The 757 Battle Heats Up: JC vs NG

​Is it a coincidence that after years of ignoring the type only a few months after NG Models debuted their killer 757 mould JC Wings updated Gemini’s old, but still decent mould, with new gears? I think not. An even greater sign of JC Wings battle readiness is that unlike the majority of their releases they have rapidly delivered two new 757s only a few months after they were announced.

Close up of the updated JC Wings 757 in 1:400 scale

​This swiftness by JC Wings is a little galling for all those waiting for models like the Aer Lingus MD-11 or Kunming Airlines 737-700 announced well over 6 months ago. Gemini Jets themselves are no doubt also involved in the 757 upgrade since they have also got their hands on the updated mould with the most recent Icelandair and Delta releases. This is in stark contrast to their 777s which continue to use their old, and not very good mould, when JC wings awesome new 777 is theoretically available.

​So, I guess we have even more to thank NG Models for, since they have stimulated both Gemini and JC Wings to improve their own models. To be honest I don’t think that NG have a lot to worry about. Along with their associates HYJLwings and Dream Air they can obviously produce models in much lower numbers allowing the production of models that Gemini and JC would never touch.

​Check out for example the recent Makung International 757 by Dream Air. Only 160 were made and considering how rare and obscure the airline/aircraft combination is even that seems optimistic. Then again this shows that almost no model is too obscure at the production levels NG can sustain. It bodes very well for a good range of NG 757s being made – something we are beginning to see with the announcement of examples like the Air Europe / BA hybrid.

G-BIKF one of NG Models recent announcements for next month

​Even so JC Wings have gone straight head to head with NG. Their recent 757s mirror HYJLwings and Dream Air examples. SF Airlines has now got an impressive 757 coverage from HYJLwings and JC Wings (plus there are older Phoenix examples in the market too). You can see below that the liveries are slightly different (at least the tail colours). JC wings have the striping around the wing incorrect.

SF Airlines Boeing 757-200
​Spot the difference! Top: NG Models, Bottom: JC Wings

Click here for a full review of a JC Wings SF Airlines 757-200

​In Taiwan JC Wings recently produced an Eva Air example to compete against the Dream Air one just released this month. It is probably the only one of the multiple Taiwanese 757s announced that JC Wings can sustain at their production volumes.

Below: Eva Air Boeing 757-200 B-27017
​Spot the difference! Top: NG Models, Bottom: JC Wings

​Regardless of the finish of the liveries on these models it is clear that both moulds are good. However, the NG mould is really very impressive and head to head I don’t see how the older Gemini mould can compete even with the new rolling gears. The nosegear is still inferior to that of the NG mould whereas the age of the mould works against it in terms of fine details, seam lines and the finish of winglets. In this particular case the printing on the Dream Air example is obviously better too.

Click here for a full review of an NG Models 757-200

Some of my NG and HYJLwings 757s

​Not that I wouldn’t buy the JC Wings / Gemini offerings, but if given a choice it is still NG all the way for me. I look forward to seeing this play out but personally I can’t see JC Wings or Gemini Jets having the necessary focus to successfully compete against NG Models. That is a good thing as there is plenty of space in the market for all and at the end of the day the arrival of NG Models has benefitted everyone, proving once again that competition is key to a healthy model eco-system for collectors.