Tupolev Tu-204 / Tu-214 / Tu-234 in 1:400 Scale by NG Models
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Modified: April 2021
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It is regularly said when a new mould is announced that nobody is making 'new' aircraft or expanding the scope of 400 scale. While this isn't necessarily true, I think there has been quite a lot of innovation in recent years, it is true that most brands play it safe and release popular modern aircraft types such as the 787 and A350. There certainly has been a real lack of new classic moulds in the past decade and while these new Tupolevs can't necessarily be considered classics they certainly don't fall into the category of ordinary.
When I opened the boxes for the first time to reveal the Tupolevs I was very surprised. Soviet era airliners have made something of a renaissance in recent years, with the Tu-104 and Tu-134 getting new 400 scale moulds and the Tu-154 being rediscovered by Aeroclassics, but even so the jump to a new Tu-204 is big, and even more so to get both variants of the type.
Of course one of the big pluses for the Tu-204 is that it was operated in China so there is a 100% chance of us seeing an Air China Cargo version. NG Models have shown multiple times that they are willing to take a gamble on an airliner with Chinese connections even when it has limited scope for versions. By my count there are about 22 liveries available for the baseline Tu-204-100 / Tu-214 and less for the Tu-234. However, I for one am extremely happy to see this unique and interesting airframe get some exposure in 400 scale.
HISTORY
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The Tupolev TU-204 was robbed off a TU-154 style production run by the collapse of the Soviet Union, which is a shame as it appears to be a decent aircraft broadly in line with Western contemporaries at the dawn of the 90s. In the end although the aircraft has had a 30-year production run only around 90 aircraft have been produced. As of 2019 only 14 aircraft remained in service.
Even so the type has appeared in a surprising number of liveries including several Aeroflot schemes despite never seeing any real service with the airline. |
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The TU-204 obviously bears a resemblance to the Boeing 757, with which it is roughly analogous, however to my eye it is has a quite distinctive profile, which means it is hard to confuse with the US type. It may not have had the range of the 757 but in other respects seems to have been reasonably competitive, although no doubt constrained by its Russian engines. Certainly, when compared with other Soviet designs of a similar vintage like the IL-96 the TU-204 looks like it was a better bet.
I think there can be little doubt that if the Soviet Union had of continued it would have been produced in large numbers and seen service with Aeroflot and other Warsaw Pact state airlines. As it was it was thrust into a decentralized Russian airline environment the type was acquired in small numbers by a variety of new Russian airlines but its sales prospects were hamstrung by the collapse of the Russian economy and subsequent availability of Western aircraft with guaranteed support mechanisms.
VARIANTS
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Dmitry Terekhov from Odintsovo, Russian Federation, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Before we take a detailed look at the samples it is worth talking about variants and naming, which has been a bit confused for the type due to the breakup of the centralised Soviet system. There are several variants that have been mooted or developed but only a few that have sold. The key variants are as follows:
Long Body:
Tu-204-100/200: The basic long body version certified in January 1995 and powered by Soloviev PS90 engines. The 200 series is just a heavier version with longer range. All Tu-204-100s were built by Tupolev and later Aviastar-SP at Ulyanovsk. Only one Tu-204-200 was built. These versions have 2 main doors and 2 smaller emergency doors on each side. Seating varies typically between 172-210.
Long Body:
Tu-204-100/200: The basic long body version certified in January 1995 and powered by Soloviev PS90 engines. The 200 series is just a heavier version with longer range. All Tu-204-100s were built by Tupolev and later Aviastar-SP at Ulyanovsk. Only one Tu-204-200 was built. These versions have 2 main doors and 2 smaller emergency doors on each side. Seating varies typically between 172-210.
A Tu-204-100 - Note the small door ahead of the wing. Konstantin von Wedelstaedt (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2 ), via Wikimedia Commons
Tu-204-120/220: A version of the series 100/200 but with western avionics and Rolls-Royce RB211-535 engines.
Tu-214: A renamed version of the Tu-204-200 built only by the Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPO) in Kazan. Structurally the only difference is the placement of the doors with the Tu-214 having a full size door on the left side just before the wing. So the Tu-214 has 3 main doors and 1 emergency door on each side.
Tu-214: A renamed version of the Tu-204-200 built only by the Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPO) in Kazan. Structurally the only difference is the placement of the doors with the Tu-214 having a full size door on the left side just before the wing. So the Tu-214 has 3 main doors and 1 emergency door on each side.
A Tu-214. Note the full size door ahead of the wing. aeroprints.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Short Body:
Tu-204-300 / Tu-234: This version is about 6 metres shorter than the standard version trading payload for range. Seating varies between 142-156.
