1/400 Model and Airport Blog - YESTERDAY'S AIRLINES

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Xīn Lóng: Trees, Hedges & Blast Fences

7/5/2024

I've been steadily upgrading my Xīn Lóng layout and one of the areas that needed improvement was the intersection between the apron and the background. I think I've accomplished this now with the addition of new foliage and blast fences to soften the space and provide some layering.

Xīn Lóng Airport is Reborn

29/4/2024

I've built model airports since I was a kid, initially for my 600 scale Schabaks and in later years for my 400 scale fleet. The largest has undoubtedly been the modern Chinese layout I named Xīn lóng (New Dragon) International. This diorama dates from mid-2015 but saw construction well into 2018. Since I moved back to the UK, from NZ, it has been moved around a few times but never really properly setup. Finally, I have gotten back to it and in 2024 it is being revitalised with an extension and overall upgrade.

TOBY Fire Station - 1:400 Scale

16/9/2022

I recently picked up a nice little addition for any model airport in the form of a Fire Station made by a new company called TOBY. I have very little information as to who they are but this set will be available at a variety of retailers in limited numbers soon. Read on for further details...

Creating a Runway Diorama

2/7/2021

I am by no means a master model maker and I don't get as much time as I'd like to muck around in the hangar anyway, however I've built my share of model airports ever since I was a kid. Rarely have they included runways, but recently I decided I'd create a separate runway diorama to liven up some of my model photography.

Out West Sometime In 1969

10/4/2020

Western USA c.1969

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.

Under Control: An ATC Tower for Xin Long

14/3/2020

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.

Bora Bora @ Xin Long: Air Tahiti's New Route

10/2/2020

Air Tahiti Nui Boeing 787-9 F-OVAA @ Xin Long Intnl Airport

Air Tahiti Nui introduced its first Dreamliners back in October 2018 and has now replaced all of its previous Airbus A340s with a quartet of 787-9s. With the delivery of NG Models recent release I am pleased to say that Air Tahiti Nui has added the Chinese airport of Xin Long to its route network and the inaugural flight was by F-OVAA. Here are some photos from her first arrival.

Airline Manufacture - Maintenance Rig

29/6/2018

Airline Manufacture are a Chinese outfit that are producing an interesting range of airport equipment in 1:200 and 1:400 scales using mainly 3D printing techniques. They also do a line in airport mats and backgrounds which look really very good. They have been about for a few years now but it is only recently that I have purchased any of their stuff and here I take a look at their maintenance rig.

New Dowse National: Backgrounds, Buildings & Gates

20/6/2018

It has been over three months since I last reported progress on my latest model diorama and although I haven't given it vast amounts of attention progress has definitely been made. In fact it is pretty much half complete now so let's take a look at the changes.

United Airlines at Wright Field Pt1: 1960s

9/6/2018

Aeroclassics GSE sets are typically rather rare and expensive but living in Australasia they are probably slightly less sought after, though no doubt even rarer than in the USA. Recently I had the good luck to come across someone selling some GSE on a facebook sales sites from Australia and the opportunity to add a United Airlines GSE set was too good to pass up. It also gave me the chance to try it out on my Wright field diorama.

1:400 Airport Accessories - Lighting Poles

18/4/2018

My Xīn lóng International airport model has been close to completion now for sometime but one thing I have been struggling with has been adding some relief to the surroundings. Partly this could be achieved with some fake lighting, however selecting the lights has proven difficult. There are however several options for lighting in this scale all of which are pretty good.

New Dowse National: The Sixties Reborn

28/2/2018

Since I moved house in 2016, despite having a lot more space for the hangar, my first 1:400 scale model airport had to be taken to pieces. This has left a gap in my dioramas that I'm keen to refill. Changes to my layouts last year have given me the opportunity re-establish a small layout in the same chronological era and so Dowse National is reborn. This post represents the first part in recreating a snapshot of the 60s.

Xīn lóng International - Pier I

16/11/2017

One of the last parts of Xin Long left to complete is the thin pier that runs along the rear margin of the field from Terminal 2, which I've nicknamed pier I (since the other piers are J and L based on their shape.

Xīn lóng International - Final touches

9/9/2017

It's been 10 months now since groundbreaking began on Terminal 2 of Xin Long International Airport and construction is drawing to a close. Actually construction has been near complete now since May but I haven't found the time to update the blog with new entries. Sorry 'bout that. Last time I finished the major detailing on the terminal piers and in this part we finish off the gate detailing, taxiway markings and add airbridges.

Düsseldorf Delight: Martin Reiffer's Airport

26/7/2017

Along with the UK and Japan, Germany has probably the biggest tradition of plane spotting, which has also been complemented by a masterful tradition of toy and model making. Most German airports have for decades had excellent viewing terraces and a spotter friendly atmosphere, so it is only fitting that German enthusiasts should model these wonderful airfields. In this post we take a look at Martin Reiffer's exceptional little diorama of Düsseldorf Airport which once again proves that you don't need a lot of space to make an exceptional diorama. Over to Martin...