USABIG3
Well-known member
are you able to get one ?
Aeroclassics January 2024 Releases
- Thread starter JJ Skippy
- Start date
SmallTimeAviation
Well-known member
I was. And it looks like they're still available.
squatchys_diecast_hangar
Active member
We do have 1 AA 747 left, inventory was off by one, so it's available to order.
Ciderman
Active member
I've just ordered both JALs from Jetcollector. If German customs intercepts the parcel again, this will be quite an expensive set of models.
However, despite the low windshields and the extra upper deck window on the -100 there are good reasons to add these two jumbo jets to my collection. First of all both planes JA8102 and JA8155 were regular visitors at Dusseldorf in the late 1980s. And once the extra window on the port side upper deck has been removed (after JAL had switched to grey bellies, most of their 747-100s lost the first passenger upper deck window on the port side) this will be the most accurate reproduction of a 747-146 in 1/400 scale. The chrome belly Big Bird model lacks grey WBFs and the grey area on the lower section of the fuselage.
However, despite the low windshields and the extra upper deck window on the -100 there are good reasons to add these two jumbo jets to my collection. First of all both planes JA8102 and JA8155 were regular visitors at Dusseldorf in the late 1980s. And once the extra window on the port side upper deck has been removed (after JAL had switched to grey bellies, most of their 747-100s lost the first passenger upper deck window on the port side) this will be the most accurate reproduction of a 747-146 in 1/400 scale. The chrome belly Big Bird model lacks grey WBFs and the grey area on the lower section of the fuselage.
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Adrian
Active member
I was involved in the research for the Navy C-54 to ensure Aeroclassics used fluorescent orange paint and not 'plain orange'. It looks really great with the correct colour.
squatchys_diecast_hangar
Active member
My Ford Bronco is pretty close to that same color, so Andrew had his swatches and we were holding swatches and the plane up to the Bronco to compare colors and checking before he put it into production. It came out great!
Ciderman
Active member
In the photo the model seems to sport two different shades of orange (a lighter one on the tail). Is that a photography issue?
Jazajia
Well-known member
North Pacific Diecast.
For sure, but it is going to take me a while to get around to that.
In the meantime, if anyone is interested here is a comparison of one of the recent Phoenix AA 763s versus a very old DragonWings.
Atlspotter
Well-known member
Might as well wait for the GJ one
planes_on_a_shelf
Well-known member
Are low-to-very low production volumes the reason?
YesterAirlines
Well-known member
Possibly a factor. I should say ARD has updated their website and has some of the latest AC releases. They only get limited units of many models it seems.
planes_on_a_shelf
Well-known member
Yes, MHH receives 3 each afaik. Strangely not Yu ModeL - seems that has a seperate distributor. Until a few years ago, IIRC, MHH was a regular stockist of AC models.
Threshold, I now do recall, has occasionally in the past listed AC releases much later - I recall this from when I'd bought stuff from them late-22-mid-23. But you did mention that previous releases haven't even been listed yet - curious that Canadian stores aren't receiving models from a 'Canadian' company.
AvMgS characteristically lists them much much later - at rare occasions towards the end of the month too.
I understand JetCollector in North America and AvMgS in Europe are the largest stockists of AC for their respective continents......?
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KG3036_SS
Well-known member
I know, Hong Kong isn't a major market, but I think the long withstanding West Main Toys seems to lose interest on Aeroclassics - I have no memory of them trying to stock new Aeroclassics for quite some time now - a quick visit to the shop suggest that the Aeroclassics they have are all old releases that they struggle to sell
)
With Hong Kong Island's Airbus shutted it's doors during Covid and Mong Kok's West Main Toys no longer stocks new Aeroclassics - Toymax seems to be the sole retailer left here still selling new AC - and even they seems to be less and less interested in getting AC. (They now features mostly Phoenix and NG - with GJ stocks shrunk massively and AC/AV400/JC all squeezed into one side of a small shelf)
Given the low production runs of AC these days - even they, as a retailer, can't sure if they could get everything they ordered from AC. The ever increasing price also makes AC less and less popular among collectors and their classic-oriented mould catalog do them no favours. The no bells and whistles approach of AC (No antennas/See-through fanblades etc.), coupled with the dreadful QC and lack of research just makes matters worse.Even I am questioning myself on the order of the JAL 742 in these release after those horrible 742s (I get the THAI and an EL AL - the nose form are so dreadful that I, for the first time, find the nose of PH 747s acceptable when next to them) in the Dec. release
The Mauritius 762, though high on my wishlist, ultimately did not get my order because I don't feel faithful on AC research
planes_on_a_shelf
Well-known member
Would that have been a special case? As they usually get only 3 of each - as far as the past few months go
planes_on_a_shelf
Well-known member
It's lovely and am considering it though way outside of my criteria - @Ciderman just raised a pertinent query though regarding what appears to be two orange shades on the model - hopefully that's not an error.
quanng
Well-known member
For some models released in the past few months, the number is indeed larger than 3. An example of this is the Air India double bogey A320, which is still in stock and was out of stock within a flash elsewhere. They still have the Alitalia and El Al 747s in stock, despite being long disappeared from US stores.
Mark22
Well-known member
Aviation Megastore still has quite a few of the previous 747s left too, even United. Before they would sell out quickly because of the mould and lack of competition, but now people seem to skip them because of their high price ($76 compared to $56 in the US) and lower quality. Their previous batch with Swissair, SAA, Caledonian etc. were much better, I regret selling the Swissair now lol.
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planes_on_a_shelf
Well-known member
High price of AC is a huge deterrent. At the same price or maybe at 10pc more on average, the same aircraft type is available but with top-of-the-game quality, detailing and realism. On MHH, for example, both AC and NG A320 families retail at the same price, on Jetcollector there's a mere 10pc difference on average. Given, the subject matter may not be available always or never, but it does call into question why one is paying what one is paying, especially when one is making buying decisions and one doesn't have endless funds. Do I spend on the AC Air Canada A320, or on the NG Avianca Aerogal retro? What will bring me greater joy, if I have to make a choice, and what will be a deep pleasure to see, both up close and from afar? What am I buying for - quality or the mere assurance of knowing 'I have it now' - even though, if an alternative appears on the horizon of a better quality, I will end up buying that too? What would I love taking shots of, in a diorama, without having to cover up defects with airport accessories, and what justifies the expense I'm making?
Just to add - on MHH, AC 747s are priced at 225-235 MYR (PH 747s are similarly priced). NG's 747-8s are priced at 245-260. Whenever their 747 classics arrive, this is a good yardstick for their price. And good justification to wait for later.
Just to add - on MHH, AC 747s are priced at 225-235 MYR (PH 747s are similarly priced). NG's 747-8s are priced at 245-260. Whenever their 747 classics arrive, this is a good yardstick for their price. And good justification to wait for later.
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CO777
Active member
Referring to their posting on Facebook they indeed lowered the production numbers.
These collectible gems are more limited than ever, so please order early to avoid disappointment!!
