Boeing 767-400ER 1:400 Scale New Mould Sample
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Modified: November 2023
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Until recently 400 scale collectors had to make do with a handful of 767-400s on two old moulds. All of a sudden there are 5 moulds, but the quality is widely variable. Seeing as NG is creating moulds for the entire 767 family it would be a surprise to see them leave a member out, so although Gemini and Panda are now offering series 400s NG is the only one who will have a modern set for all 767 variants. The question is, has NG recognised all the subtle differences between the earlier versions and the 400ER. Let's find out.
The Real Thing
The 767-400ER is a series 300 stretched by 6.43m (21.1ft) and also features a wingspan increased by 4.36m (14.3ft) by the addition of raked wingtips. The only other physical change visible on the outside is that the maingear has been modified. It is 46cm (18 inches) taller with wheels, tyres and brakes from the 777. The tyres are 50 inch in diameter, as opposed to the previous 46 inch. The result of the maingear change is that the 400 has a slight but noticeable nosedown attitude.
Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Competing 767-400 Moulds in 400 Scale
Until recently 400 scale collectors had to make do with a handful of 767-400s on two old moulds in the form of a year 2000 Dragon Wings mould and a 2005 Herpa version. Earlier this year Gemini Jets released their first series 400 on a mould that shares quite a lot of commonality with their old 767s (and not necessarily in a good way). I looked at the Dragon and Gemini moulds in detail here at the site and the results were disappointing considering the age of the Dragon mould:
The new 2023 Gemini Jets mould
The ancient but better Dragon Wings 767-400
However, the appearance of the Gemini mould has not been the only 767-400 appearing this year as Panda Models have also announced the type and have a mould almost ready to go. There has been very little shown of it but it did make a fleeting appearance in the background of some recent shots from Panda, albeit unfocused:
So that is now 5 moulds for the 767-400, 3 of which are new - all for an aircraft with about 12-15 valid livery possibilities!
767-400 Mould Sample
This 767-400 sample shares the majority of features with the shorter 767 samples so I won't go through those common aspects in detail here. Suffice to say it is a good general 767.
In comparison with the Gemini mould the wing to fuselage join is much superior. The Gemini version has a Phoenix-esque slot in wing that means the fairing is not the correct shape. NG mould the fairing as part of the fuselage and have the wing slot into that. The nosegear on this NG version is also a better length and the tyre size more accurately smaller than the Gemini too.
The tailcone is another area of superiority as the Gemini tailcone is way too short and stubby.
Something that Gemini got right but NG hasn't is the size and position of the underside NACA intakes. On the Gemini they are symmetrical (albeit slightly too large) whereas on the NG they are correctly smaller but offset to one side as on the 767-200/300. They should be as on the Gemini mould (thanks to Jazajia for correcting me on this).
Something that Gemini got right but NG hasn't is the size and position of the underside NACA intakes. On the Gemini they are symmetrical (albeit slightly too large) whereas on the NG they are correctly smaller but offset to one side as on the 767-200/300. They should be as on the Gemini mould (thanks to Jazajia for correcting me on this).
Focusing on the aspects that make the series 400 different to other 767s the raked wingtips look good. Certainly the wings have better and more accurate dihedral than the Gemini mould, but the flap track fairings could be longer and the fuel dump pipe is absent (interestingly this is present on the Gemini).
Something I am not happy about is the maingear, which appears to be the same as used on the 767-200 and 300. The model doesn't have the slight nose down attitude that the 400 has thanks to its taller maingear. NG need to modify the maingear leg and use the tyres from their 777 mould.
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Reuse of the 767-300 maingear also means that the maingear doors are incorrectly shaped as they are quite different on the 767-400. The Gemini mould doesn't bother with this shape change either but I hadn't noticed until now.
Power on 764s is provided by the General Electric CF6 and the engines used here look like the engine I identified as the PW4000 on the 767-200. I'm not sure but either way I'm not convinced by the hot section exhausts. |
Boeing 767-400ER Sample Mould - 1:400 Scale
Summary
This 767-400 sample is clearly superior to the new Gemini Jets version in a multitude of ways - such as wing dihedral, nosegear length and tyre size, tailcone shape, wing/fairing join, NACA intakes and even the engine exhausts. Even so, it isn't perfect as NG have reused the same maingear as the other samples. Modifications to be made are as follows:
General issues impacting all the 767 samples are:
- Create new longer maingear with 777 tyres
- Modify shape of maingear doors
- Change position of NACA intakes
General issues impacting all the 767 samples are:
- Increase size of flap track fairings
- Modify hot exhaust portions of engines
- Lower windowline and enlarge cockpit windows
