May 2017 Announcements from Panda/Skywings

The Beijing Hobby EXPO has just been held over April 21/22 and that means Panda models have given their customary sneak peek of some new moulds and models. Plus their sub-brand Skywings rolls on with announcements of new Airbuses. Check out the news here.

Photos are courtesy of Mr Skylark (my Spy in China not in China :) ) and Papabear747

Here's a shot of the Panda Models stand at the Beijing EXPO.

Amongst the models on display are two new moulds and one other updated with aerials, plus a selection of recent model releases (ARJ-21, 737-MAX8, A320NEO) and some new models, which hopefully will go on sale widely after the EXPO.

Let's take a closer look at what's in the cabinet.

The first new mould is the A320-100 and there are two releases both in test liveries with airline logos. One also had an airshow booth number. Note that Panda have added antennae to the A320 mould. There are then 3 or 4 other new models - a pair of development A320NEOs with different engines and one or two Tibet Airlines A330-200s. The Panda A330 looks great but I have to admit that I already own the Aeroclassics Tibet A330 and have no need to replace it. Anyone with the messed up Phoenix Tibet A330 may however like to partake of this new Panda A330.

The biggest news is however what is at the bottom of the cabinet. Here there is a modified Y-20 Kunpeng mould with aerials added but next to it is a new A340-300 mould. This no doubt reuses the fuselage from the Panda A330-300, which makes its manufacture cheaper, however I can't help but wonder how many models Panda will be able to use this for. The 3 Chinese owners of A340-300s are obvious (Air China, China Southwest and China Eastern), however to my best knowledge there were no special schemes and unless Panda expand their horizons beyond Chinese releases there isn't anything else. Nonetheless the mould looks good.

The new A340-300 from Panda

Skywings New Announcements

In other news Skywings continues to announce new models - both A320s and A330s. I am rather over re-releases of A330s that have been made already so it is good to see Skywings find some new A330s to be made that haven't seen the light in 1/400 before. These new A330s include China Eastern Yunnan (old colours) and Tianjin Airlines.