale models because some of their moulds are abominations. This 707-320B/C is perhaps their worst mould, mainly because of the ludicrous position of the nosegear. It ruins the entire aircraft and there is no excuse for owning these they are abysmal.
Sometimes I'm grateful that Herpa produce so few 1:400 scale models because some of their moulds are abominations. This 707-320B/C is perhaps their worst mould, mainly because of the ludicrous position of the nosegear. It ruins the entire aircraft and there is no excuse for owning these they are abysmal.
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Aeroclassics 707-320B/320C (2003)
By 2003 Aeroclassics were really learning their craft and this 707 mould remains one of the finest they have ever made, especially in its updated version with rolling gears. The mould is near perfect and is the first to illustrate accurate nosegear, with the later side by side gear doors of the 707-320C and 320B Advanced. The only possible criticsm of the mould is that it is a cradle mount, however the seam line follows the natural line of the wing join and on the real thing there is an obvious connection. The original mould had static gears but was updated in 2007 with excellent rolling gear. The mould last got a runout in 2016 and Aeroclassics has produced several hundred models. Even so there is plenty of room for further 707s.
It would be awesome if Aeroclassics could wed this great late model 707 fuselage with the old wings, ventral fin and old style nosegear (which they have for their 720 mould) to recreate some early 707s. I really hope they can.
By 2003 Aeroclassics were really learning their craft and this 707 mould remains one of the finest they have ever made, especially in its updated version with rolling gears. The mould is near perfect and is the first to illustrate accurate nosegear, with the later side by side gear doors of the 707-320C and 320B Advanced. The only possible criticsm of the mould is that it is a cradle mount, however the seam line follows the natural line of the wing join and on the real thing there is an obvious connection. The original mould had static gears but was updated in 2007 with excellent rolling gear. The mould last got a runout in 2016 and Aeroclassics has produced several hundred models. Even so there is plenty of room for further 707s.
It would be awesome if Aeroclassics could wed this great late model 707 fuselage with the old wings, ventral fin and old style nosegear (which they have for their 720 mould) to recreate some early 707s. I really hope they can.
Dragon Wings (2004)
Dragon were surprisingly late to the 707-320C and judging by the result they shouldn't have bothered. They only ever made a few civilian versions but made a variety of military E3s etc, which I'm not reviewing here. The 707 mould has the common Dragon faults - bad nosegear and poorly fitted vertical stabiliser but also had a weird assymetrical nose which is a lot more upturned underneath and gives the aircraft an odd pointy profile. Their previous 707-120 and 720 noses were fine so I don't understand why this is so poor, but it is. Well worth avoiding.
Dragon were surprisingly late to the 707-320C and judging by the result they shouldn't have bothered. They only ever made a few civilian versions but made a variety of military E3s etc, which I'm not reviewing here. The 707 mould has the common Dragon faults - bad nosegear and poorly fitted vertical stabiliser but also had a weird assymetrical nose which is a lot more upturned underneath and gives the aircraft an odd pointy profile. Their previous 707-120 and 720 noses were fine so I don't understand why this is so poor, but it is. Well worth avoiding.
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Witty Wings (2008-2010)
Witty started making 707-320B/Cs in 2008 with a mould that looks like it is a slot in seamless version of the Aeroclassics mould. In fact it is basically indistinguishable from the Aeroclassics mould except for the slot in wings and slightly less detailing on the underside. Witty mainly made a series of cargo 707s under their Aviation 400 brand as well as a few Pan Am passenger aircraft under the Apollo brand before leaving 1:400. I assume the mould has passed to JC Wings but I doubt we'll ever see it again. That is a shame as it is the best 707 in 1/400 scale.
Witty started making 707-320B/Cs in 2008 with a mould that looks like it is a slot in seamless version of the Aeroclassics mould. In fact it is basically indistinguishable from the Aeroclassics mould except for the slot in wings and slightly less detailing on the underside. Witty mainly made a series of cargo 707s under their Aviation 400 brand as well as a few Pan Am passenger aircraft under the Apollo brand before leaving 1:400. I assume the mould has passed to JC Wings but I doubt we'll ever see it again. That is a shame as it is the best 707 in 1/400 scale.