Category: Model Moulds

Retro Models: Exclusive Interview

27/5/2018

It's been a long road, with more than a few traffic jams and speed humps, but finally the time is drawing near when the dreams of a good few classic collectors will be answered by the release of the first new Soviet era 1:400 mould in many years and for a deserving aircraft - the Tupolev Tu-104A. In this blog entry I have an exclusive interview with the man behind Retro Models - Kamran Sekha.

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Aviation400 May 18 Releases: Long & Short A350s

19/5/2018

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It has been oddly quiet from Aviation400 in 2018 but my understanding is that the people at Inflight, who are behind the brand's resurgence, have simply bitten off more than they can chew. This has resulted in delays as they try and deal with the backlog of releases. It seems 1:400 scale isn't as high in the priority list as it might be. However belatedly AV400 have some new A350s on offer including a new A350-1000.

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Koryo IL-62s: The Classic Lives On

5/5/2018

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There are precious few IL-62s still in service anywhere in the world and in fact it takes an outcast state to see one nowadays. Its isolation has long been a boon for the more adventurous plane-spotter looking to log some time on a TU-134 or such. Unfortunately with their focus on active aircraft very few IL-62s have been made in 1:400, however recent livery changes in the DPRK have opened the door to double the number of Korean IL-62 releases.

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HYJLwings New A321s Pt2: The Releases

2/5/2018

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In part 1 we looked at the development and background to HYJLwings new A321 mould but what have they made so far? There have in fact been 25 releases under their own brand name up to this point and 4 more for DreamAir of Taiwan. So let's take a look at what is available.

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HYJLwings New A321s Pt1: In the Flesh

30/4/2018

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HYJLwings has grown impressively in the past year from a tiny manufacturer to a reasonable force. This is testament to its owner Jelly Huang and also its connectivity at times with Panda, JC Wings and NG Models. Since last November however they have been rolling out a line of new A321s using a mould that not only is superb but also entirely their own.

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Comparing 737-800s - 1:400 Scale Detailed Mould Review

25/4/2018

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The 737 Next Generation series successfully revitalised Boeing's short haul family after its classic 737-300-500s received rather a mauling from the newer and more advanced A320 family. The extended series 600-900ER have been going toe to toe with Airbus ever since the late 90s and although the 737 MAX family are now taking the strain Next Gen 737s will be a major feature of almost every decent sized airport for a long time yet. They are also a common subject in 1:400 scale so here I take a detailed look at the currently active moulds for the type.

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BigBird Mk3: A Review

22/2/2018

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1:400 scale outside of the big 4 is full of shady and enigmatic manufacturers but few have been so mysterious as the reborn BigBird (should we call them BigBird Mk3?). They reappeared out of nowhere in December 2014 with great promise but have failed to deliver very much in the past 3 years. Indeed in 2017 they didn't manage a single release. So who are they and what should they be getting up to?

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NG Models & a New 757-200 in 1:400

6/1/2018

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There has been some big and potentially exciting news going on over at wings900, although since that site is barely alive I imagine few have noticed. There is a 'new' manufacturer who has gone onto the forum and announced they are making a new 757 in 1:400 scale. Even better they've backed up the talk with photos of a finished prototype. So who are they and what is going on?

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Comac C919 New Mould Prototype Sneak Peek

19/12/2017

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Comac's new challenger to the supremacy of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, the C919, looks on paper as if it'll be a big success with 716 'orders'. The reality is that it is unlikely the majority of these aircraft will ever be built, however it surely can't be less successful than its Comac stablemate the ARJ-21? Either way its Chinese and new and so it is getting a mould in 1:400 scale and here are the first release photos of the new moulding.

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A New A350 in 1:400: Aviation400 Joins the Party

17/12/2017

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Aviation400 appear to be positioning themselves for a fight in the crowded market for Airbus widebodies in 1:400 scale. Not content with their existing A330 and A340 moulds they have just released their first A350-900.

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Phoenix Jet2 737-800s Preview

1/12/2017

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It is unusual for Phoenix to look beyond Asia and a small core of other major operators let alone look at a British leisure airline. So it was quite surprising that their November announcements included a pair of Jet2 737NGs. To say Phoenix 737s have been a disappointment in 2017 is an understatement so what have they made of this pair? The models are out and here quickly I take a look at what they have produced.

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New Trends: Nosecones & Pre-delivery Aircraft

13/11/2017

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With the increasing number of 1:400 scale releases every month by the now 6 major brands in this scale it is small wonder that there have been some new ideas being introduced into the marketplace. Aside from altering the moulds themselves in terms of liveries the two newest trends have been for nosecone special schemes and pre-delivery primer aircraft. Whether you consider this innovative or a cash grab to create more model variants is up to you, but let's take a look at what has been made.

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The Return of Aviation400

11/11/2017

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1:400 Scale is getting really crowded. Of course there are the big boys (Gemini Jets, JC Wings, Phoenix and Aeroclassics) but Panda Models is also staking a claim. In addition there are niche players like Skywings, Dream Air and HYJLwings often, but not always, using moulds from Panda and JC Wings. Now we have another player with the return of Aviation400. It's game on!

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Supersonic Fantasy: A CAAC Concorde

9/11/2017

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Nearly a year ago I reported on the return of Inflight400, but then it all went quiet. Now they have finally returned but not as Inflight400. Instead they are Aviation400. The models they had announced were pretty run of the mill so it is a huge surprise that one of their first releases is a CAAC Concorde fantasy model!

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NEW 1:400 MOULD: Tupolev TU-104A by Retro Models

31/10/2017

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I am late to the party I admit it but last week whilst I was on hols a new and historically important classic mould was announced in 1:400 scale by a new manufacturer. This was the world's first jet airliner in regular sustained commercial service (if you discount the Comet 1 for it's early service withdrawal) - the Tupolev Tu-104 'Camel'.

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<<Previous

Retro Models: Exclusive Interview

Aviation400 May 18 Releases: Long & Short A350s

Koryo IL-62s: The Classic Lives On

HYJLwings New A321s Pt2: The Releases

HYJLwings New A321s Pt1: In the Flesh

Comparing 737-800s - 1:400 Scale Detailed Mould Review

BigBird Mk3: A Review

NG Models & a New 757-200 in 1:400

Comac C919 New Mould Prototype Sneak Peek

A New A350 in 1:400: Aviation400 Joins the Party

Phoenix Jet2 737-800s Preview

New Trends: Nosecones & Pre-delivery Aircraft

The Return of Aviation400

Supersonic Fantasy: A CAAC Concorde

NEW 1:400 MOULD: Tupolev TU-104A by Retro Models

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