A Tu-204-300 / Tu-234. Alexey Matevosyan, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
PRODUCTION
With production numbers running across such a long period and there being many specialised versions of the type, particularly for the Russian Air Force, it isn't that easy to be 100% certain of the production numbers, however the below seems close to accurate:
Tu-204-100: 36 - Includes original prototypes and Tu-204-110s
Tu-204-120: 9 - Mainly operated by Cairo Aviation and Air China Cargo
Tu-214: 35 - Many operate with the Russian Air Force, Russian Federal Security Service or Russian State Transport Company
Tu-204-300 / Tu-234: 10
Tu-204-100: 36 - Includes original prototypes and Tu-204-110s
Tu-204-120: 9 - Mainly operated by Cairo Aviation and Air China Cargo
Tu-214: 35 - Many operate with the Russian Air Force, Russian Federal Security Service or Russian State Transport Company
Tu-204-300 / Tu-234: 10
The New NG Models Tu-204-100 / Tu-214 Mould In Detail
Let's take a closer look at the new mould from NG Models.
Sergey Kustov, CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons
Tupolev Tu-204-100 / Tu-214 NG Models Sample Mould 1:400 Scale
The defining characteristics of the Tu-204, especially against the 757, are the very high landing gear, pointier nose, very long engines, small winglets and large square vertical stabiliser. It appears clear that all of these details are evident in the new sample and look good.
Below are some comparison shots against the NG Models 757-200 mould illustrating the long-legged look of the Russian. It should be noted that the Tu-204 sample sits slightly higher than the Tu-234 sample, possibly because the nosegear isn't fitted as well.
Below are some comparison shots against the NG Models 757-200 mould illustrating the long-legged look of the Russian. It should be noted that the Tu-204 sample sits slightly higher than the Tu-234 sample, possibly because the nosegear isn't fitted as well.
Overall I am very happy with the shape of the Tu-204-100 sample. I cannot see any major errors in form. As you can see below the Tu-204 (right) sits slightly higher than the Tu-234 (left) but I think that is merely a nosegear fit QC issue and not a mould problem. The nose shape and cockpit region look very accurate as does the gearleg itself. The nosegear doors may taper a little too much as the photos appear to show a squarer profile.
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The wingform is good as are the shape of the winglets. The wing has a lot of flap detailing. One of the other characteristic areas of the Tu-204 is the contouring around the horizontal stabilisers and the long exhaust pipe of the APU. The NG mould captures both elements beautifully as you can see by comparing the below photos:
Dmitry Zherdin, CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL 1.2, via Wikimedia Commons
Looking at the photos above it might be the case that the samples horizontal stabilisers are a little too heavily angled backwards although the photo angles don't exactly match each other.
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I don't see any concerns with the engines or pylons, which are held at a good height and attach to the wing cleanly. The aft pylon shape is also good. One point to note is that the engine cores are solid, which is not a major surprise given the small diameter of the fans and the added QC risk with hollow and spinning blades on a model of this size.
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As we've come to expect NG Models have done an excellent job on this sample and I am very happy with it. Check out the gallery below for more close up shots of the Tu-204-100 sample:
The New NG Models Tu-204-300 / Tu-234 Mould In Detail
Of course NG Models have spoilt us by making not just the standard fuselage length variant but also the shorter variant, even though only a handful of frames were built. As you'd expect it shares all the characters of the longer variant and the short fuselage, with long wings really gives it a hot-rod style appearance.
English: Igor DvurekovРусский: Игорь Двуреков, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Tupolev Tu-204-300 / Tu-234 NG Models Sample Mould 1:400 Scale
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One thing that is difficult to show in the photos due to the colour of the samples is the level of detailed sculpting on the fuselage. As you can hopefully see to the right the capture of the underside shape is excellent even down to small intakes just aft of the maingear.
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Just like with the larger Tu-204 the Tu-234 has exceptional quality and will make a fabulous addition to my Russian fleet. Check out the gallery below for more close up shots of the sample:
SUMMARY
No doubt there will be those amongst the collectorate who are disappointed by these two moulds and judging by the comments I've been getting there are a lot of new moulds people would like from NG. I can understand that if you primarily collect modern US jets then a Tu-204 is unlikely to get you going, but personally I think NG's willingness to embrace completely new aircraft types in the scale is wonderful. I admit a Tu-204 wasn't massively high on my list but it is exciting for me and although I might have preferred say an MD-80 these moulds look awesome.