Jet Hut: A New 400 Brand Making Aviation Easy

​Recently I was asked by NG Models whether I was interested in taking a look at a new 787 mould by a new manufacturer and brand in 400 scale they were assisting. I obviously said yes, but before I get into that NG made it very clear that they had nothing to do with the manufacture of the model and it was NOT going to be like any other 400 scale model being made in 2021. Let me explain.

---

---

​NG Models are assisting the new manufacturer, known as Jet Hut, only with distribution channels for which NG will get a small cut. The reason they are willing to do this is because the models are not competing with their own products and can, in fact, be seen as complimentary.

THE MARKET

​Jet Hut are aiming, not at the same collector market as everyone else, but at entry-level audiences. These would be people without a strong interest in model aircraft or aviation but who would like a model at a cheap price. They are definitely not aiming these at adult model collectors, but I find what they are doing really interesting for a couple of reasons:

1. The models in many ways are not far from a pre-2010 quality 400 scale standard model
2. They could be a great way to get younger kids (under 10s) interested in proper model aircraft.
3. They are far more affordable, at a better quality than anything else available I've seen in diecast, for markets in developing countries with lower incomes such as China, Indonesia, India etc

---

---

THE COMPETITION

​There have always been aircraft for sale that are aimed at this market from ERTL to Daron with a hundred other nameless brands in between. These models are usually more toylike, often with poor form and outsized undercarriage. Certainly, they are miles away from standard 400 scale models and even as a child I found many of them rather embarrassing. 

​Below: Unbranded 'Models' like this 400 scale Brunei 747 are fairly common and very poor.

​Jet Hut appear to be doing something relatively new. They are making models that at a distance could be mistaken for standard 400 scale models, but at a massively decreased cost. NG Models have told me that the price level for these Jet Hut models will be something like 1/3 of the cost of an NG version. So, with NG Models 787-9s retailing in the USA at just under $50 you can expect these Jet Hut models to cost $15-20 new. Recently I have seen several other brands from China doing something similar but mainly with plastic models. Jet Hut are full die-cast and their ambition appears to be larger than others.

Below: This YRD Models 787 is recent and not awful but it is plastic

---

---

THE MODELS

Now obviously with the sale price so low there are going to be corners being cut in terms of quality but even so I still think these models have the potential to be great gateway products to the rest of the scale. Hell, perhaps some might even end up in true collector’s hands if:

• Jet Hut can smooth out some of the quality issues
• a collector wants a large number of models, for say a model airport diorama
• if they have kids or grandkids.

​I am told that Jet Hut models will probably be sold through standard model retailers but I suspect they will also be available in airport and toy shops. Their first mould is a Boeing 787-9 but NG tell me that they will develop lots of moulds in the future at a much faster rate than NG have been able to.

As you can see from the images above the model sent to me came in very basic packaging of the sort that needs to be damaged to open, however I'm told that they are looking at more traditional box and cradle packaging moving forward.

In the next part I'll take a closer look at what Jet Hut is offering in detail and give the product the once over.