1/400 Model and Airport Blog

New Collection Additions: April/May 2020

18/6/2020

I am very happy to say that New Zealand is out the other side of its lockdown, and now we are level 1 almost everything is back to normal. Things that aren't are international travel and postage so it has taken some time for models to reach me. Nonetheless 14 models did make it through in the past two months, many of which have already received detailed reviews.

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Big Prop Wishlist 2: Diesel Fours

17/6/2020

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There is a dearth of coverage in 1:400 scale of the 1940s and 1950s, partly because the models are small in 1:400, older collectors have gravitated to 1:200 and also because the modern collector only seems to care about A350s and 787s. That's a real shame but doesn't mean there is no hope for more DC-4s. Of course, the one hope remaining is Aeroclassics.

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Big Prop Wishlist 1: Short Nosed Super Connies

11/5/2020

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Prop releases in 1:400 are rare nowadays but there are still some large holes in the fleet despite Aeroclassics' best efforts. The original Super Connie for example has barely been touched and like the early jet 707s is a major missing space in a seminal period of aviation history.

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New Collection Additions: March 2020

27/4/2020

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March was the month level 4 lockdown began for New Zealand and there was further dislocation to the manufacturing of 1:400 scale, with most companies delaying new releases. Even so there are always older models to acquire and with my job holding on for the timebeing I was able to take advantage of some nice Aeroclassics sales.

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The Return of HYJLwings

25/4/2020

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The last time that HYJLwings released an A321 was way back in December 2018 and since then NG Models have begun to use the HYJLwings mould for own-branded A321s. It seems however that after a break HYJLwings, or the name at least, is back - with a new trio of Chinese A321s scheduled for May.

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Holiday: A Euro 737-300 Wishlist

16/4/2020

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The Panda Models 737-300 mould (once used by Aeroclassics also) is massively under-used. Panda has shown some interest in it, most recently with some easyjet and Jet2 examples but frankly they could be a lot more active. There are many series 300s left to be made and most exciting of these for me are the European charter airlines that took people to the sun and snow during the 80s, 90s and, with LCCs, even into the 2000s.

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Aviation400 April 2020 Releases

12/4/2020

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Aviation400 has gained something of a reputation for long lead times with its releases, somewhat in the vain of JC Wings. It was last June that they announced a trio of military A330s seemingly suggesting that they would also be adding the extra elements to the models to make them realistic as tankers. It has been 10 months but the trio have just hit the shops alongside some more standard A350s and a 777. Have AV400 done what they said they would?

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Out West Sometime In 1969

10/4/2020

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I’ve had a bit more time recently to muck about with my airport dioramas, one of which is the small unfinished ‘Dowse National II’ diorama inside the open MDF cube cabinet. This is supposed to represent a mid-60s to late-70s style US regional airport but only half has ever been properly finished, using components from my previous larger Dowse National diorama.

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JC Wings: March 2020 Releases

2/4/2020

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In a sign that things are getting back to normal, in China at least, I noticed that a fresh batch of JC Wings have appeared in the Chinese stores and will no doubt be winging their way internationally soon. These are of course a selection of models pre-announced months, if not more than a year, ago but the 14 include some interesting aircraft. Let's take a look...

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New Collection Additions: February 2020

29/3/2020

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The model world has been hit like all others by this bloody virus outbreak and that meant that releases from several manufacturers dried up in February as China began to tackle the problem. So there were no NG Models to be seen and less models than usual arriving at the Hangar. In fact, there were almost none since the disruption to air traffic appeared to disrupt parcels to Aotearoa too. Fortunately the mail got through eventually.

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Halfway There: A 757-200 Wishlist

21/3/2020

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NG Models have made some fantastic models but it is their 757 that still holds my greatest affection. Partly because it is such a beautiful aircraft and partly because, as a Gatwick spotter in the 90s, the 757 was the favourite aircraft of the diverse range of charter airlines that dominated much of the airport's traffic. I can’t thank NG enough for what they’ve made so far but with lots of competing moulds in the NG catalogue nowadays perhaps it’s time to focus back on what is left for their first mould.

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Under Control: An ATC Tower for Xin Long

15/3/2020

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My Xin Long airport diorama has been rather neglected of recent but I hope to work with it more frequently and part of allowing better photographs is providing a more realistic background. Corners are always an issue for achieving this result but the decision to add a control tower has solved both the problem of some under-utilised space and a corner join rather well.

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Big Changes @ Aeroclassics

8/3/2020

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I haven't always seen eye to eye with Aeroclassics, and its mercurial owner Andrew, but they remain far and away the largest element of my collection - 1134 models to date, which is over 55%. I love their models and nobody, not even NG, produces the range of unusual retro-models that they do. I was concerned last week when I heard of changes in the way their models are distributed, but I am hoping that the changes just announced will secure the future of this bastion of 1:400. Welcome Aeroclassics Direct!

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New 1:400 Mould: Tupolev TU-134

7/3/2020

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Back in November I reported that Panda Models had said they would be producing a new Russian type in 1:400 scale. Since then Panda has gone largely silent and I was getting concerned for their survival, especially given the Coronavirus outbreak. However they are back and have announced that they will be making a new TU-134 mould in 1:400 scale. Now that's pretty exciting news!

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New Collection Additions: January 2020

27/2/2020

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January seems like a long time ago now, with the Coronavirus outbreak delaying the shipment of February’s models and causing suspensions to at least some manufacturer’s production into March. It was however a fairly standard month of purchases for my collection with a focus on my favourite pair of 1:400 manufacturers.

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<<Previous

New Collection Additions: April/May 2020

Big Prop Wishlist 2: Diesel Fours

Big Prop Wishlist 1: Short Nosed Super Connies

New Collection Additions: March 2020

The Return of HYJLwings

Holiday: A Euro 737-300 Wishlist

Aviation400 April 2020 Releases

Out West Sometime In 1969

JC Wings: March 2020 Releases

New Collection Additions: February 2020

Halfway There: A 757-200 Wishlist

Under Control: An ATC Tower for Xin Long

Big Changes @ Aeroclassics

New 1:400 Mould: Tupolev TU-134

New Collection Additions: January 2020

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