【40】Apollo "Tropical”: High Quality at a Low Price?

[Pacific]

Apollo 1:400 Singapore Airlines 747-400 Tropical Livery (Registration: 9V-SPK)

On Apollo Models' official homepage, there is a statement: "We produce high-quality aircraft models at affordable prices." In this issue, let's take a look at how well Apollo has delivered on this promise.

 

[Pacific]

Photos

 

[LeoMuse747]

Apollo 1:400 Singapore Airlines 747-400 Tropical Livery (Registration: 9V-SPK)

On Apollo Models' official homepage, there is a statement: "We produce high-quality aircraft models at affordable prices." In this issue, let's take a look at how well Apollo has delivered on this promise.

When was this 747 released? It's an old release, am I right? With so many Singapore Tropical 747s popping up lately, i'm kinda confused now

 

[Pacific]

When was this 747 released? It's an old release, am I right? With so many Singapore Tropical 747s popping up lately, i'm kinda confused now

It’s released this summer. Not only Tropical, lots of the same jets are released by several brands recently.

 

[planes_on_a_shelf]

When was this 747 released? It's an old release, am I right? With so many Singapore Tropical 747s popping up lately, i'm kinda confused now

Recent - currently on pre-order at MHH (at least)
These are super cheap - just for comparison, these Apollo Singapore Tropicals cost just 120MYR vs HX Singapore Tropicals at 190MYR & JC at 210 MYR

 

[YesterAirlines]

When was this 747 released? It's an old release, am I right? With so many Singapore Tropical 747s popping up lately, i'm kinda confused now

The new Apollo are busy trying to match HX Models releases one for one. I wonder who could possibly be behind a budget brand copy/pasting HX's exact output with inferior products on old moulds. Hmm I wonder? Could it be the same company that acquired the entire Witty / Apollo mould catalogue in 2014

 

[keji833]

Recent - currently on pre-order at MHH (at least)
These are super cheap - just for comparison, these Apollo Singapore Tropicals cost just 120MYR vs HX Singapore Tropicals at 190MYR & JC at 210 MYR

Yeah these sell for like $20 a piece, I thought they are still slightly better than $55 a piece Aeroclassics?

 

[YesterAirlines]

Yeah these sell for like $20 a piece, I thought they are still slightly better than $55 a piece Aeroclassics?

Thing is they don't outside of China. The prices everywhere else are the same as any other 400 scale brand

 

[planes_on_a_shelf]

Thing is they don't outside of China. The prices everywhere else are the same as any other 400 scale brand

The prices I mentioned are outside of China

 

[YesterAirlines]

The prices I mentioned are outside of China

MyHobbyHouse is like an extension of the Chinese stores - it isn't representative of the rest of world. These are still £40-50 in the UK.

Another example of pricing not making sense outside of China for what is clearly supposed to be a budget brand

 

[Pacific]

Recent - currently on pre-order at MHH (at least)
These are super cheap - just for comparison, these Apollo Singapore Tropicals cost just 120MYR vs HX Singapore Tropicals at 190MYR & JC at 210 MYR

For Air China’s 747s, Apollo and HX share the same price—actually Apollo is a bit more expensive
Apollo has no advantage at this point.

 

[Pacific]

Yeah these sell for like $20 a piece, I thought they are still slightly better than $55 a piece Aeroclassics?

The paint job is very poor, the printing is very sloppy, the landing gear is overly thick, the wheels are stuck and of very poor quality...
Not way better than AC currently

 

[planes_on_a_shelf]

MyHobbyHouse is like an extension of the Chinese stores - it isn't representative of the rest of world. These are still £40-50 in the UK.

Another example of pricing not making sense outside of China for what is clearly supposed to be a budget brand

Hahaha that's not True - Patriot is way more expensive at MHH than Bedfordshire for instance.
That makes Bedfordshire an extension of Chinese stores

Besides, MHH is unable to source many of the other Chinese brands that lack distribution networks - yes they've managed to create a partnership of sorts with HX - but that's about it.

