EXCLUSIVE: Another New Mould from AV400

It was only in December that I exclusively announced Aviation400's next new mould (the 787 series) but they are busy creating another new mould too, which has reached the resin sample stage. Yet again AV400's focus is on modern widebodies but this is one that hasn't got a huge amount of love in 400 scale to date - the Superjumbo A380.

ALL PHOTOS EXCLUSIVE (OUTSIDE CHINESE SOCIAL MEDIA ANYWAY) AND COURTESY OF AVIATION400

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There have been 363 A380 releases or announcements in 400 scale to date, but the only two moulds getting any usage in the past five years have been those from JC Wings / Gemini Jets and Phoenix. Indeed the stats are: Phoenix - 95 models, JC Wings - 29 and Gemini Jets - 76. Gemini is of course famous for producing Emirates versions :) .

Prior to that in the early 2010s Hogan made one or two and Witty Wings had a mould also, but went out of business in 2014 after only 12 A380s. I don't own any of either but I believe the Witty / Apollo mould was well thought of.

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In general the JC / Gemini mould is not especially well thought of, primarily due to the nose shape, while the Phoenix version is seen as one of their few remaining outstanding moulds. Considering that A380 production is drawing to a close and it is entirely possible there will be no secondary market for the type at all it may seem like a curious decision to make a new A380 offering when nearly everything has been made already.

However, I think that the following reasons sum up this mould's business case:

• Widebodies sell better than narrowbodies
• Modern jets sell better than classics
• It is a popular type with Asian and younger collectors
• A new A380 further weakens Phoenix in 1:400 scale
• Some A380 releases are difficult to get hold of 

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The mould will obviously feature all the usual standard AV400 fittings - moving maingear trucks, navigation beacon lights and spinning fanblades. Judging from the photos it is currently at the resin sample stage and AV400 tell me that it will probably be into production before the end of the year.

Obviously these photos aren't the best in the world but they show promising signs of a good A380 mould. When I get better photos of the diecast sample or the sample itself I'll get down to a proper review.

I know that it isn't a DC-9-10, MD-80 or TU-114 but I can only report on what manufacturers are making and clearly modern widebodies is the primary battleground in 400 scale in 2021.