The Return of Aviation400

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!

Back in December 2016 I reported on the likely return of Inflight400, but it now seems that they have rebranded themselves as Aviation400. Both of these were brand names used by the Witty Wings guys (who also released models as Witty and Apollo) and it certainly seems that these models are linked in some way since they come with the familiar, and excellent,  plastic Witty stand.

Aviation400 China Airlines A340 with stand

Having said that I have been told by multiple sources that they are actually Inflight200 using a different name in 400 scale. They certainly seem to be showing an interest in 1:400, what with their collaboration with the new manufacturer Retrojets - see NEW 1:400 MOULD: Tupolev TU-104A by Retrojets

Aviation400 releases so far available

I've already talked about the surprising release of a CAAC Concorde in August this year but that seems to be one-off at the moment. The rest of the releases so far are either A330-200/300s or A340-300s as fitted with the announcements from last year. It is interesting that there are now so many competing moulds for these types what with Panda also releasing moulds for all 3 within the past year, as well as the established players.

Just how many Eva Air A330s can the Asian market soak up? Plenty it seems as of the 11 released models so far no less than 5 are Eva Air A330s - in various schemes and marks.

The first model released seems to have been the China Eastern 'Eastday' A330-200 in July 2017. This model has of course been also made by JC Wings and Aeroclassics too. What is different with the Aviation 400 version is that it seems to come with both a tug and a stand.

The rest of the current release crop are also safe and a little boring - 2 China Airlines A340s and a pair of Cathay Pacific A340s. Interestingly none of the models announced last year have yet been released. These were 3 China Eastern A330s and two Trans Asia A330s. They are still on offer for pre-order, but with the airline's death will the latter pair ever get made?

Aviation400 seem to be in full release mode now and there are 3 other models that have been announced also. These rather mirror Panda Models release in being a pair of Air China A340s and a Cathay Dragon 'Spirit of Hong Kong' A330.

So the announced models are hardly very exciting, however it is a start. What, however, are the moulds like? From the photos I've seen they look pretty decent, certainly better than the JC Wings / Gemini A330 and possibly up there with the top moulds. They do look like probably new moulds but do bare a strong resemblance to existing Panda and to an extent JC Wings moulds also. They certainly look good enough try out in the future, when they have hopefully made some more unusual subject matter.

And where can you get these models from? Well I see ARD are listing some of them for sale:

http://www.aviationretaildirect.com/aviation-400/