 

[keji833]

Thing is they don't outside of China. The prices everywhere else are the same as any other 400 scale brand

now i do wonder is that a case of 1) retailer greed or 2) more expensive shipping than other brands or 3) when they sell for more to foreign retailers. I'm not fully in this business but I'd guess prob 1) followed by 2)? Their production cost must be very cheap, and I doubt they'd treat foreign retailers with any difference. Since they are a smaller brand their shipping logistics might not be as worked out as other majors brands so it might be slightly higher, but in no where could I imagine how it can be as expensive as say, NG. I think there is massive greed involved here. Plz enlighten me if anyone knows

 

[Pacific]

now i do wonder is that a case of 1) retailer greed or 2) more expensive shipping than other brands or 3) when they sell for more to foreign retailers. I'm not fully in this business but I'd guess prob 1) followed by 2)? Their production cost must be very cheap, and I doubt they'd treat foreign retailers with any difference. Since they are a smaller brand their shipping logistics might not be as worked out as other majors brands so it might be slightly higher, but in no where could I imagine how it can be as expensive as say, NG. I think there is massive greed involved here. Plz enlighten me if anyone knows

They’re actually very close to JC.

 

[keji833]

They’re actually very close to JC.

1) This just means JC is also a case of greed IMO 2) They are not close at all to JC, on Taobao their 767s sell for what, 140 CNY? Closer to jethut than JC

Also just curious where did you buy this 747, in China or outside? You need to put things into perspective, quality can only be looked at with price. If you bought in China they with that price I think it's certainly high quality, if you bought like Richard said for 50 pounds then yeah, I'd call that a scam like AC.

 

[Pacific]

1) This just means JC is also a case of greed IMO 2) They are not close at all to JC, on Taobao their 767s sell for what, 140 CNY? Closer to jethut than JC

My bad, I mean the relationship rather than the price or product itself.
I bought nearly all my models in China, however for Apollo it is not that worthy even in China.

 

[Phantom]

The paint job is very poor, the printing is very sloppy, the landing gear is overly thick, the wheels are stuck and of very poor quality...
Not way better than AC currently

Yeah, but unlike all others they at least paid attention to how wings and stabs should be painted - the grey on the wings doesn't really look accurate, but they get a big thumbs up for at least trying to get something done that all others have deliberately ignored for years.

 

[Pacific]

Yeah, but unlike all others they at least paid attention to how wings and stabs should be painted - the grey on the wings doesn't really look accurate, but they get a big thumbs up for at least trying to get something done that all others have deliberately ignored for years.

Every brand is trying to do that, Apollo is just telling us everyday that they are dealing with this. However they did not do pretty well in this aspect. This makes me highly doubt whether they can do well in other things as well.

 

[YesterAirlines]

now i do wonder is that a case of 1) retailer greed or 2) more expensive shipping than other brands or 3) when they sell for more to foreign retailers. I'm not fully in this business but I'd guess prob 1) followed by 2)? Their production cost must be very cheap, and I doubt they'd treat foreign retailers with any difference. Since they are a smaller brand their shipping logistics might not be as worked out as other majors brands so it might be slightly higher, but in no where could I imagine how it can be as expensive as say, NG. I think there is massive greed involved here. Plz enlighten me if anyone knows

I doubt it is retailer greed. I simply think they are offered at a higher price outside China. This isn't unusual. The pricing dynamics I see in Chinese sold models is not replicated outside China. Outside China everything is broadly a similar price and the pricing differential between the US, UK and Europe don't even match. It wouldn't surprise me in this case if the models are being priced near cost in China just to hold marketshare in that market and damage competing brands products. There is no real reason why they should be so cheap. The moulds costs, printing costs and fact they have aerials makes them no cheaper than a standard 400 product from the major brands.

I 100% understand what this new Apollo is trying to do and why the people behind the brand are doing it. They are using moulds they have to compete directly using a budget brand (so as not to harm their mainline brand) to combat newer brands with newer products. Look at the releases:

A380s and 747-400s to directly compete against HX
767s to directly compete against brands using the Panda mould

The Apollo product isn't markedly inferior to a variety of other releases in 400 scale, but it is clearly inferior to HX and Panda's moulds for those types.