The Shanghai Airplane Model Exhibition and Sales Fair is underway in China running across August 16/17th at the Gubeiwan Hotel. I wish I was there, but sadly it's a bit far to go! Several of the new Chinese brands have tables present - including C Model, Patriot Models, YU ModeL and HX Models. Thanks to friends I have been provided with some photos from the show, which not only show off new releases but also new mould samples too!
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 I keep a close eye on Taobao for China exclusives, of which there are a lot nowadays. Most of these use either Panda Models or JC Wings moulds and sometimes are branded independently. A few months back I covered Undefined Collectibles and Blue Wings but now there is another new brand and this one has a half familiar name - GeminiStar!
 I own 1,526 models made by Aeroclassics, which probably puts me in the top 10 customers for the brand globally. Certainly, I am obviously a massive fan of their models, if not their owner. He harps on about a lack of innovation in the scale, which is nonsensical, but where is the innovation from Aeroclassics? Well they've recently made a couple of A320s with the double-bogey, fitted only to some of the Indian Airlines 320s. That is innovative, but are they any good?
 As someone with a deep interest in the history of 400 scale it is disappointing to see that Waffle has decided to hide the public facing information on the DIMA database website. Further he has been blaming me for those actions. As is usually the case in these situations the real reasons are more complicated and have little to do with me directly, however I'm an easy target. So here is the truth as to my involvement.
 Indonesia is a hotbed of retailer exclusives thanks to Harry's Diecast and increasingly Airshop Diecast. Kenney at Airshop Diecast has built a great business and strong relationships with both Panda Models and JC Wings. Over the past few weeks no less than 6 exclusives have arrived at his store covering a wide range of Indonesian aviation.
 Given the general improvement in 400 scale models in the past 6 or 7 years new releases can sometimes look a lot better than old ones. If you've been collecting a long time then that will likely pose an increasing issue for you as new releases of models you already own are re-released. The dilemma then becomes should you replace the old version with what you hope is an upgrade or should you stick with what you have?
 I am happy to admit I am not a very skilled photographer and, with the volume of model photos I take, I need a quick solution for decentish shots. I'm not looking to win any prizes, just be able to take a lot of passable photos in a short time for use at the site and as a record of my collection. With that in mind is a cheap lightbox a good solution?
 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.
 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.
 Recently I've been working to get my large Xin Long International Airport layout set back up properly for the first time since I left New Zealand. That has included looking to upgrade it in certain areas, which includes buildings and GSE. The recent discovery of AvGeek Models has made that a lot easier. In this post I take a look at their trucks and vans.
 Today is the first day of the China Beijing International Model Expo 2024, being held at the Beijing Exhibition Hall Theater for the next 3 days. Panda Models have a stand at the fair and are using it to announce their latest new 400 scale mould, which is the big MDD trijet the McDonnell Douglas MD-11.
 Inflation has been a serious issue for the World economy in recent times, even when you don't take into account your Prime Minister trying to tank the economy. This has led to price rises everywhere and, although inflation rates in the US have been relatively sedate compared to the UK, Gemini Jets latest releases, announced yesterday, come with a hefty price tag increase attached to them.
 The Chinese market for 400 scale is showing an impressive level of diversity in 2024 with a variety of sources utilising Panda Models and JC Wings as OEMs to make their own models. Mostly their products can be found on Taobao stores in China but that doesn't mean they are not of the highest quality and for a Chinese collector like myself, quite sought after.
For a long time it seemed Phoenix was content to just churn out the same old Asian models on weak moulds ad infinitum, while more active newer brands stole their marketshare. That is no longer the case. In the past year Phoenix have shown commendable agility, and have pivoted towards a wider diversity, of often classic models. They have also updated several moulds and now they are going to be making a type all new to 400 scale - the Ilyushin Il-96-400.
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I'm Richard Stretton, an aviation enthusiast and major collector of 400 scale model aircraft. This blog discusses ongoing events in the world of 400 scale. This site is free. Please donate to keep it going.
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