Triple Model Sets in 1:400 Scale by Gemini Jets
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Modified: May 2024
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The 400 scale world was a very different place in the early 2000s. As I have covered in the second part of my history of 400 scale, between 2001 and 2008 the scale was growing strongly with Aeroclassics, Big Bird/Your Craftsman, Dragon Wings, Gemini Jets and Phoenix the big 5 brands, and a host of smller often mysterious companies in addition. For more on this period of 400 scale see:
In this early period Gemini's production runs per model typically ran to 1,500 or even 2,500 units and with the 2002/03 re-engineering of many of their moulds, marketed for a while under the Gemini Jets II name, the company was doing well. An illustration of this is the production of a select line of twin and triple packs, something that I don't think anyone would attempt in 400 scale today.
Aeroclassics also produced a small number of triple pack model releases, and Dragon and Jet-X sometimes made even larger groupings, but the recent acquisition of a couple of the Gemini sets has given me the opportunity to look at the 5 triple packs released in 2004/2006 by Gemini. Of course, one of the good things about Gemini has always been the flip-top attractive boxes and these threesome sets would all feature a long fliptop package. The only issue with that is that they are a pain to post, due to their odd shape, and that Waffle splits the models up in his collection sales and sells them individually (so make sure you buy all three at once)!
Trijet Triples - South Africa
The first pair of triple packs appear to have been made for general retail rather than a specific retailer or external customer. They feature the Boeing 727-200, which remains one of Gemini's best moulds. This was well before the introduction of rolling gear and aerials but if anything the Gemini 727-200 was better without those additions. Even though the mould has been updated without the tailtop seam it has not in my opinion improved the tail shape itself and I love these 'classic' Gemini 727s.
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The first set that was made were a threesome of South African Boeing 727-200s flown by British Airways franchise partner Comair in the British Airways Utopia tail schemes. The set seems to be known as GJBAWSET3 but interestingly all 3 models have their own individual part numbers (GJBAW 356-358) on the inside of the boxes. The exact release date for these is a little unclear but seems to have been in 2003 or 2004.
Trijet Triples - Delta Air Lines
The second set appeared in 2005 and is probably the most sought after of the 5. It features a trio of hush-kitted Delta 727-200s as a tribute to Delta retiring the type. The three aircraft wear different liveries: the dark nose Widget from the 90s, the 1997-2001 Ron Allen and the 2001 Wavy Gravy / Deltaflot colours respectively. These three are magnificent models, even in 2024, and a set I've wanted for sometime but struggled to get hold of (due to their price and the awkward box impacting international shipping). I'm really glad to have acquired them as they are the only examples of a 400 scale Delta 727 in these three schemes (aside from the recent, but inferior, Aeroclassics version in the dark nose Widget).
SWAL Three Set for Crosswings
The third set was the first triple set from Gemini produced as a retailer exclusive, in this case for Crosswings of Japan, a store that I think is still about in 2024 and based in Osaka. The subject matter was Southwest Air Lines (from 1993 known as Japan Transocean Air) of Okinawa. This three-set featured different aircraft types - the NAMC YS-11, Boeing 737-200 and Boeing 767-300. Southwest (SWAL) has featured in 400 scale since with a JTA hybrid 767-200 by Gemini Jets and a classic schemed YS-11 by JC Wings, but there is nothing else in this attractive orange coloured scheme.
The SWAL 767-300 unusually uses the Phoenix 767-300 mould rather than the standard Gemini Jets 767-300 mould. This mould was used 10 times by Gemini during this period.
2006 Final Triple Sets
The last pair of triple sets produced by Gemini were in 2006. The first is a rather obscure set of 3 Star Flyer A320s made for the inaugural flight of the Japanese airline and judging by the box given only to customers on that flight.
The last triple set was a departure from the others in that it was aimed not at an airline but a specific airport. This model, presumably made for St Maarten included three rather random aircraft all of which were at the time visitors to SXM. Interestingly, two of the models (the Air Transat A330 and BWIA 737-800) were made exclusively for this set (which had a 1,000 piece production run), while the third (a Continental 757-200) was a re-release of an earlier model. As described by Russell Epstein:
"The St Martin Airport set was a one-off done on a whim and a favor. While visiting St. Martin and visiting with the St Martin Airport GM a joke was made over dinner to do a set depicting a sample of aircraft that visit. It was never intended to be a new series of potential airport sets.."
"The St Martin Airport set was a one-off done on a whim and a favor. While visiting St. Martin and visiting with the St Martin Airport GM a joke was made over dinner to do a set depicting a sample of aircraft that visit. It was never intended to be a new series of potential airport sets.."
During this heady period of 400 scale, before the Global financial crisis, these triple sets were lovely additions but they haven't been repeated, presumably because their high cost and unwieldy size make them a challenge to sell in the required numbers. As mentioned Gemini also made a selection of twinpacks at around the same time (featuring America West 737s, Dan Air and Britannia) but likewise twinpacks are also no longer produced. Nonetheless, these sets do make wonderful presentation packs and I am very pleased to have been able to recently acquire the Delta and SWAL editions for my collection.
