McDonnell Douglas MD-80 1:400 Scale New Mould Samples
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Modified: October 2023
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NG has been criticised for producing the same new moulds as the competition have done and of showing a lack of innovation. That has always been nonsense but there is no way that criticism can hold when they make new moulds for the MD-80 family. The Mad Dog has been woefully neglected in 400 scale. An aircraft series that sold 1,191 aircraft, and was operated globally for over three decades has had a paltry 128 releases, compared to nearly 2,000 A320 family releases. Without a doubt a good number of the most obvious missing airline / aircraft combos in the scale feature an MD-80 and the small number of releases made by the only active competitor are never going to fill the gap, even before the quality of that mould is taken into account. I am thrilled to see these new samples. Now NG Models just has to use them properly! However, before they start let's take a closer look and see if any improvements are required.
The Real Thing
Externally the standard body length MD-80 series, covering the MD-81, MD-82, MD-83 and MD-88 all look the same. Differences between these types relate to structural changes, strengthened undercarriage and fuel capacity. The shorter MD-87 will be covered in another review.
Below: HB-INA - a 1981 built MD-82 with the original pointy tailcone
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Michel Gilliand (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2 ), via Wikimedia Commons
When the later MD-87 and MD-88 variants were developed they included a new style low-drag tailcone, typically known as the 'screwdriver'. This was introduced towards the end of 1987 and applied to all MD-87s and MD-88s, plus earlier variants built after that time. It was also retrofitted to a lot of older MD-80s. American Airlines and SAS are two examples of airlines that upgraded pointy tailed MD-80s to use the screwdriver tail. So it isn't possible to pick out a long-body MD-80 variant based purely on this tail type.
Below: This AA MD-80 displays the screwdriver or beaver tailcone
Below: This AA MD-80 displays the screwdriver or beaver tailcone
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Cory W. Watts from Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
For the insane detail required to know everything about the DC-9 series refer to David Hingtgen's amazing article:
Competing MD-80 Moulds in 400 Scale
Prior to these samples there were four distinct long body MD-80 moulds in 400 scale, of which the oldest, made by Dragon Wings, is probably the most well known and heavily utilised (both by Dragon and Jet-X). It remains one of Dragon's best moulds and a perfectly decent MD-80. I'd expect almost everyone's collection to have multiple of these, at least if you collect US airlines.
There are also moulds from Tucano Line / Phoenix (dating from 2002) and the later Jet-X (after it broke with Dragon, from 2009). Both of these were used sparingly (the Phoenix mould was also used by Gemini for 10 basically identical Allegiant releases) and neither are particularly impressive. I discuss them both at the MD-80 mould review, which can be found here:
The fourth mould for the MD-80 dates from 2013/14 and was made by JC Wings for itself and partner Gemini Jets. They have both tail variants, as you can see below. The mould really hasn't had a lot of usage being used 24 times in the past decade, although usage has picked up recently with 5 models in 2023 after none in 2022. It is a broadly average mould, mostly good at the rear and much less good at the front.
Pointy tailcone
Screwdriver tailcone
Given the age of the majority of MD-80 releases and the relative lack of quality of pretty much all of them there is a huge scope for new releases even before you take into account the literally hundreds of schemes that have never been made in the scale.
MD-80 Mould Samples
NG Models have provided both tailcone versions of the long body MD-80. As you can see the nicely capture the slightly nosedown attitude of the type:
Patrick Mutzenberg (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2 ), via Wikimedia Commons
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Michel Gilliand (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2 ), via Wikimedia Commons
Nose & Nosegear
The general look of the nosecone and cockpit looks excellent to me and I have no issues with them. The samples do lack the large side strakes on the lower side under the cockpit. These are present on both the Dragon and Gemini moulds albeit they are rather chunky on both. Given their thinness I'm not overly bothered by their absence as they'd be difficult to mould in at a suitable thinness. It might be something for NG to consider though.
The nosegear is well placed but has some detail issues albeit minor. I think the nosegear door is a little tall as it completely obscures the gear leg, although this might be a QC issue since it isn't as bad on the other mould sample - see below photo:
Perhaps unsurprisingly there is no attempt to model in the debris deflector that is attached to the nosegear wheelhub and extends almost as far down as the bottom of the tyre.
Wingroot & Maingear
The MD-80 has a rounded bulbous fairing just ahead and above the wing join, which can be most easily seen on this MD-80 below as it is painted and not natural metal. The NG sample also has this and you can see it correctly breaks the line of the figure 8 fuselage crease.
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Cory W. Watts from Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Wings
I can't see any issues with the flap structure of the wing and it correctly has the unusual angle changes towards the wingtips on the rear margin. This was created on the MD-80 due to the change in wingspan of the type, which has wingroot and wingtip extensions. Looking on the Dragon and Gemini MD-80s this kink is not really visible.
On the underside of the wing the samples have flap track fairings that aren't large enough. Also the strake / rib that projects out under the wing leading edge isn't pointy enough.
Tailcone, Engines & Stabilisers
Pointed tailcone:
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I don't really have any issues with the tail, tailcone or engines although you'll note that the strakes on the side of the engines are not present. They were present on the Dragon mould but are printed on the JC Wings / Gemini. The engines seem better sized than on the Gemini mould, where they are a little large. A minor criticism is that the middle area in-between the thrust reverser cans should push onto the nacelle a little and doesn't here.
The angles and curve of the leading edge of the vertical stabiliser is also better than on the Gemini. Note that the MD-80 has an enlarged upper forward section compared to a DC-9.
The angles and curve of the leading edge of the vertical stabiliser is also better than on the Gemini. Note that the MD-80 has an enlarged upper forward section compared to a DC-9.
Screwdriver tail:
The screwdriver tailcone is ok but the vertical portion of it should be a single straight line. On the sample it is somewhat uneven, almost like it has been chipped.
NG Models McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Pointy Tailcone
NG Models McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Screwdriver Tailcone
Summary
I am over the moon that these samples have been made as the MD-80 is one of my favourite aircraft and richly deserving of proper representation in 400 scale. I think it is fair to say that the samples are easily the best Super 80s to date, even prior to any modifications being made. There is some small room for improvement I can see as follows:
There is also the potential to add extra detailing, which I don't think is 100% necessary but would be nice if it can be done well at such a small scale:
- Increase size of flap track fairings underwing
- Make the strake / rib that projects out under the wing leading edge pointier
- Straighten rear edge of screwdriver tailcone
- Look at join of thrust reverser middle to engine nacelle
There is also the potential to add extra detailing, which I don't think is 100% necessary but would be nice if it can be done well at such a small scale:
- Add nosegear debris deflector
- Add nose side strakes
- Add side strakes to engines
The options for these MD-80s moulds are almost endless and my only concern is that they might get treated as poorly as the Tu-154 and 747SP have been. NG really need to use these moulds more like they do their 737s and A320s as there is a massive backlog of possibilities I'd love to see.
