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.

 

[JurriaanH]

My collection is getting more and more of AV400 models. I have a lot of A350´s and just bought a sixt A380 and starting to collect the B787. I think my most beautiful model is the Air Tanzania B788. Splendid color and a great mold. Also bought my first A339 of AV400 and have 4 of the newest on order.. What I like the most about these models is the magnetic gear and the ruby red lights on top and bottom of the model. Makes it a bit more realistic.

 

[LeoMuse747]

I just never looked any further than at the red jevel beacons - a detail that doesn't exist on the real thing.

the ruby red lights on top and bottom of the model. Makes it a bit mode realistic.

 

[Jazajia]

Thanks…

To be fair, the longer flicker on the LED beacons has made beacon shots super easy to get, so diorama spotters could benefit from the permanently on LED beacons of AV400.

 

[YesterAirlines]

They look red to me?

 

[Phantom]

They look red to me?

View attachment 69741
View attachment 69743

For a better comparison, would you also have a pic of an AV400 787 at nighttime?
And then, pics of both in daytime when lights are off?

 

[YesterAirlines]

For a better comparison, would you also have a pic of an AV400 787 at nighttime?
And then, pics of both in daytime when lights are off?

I'm not sure I understand. I initially thought your issue was that they were the wrong colour on just the 787 but they're red on all aircraft - correct? And they still flash during the day don't they?

So is your problem that they aren't permanently on and so not always red? If so then I don't see the issue because sometimes they are red and sometimes they aren't on so AV400 is just catching them at the moment they flash. Or am I misunderstanding? It doesn't seem anymore inaccurate than them being printed on the model to me.



Here's one during the day. Not quite as red but still looks fine on the AV version to me:

 

[JurriaanH]

Depending on the light fall on the model, but it does give some red light.

 

[Jazajia]

LED beacons don't have the bright red cap of "normal" anti-collision lights.

On the 787, the top and bottom anti-collision lights (AKA rotating beacons) only look red when lit. When not flashing they are an unsuspecting dark spot.



Photo from Reddit:




I'm not home now, but looking at photos online seems like other brands have replicated this more accurately. Even in 1:200 scale, where jewels are the standard, it seems like at least GJ has opted for a discrete black dot on the 787. Can anyone with one handy confirm this?

Of course, we are delving into legit rivet-counter territory, and this opens up a can of worms. For instance, the same can be said about the green and red wing tip position lights (AKA navigation lights), which I think are one of the coolest features of precision scale airplane models dating back to the Herpa Wings 1:500 1st. gen. Many nav lights are also LED nowadays, and the cover is clear. Older airframes can also be retrofitted with LEDs, and you can find multiple light bulb variants on the same aircraft type.

I don't think it is a huge deal, but I do believe omitting the red jewel is safer in this case.