Fantasy Wings Hong Kong Airport Outer Bay set (V131-V134)
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Updated: July 2022
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Fantasy Wings have expanded their range and as well as producing high quality ground service equipment and airport accessories they have now moved on to the airport structures themselves. The first part is a gate layout set modelled exactly on Hong Kong International Airport's remote gates V131-V134. This set combines with their other new set featuring the Hong Kong Air Traffic Control Tower itself, which I'll be taking a look at soon.
This set features two apron panels, two airport buses and two mobile airstairs. It measures 42cm long by 30cm wide.
This set features two apron panels, two airport buses and two mobile airstairs. It measures 42cm long by 30cm wide.
Packaging
The set comes excellently packaged in a cardboard inner box with outer sleeve. The set is fully protected inside the cardboard box in plastic packaging.
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Construction
The gate sections come built in high quality plastic with the markings printed directly onto them with a Matt finish. Magnets around the edges of the sections allow them to easily connect together.
Design
The set exactly matches the real gates at HKIA. All four gates (V131-134) are for type C aircraft (A320, 737. E-Jets, MD-80s) but gate V132 cannot fit the longer types due to the way V133 cuts across its rear. All four gates allow taxi and taxi out without the use of tugs.
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The attention to detail of the printing is very impressive. Note also the triangular space in the above photo on the left, which is nowadays the site of a secondary control tower (see photo to right). This is not provided with the set.
My only criticism of the set is that there is a rather obvious join line between the two panels, although it is hard to see how this could be avoided.
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Contemporary Setup
In real life these gates are nowadays often used by HKExpress and Hong Kong Airlines A320s and so they are a natural fit for the layout:
Retro HKIA
A slightly more historic feel can easily be achieved by changing the aircraft to types seen at HKIA around the 2000s. The gate markings have positions for MD-80, MD-90s and E-Jets.
Fantasy Ramp
There is of course nothing to stop you pretending this is an airport elsewhere in the world. Interestingly the gates can also accommodate larger Boeing 757s quite comfortably as long as the middle gate has a smaller type in it. Here we could be somewhere in Spain or Greece perhaps?
Summary
This is a delightful set, which I am really impressed by. The quality of the materials and printing has surprised me and it works really well as a small diorama on its own or with the new complimentary control tower. Also going in its favour is the price, which at around USD$46 I think is quite reasonable. Hopefully FantasyWings will continue to flesh out its HKIA layout with further pieces - I note that the panels have magnets all the way around them to facilitate this. The only real drawback I can see with it is the seam lines, but these are a small price to pay for quality, which far outstrips the old vinyl Gemini airport mats and chunky unrealistic terminal.