Aviation400 - An Overview

[YesterAirlines]

Time for a closer look at everyone's favourite brand (not least @Jazajia ) . I think they get more stick than they deserve on here and I see lots of collectors who swear by them. My view is they produce a lot of nice models, not always the best, but certainly towards the top end of the scale and offering something different (or unnecessary gimmicks depending on your opinion). I certainly applaud the innovation and personally I've found they've always been nice to work with.

I've been meaning to keep a closer eye on the AV400 release sets at the YT channel but before I do that I thought I'd give them the 'Who's Who' treatment. This video has expanded into something far larger than I originally intended but gives an overview of who they are and what they offer. It also showcases quite a few of their models from my collection:

 

[LeoMuse747]

I just wish they could also come back to classic models. I have a few AV400 707s and they're lovely, but I guess it's not even the same brand nowadays, it's just the same name and nothing else...

I don't collect modern stuff but I praise AV400 for some very nice livery choices though. TAAG 777, Senegal A339, these are all very nice releases

 

[YesterAirlines]

I just wish they could also come back to classic models. I have a few AV400 707s and they're lovely, but I guess it's not even the same brand nowadays, it's just the same name and nothing else...

Yep absolutely no connection with the original brand other than the name and logo really. All the moulds the old version had were Witty owned and are now with JC

 

[Jazajia]

I have heard that the supplier of the current AV400 is the same as the old one. I would not know.

 

[YesterAirlines]

I have heard that the supplier of the current AV400 is the same as the old one. I would not know.

Well there's a connection in that they are connected with Inflight and Bob Cass was involved with Witty back in the day, which is presumably how they can use the name and logo, but from a product perspective there's no link as far as I know

 

[BubblesAviation]

I don’t have any AV400’s in my collection now - any recommendations for me in terms of mould or solid models?

 

[PeachStateAviation]

I don’t have any AV400’s in my collection now - any recommendations for me in terms of mould or solid models?

The 77W, A350 family, and the 787 family are their best.

 

[Macsergey]

I like AV400 magnetic gears as a feature, but I dont like their quality. Everything apart from that is great in their models

 

[Phantom]

I don’t have any AV400’s in my collection now - any recommendations for me in terms of mould or solid models?

I like their A380 (waiting for them to do D-AIMH)
I avoid their other moulds though.

 

[YesterAirlines]

I like their A380 (waiting for them to do D-AIMH)
I avoid their other moulds though.

The Triple 7s and Dreamliners are very good too. The A350s are only let down by the old style winglets

 

[Phantom]

The Triple 7s and Dreamliners are very good too. The A350s are only let down by the old style winglets

Their 777s don't work for my eyes. There are too many things off on these.
The 787 might be ok, I just never looked any further than at the red jevel beacons - a detail that doesn't exist on the real thing.

 

[YesterAirlines]

Their 777s don't work for my eyes. There are too many things off on these.
The 787 might be ok, I just never looked any further than at the red jevel beacons - a detail that doesn't exist on the real thing.

If you've bought any Phoenix widebody or a Gemini / JC A350 or A330 then anything AV400 has is going to be better.

The AV400 777 and 787 are as good as, or very marginally inferior to, the best moulds of their types available. The AV400 A380 only has competition from the HX version.