JC Wings MD-80 UHB Demo

[Jazajia]

Some of you might have seen this coming on the yakeevictor400 Instagram earlier...

Richard said a few months ago that this early 2025 release (late 2024 announcement??) could already be a serious contender for model of the year 2025. I thought he was exaggerating, but now that I have it on hand all I can say is wow!

Of course, this model mainly appeals to those of us who favor subjects from the 1980s/1990s, which in this particular day and age I'd dare to say are a good chunk of the 400 scale collecting community (seems like collectors in the 30-50 year old range tend to have a controlling vote on what's being released)

Sure, the NG mold is better, but JC's is all right, and this particular livery helps to hide some of its faults. Also, I doubt we will ever see another inducted fan engine mold in 400 scale for a while. So, while I don't think it could quite make it to model of the year, I definitely think this is one that's going to be remembered for a while (maybe on the 2025 top ten?).

 

[Jazajia]

My pulse reveals my age

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[LeoMuse747]

This is the same MD-80 mould also used by GJ, right? This one seems to have the nose gear in a correct position, while GJ have it too far aft

 

[Jazajia]

This is the same MD-80 mould also used by GJ, right? This one seems to have the nose gear in a correct position, while GJ have it too far aft

It is the same GJ mold. I have not noticed the landing gear issue, but it seems this example has a more proportionate JT8D-200 engine (unless it is an optical illusion due to the oversized inducted fan engine). I don't recall MD-80s having such a pronounced nose-down attitude.

The nose on this mold is also odd, but this livery hides it (though on second look, it seems it has been modified).

 

[mark4323]

I ordered one and it has arrived broken.

 

[JJ Skippy]

I ordered one and it has arrived broken. View attachment 40371

Yikes. Usually that’s a shipping issue as couriers can be rough on these packages.

 

[Jazajia]

A model with a detached part is quite normal. These models don't travel well, they are too delicate. @mark4323 what you have there seems like a fairly cleanly detached/snapped engine. If there is no other damage you can easily return the model to displayable condition with a tiny drop of glue applied with a toothpick. If you would rather not do that, you can talk to the retailer that sold it to you and send it back for a refund.

I am, however, not cutting JC any slack, their QC is a true headache...

 

[mark4323]

I've had dreadful experiences with JC wings models this year. Received the last 747-8 twice with broken engines the second one the whole wing felll off as I took it out of the cradle. CAWA were very good about replacing.
I ordered the 727 UDF from my hobby house. The cancelled the order as the model was broken. I ordered this one instead. I also ordered a dash8 from them and it was broken when I got it. I've contacted them about replacement.
It's getting to the point of not ordering JC wings any more.

 

[Jazajia]

I've had dreadful experiences with JC wings models this year. Received the last 747-8 twice with broken engines the second one the whole wing felll off as I took it out of the cradle. CAWA were very good about replacing.
I ordered the 727 UDF from my hobby house. The cancelled the order as the model was broken. I ordered this one instead. I also ordered a dash8 from them and it was broken when I got it. I've contacted them about replacement.
It's getting to the point of not ordering JC wings any more.

I got lucky with my stock of the MDs and 727s UDF, but I also ordered some of the Qatar F1 772 flaps down and normal, I think only one can be sold as non-defective. Tons of issues with "that" factory, many models with detached wings, engines, and missing antennas. I even found a magnet missing on a removable landing gear. They also seem to ram the models in their boxes as I have found at least two cradles destroyed (one took a landing gear with it) inside perfectly good boxes. The last two shipments have been very good qualitywise, I hope it can hold.

 

[mark4323]

A model with a detached part is quite normal. These models don't travel well, they are too delicate. @mark4323 what you have there seems like a fairly cleanly detached/snapped engine. If there is no other damage you can easily return the model to displayable condition with a tiny drop of glue applied with a toothpick. If you would rather not do that, you can talk to the retailer that sold it to you and send it back for a refund.

I am, however, not cutting JC any slack, their QC is a true headache...

I have reattached wings/etc in the past. However, on this one there seems to be no slot or indent to attach it to. Otherwise I would give it a try.