Boeing 767-200 Moulds in 1/400 Scale
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Updated: January 2017
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The Boeing 767 was one half of Boeing's portfolio of all new aircraft for the 1980s (along with it's sister the 757). A small widebody aimed squarely at the 707/DC-8 replacement market and as a competitor for Airbuses A300/310 family. The original version was the 767-200, with the shorter series 100 not built due to overlap with the 757. Launched in July 1978 the series 200 first flew on September 26, 1981 with deliveries to launch customer United exactly a year later. It was the 767-200ER version that really made the pace though with an increased MTOW and wing centre section fuel tank. This entered service with Ethiopian in May 1984 and the type pioneered (along with the A310-300) ETOPs certification. Only 128 767-200s and 121 767-200ERs were built as the series 200 was rapidly overtaken by its larger brother, the series 300. The majority of aircraft were deliverd by 1994 except for a strange order from Continental as late as 1998. Many aircraft have gone on to second lifes as frighters whilst military orders (especially the new KC-46 Pegasus programme) will keep the line open for the foreseeable future.
Boeing 767-200 in 1:400 Scale
Being a relatively minor variant of the 767 the series 200 hasn't gotten the attention that its rival, the A300, or brother, the 767-300 have in 1/400 scale. In fact there have only been two moulds made, with a total of 69 models. It's just as well that both the moulds are excellent then. With one of the moulds still active it is possible we may still see the odd series 200 in the future.
Before we get to the moulds as usual we'll start with a look at the real thing (in this case with Pratt & Whitney engines):
Dragon Wings Mould (2000-2012)
The Dragon 767 was a very early mould in 1/400 and remains one of Dragon's best efforts. Some of the earliest versions seem to have a slightly pointy nose (see the Ansett below) but generally the shape of the mould is excellent. Dragon were an early adopter of seamless moulds so this 767 still stands up to modern scrutiny as long as you don't mind the usual Dragon weakpoints - undercarriage, plastic wings and tail attachment. Having said that in this mould the undercarriage is actually pretty decent. Jet-X used this mould a few times too (mainly for Piedmont/US Air hybrids) and the airline coverage was passable at least to begin with. Six of the releases have been military (5 of them JASDF AWACs) so you can see there is still plenty of room for extra models but with Dragon's exit from 1/400 (aside from made for Airbus models) and Jet-X's departure from the scale altogether this mould is unlikely to ever be used again. Still most of the models made are really nice and can often be picked up for peanuts.
Below is a selection of Dragon 767s:
Gemini Jets (2005-Present)
Gemini introduced their 767-200 mould just as the type began to drift out of mainline service but that doesn't stop it from being an excellent moulding, albeit one with a seam around the wing/fuselage fairing. The vertical stabiliser is part of the fuselage on this mould so there are no join gaps like with the Dragon however the nosegear leg is simpler than the Dragon and doesn't have the correct shaping.
The nosegear in the pre-rolling wheels versions is also where the biggest issue is. On quite a few models the nosewheels don't touch the ground. You can see it below in the AA, USAir and US Airways examples. This was remedied in 2010 when JC Wings added rolling gears to the mould, however only a handful of models have been produced since then. I own one - the UTAir version from JC Wings. As you can see at present JC has not added aerials to the mould but I wouldn't be totally surprised if they eventually did seeing as they have to the much inferior Gemini 737-200.
I can recommend the Gemini / JC production run almost entirely. The exception is their attempt at a Piedmont aircraft. The cockpit windows are a disaster and this has to be one of the ugliest models Gemini ever made because of that. Avoid and get the Dragon version instead:
Cockpit window massive fail
Coverage
So there are two fine moulds that have been used, one of which is seemingly still available for use and there are still plenty of decent subjects to be made on it. The most pressing need is for a TWA delivery colours 767-200. Gemini made a sample back in 2004 but for some reason onlt made 6 of them! When Gemini made a TWA delivery clrs 767 but on the series 300 a few years ago I was fuming. This is an important historical model and one of the most obvious missing models in the whole of 1/400 scale.
So there are two fine moulds that have been used, one of which is seemingly still available for use and there are still plenty of decent subjects to be made on it. The most pressing need is for a TWA delivery colours 767-200. Gemini made a sample back in 2004 but for some reason onlt made 6 of them! When Gemini made a TWA delivery clrs 767 but on the series 300 a few years ago I was fuming. This is an important historical model and one of the most obvious missing models in the whole of 1/400 scale.
Gemini's sample model TWA delivery colours that was never released :(
That's not the only missing 767-200 however. All of the following are historically important operators or liveries not covered in 1/400:
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