Model Review - House Colours 747-121 HX Models

YesterAirlines

YesterAirlines

Well-known member
I just received my copy of the HX Models 747-100 and I have to say I am very impressed. While I'd seen a variety of photos of the mould in hand I am surprised by the attention to detail across the model and the overall package. It certainly is what I would consider the first high quality modern 400 scale 747-100 I have seen that I can recommend. Here's my review:

www.yesterdaysairlines.com

House Colours | Boeing 747-121 | N7470 | HX Models

2024 has seen a lot of chatter around 747 classics, but not a lot of delivery. NG Models have tried and failed to produce a quality 747 all year, and their updated moulds are still in the production phase. Meanwhile a new brand, HX Models, has emerged wit
www.yesterdaysairlines.com

I have seen some of the criticism of the wing thickness and engine nacelles (@Phantom ) and I do not agree that either are issues, plus the mould has a lot of new features and details that make it much much more than a reverse engineered Dragon mould (@keji833 ).

BO_B741_HX_38.JPG
 
Absolutely stunning! I can't wait to put my hands on the blank version of their B747-100. Will be a very useful donor for custom models. The quality of this HX 747 is impressive indeed!
 
Your pictures make the model look a lot better, though I still don't like the engines/pylons for said reasons - this can be done better if one's after accuracy.
But I see that collectors more and more prefer gimmicks over accuracy and these engines tend in this direction.
I mean, a 1/400 JT9D with a hollow core, wow! But at the price of having 16 fan blades and over-inflated looking intake lips. The real thing counts 46 (!!) blades and is housed in a nacelle that would model intake lips as sharp as a knife in 1/400 scale.

Nevertheless, you made me to order one of these rather expensive models (at doorstep) - and I sure do agree that this is the best 747Classic we have so far in 400 scale.
 
Phantom said:
...
But I see that collectors more and more prefer gimmicks over accuracy and these engines tend in this direction.
I mean, a 1/400 JT9D with a hollow core, wow! But at the price of having 16 fan blades and over-inflated looking intake lips...
Click to expand...

This statement reminds me of Aviation 400s 77W. It is common to hear collectors refer to it as the best 77W mold in 400 scale. But objectively, it is rather poor (thankfully there is also a large crowd who can see, and corroborate, this). Clearly the gimmicks are at work there.

I have not much else to say about the HX 741 mold at this point. Hopefully we see them retailing in the west, and hopefully they make some cool liveries. Time will tell.
 
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Jazajia said:
This statement reminds me of Aviation 400s 77W.
Click to expand...
I had exactly AV400 in mind when it comes to gimmicks.
I see collectors buying their 787/350 because of those red jevel beacons even though there are no such red thingies on the real thing.
I totally accept different preferences but personally I'd love if manufacturers would use available tec to max out on accuracy instead of gimmicks.
 
Had mine in the mail yesterday(y)
So finally able to have a closer look at the issues my eyes had with this model's pics.
First off, yes, this might be the best 747-100 mould so far, not because it is great, but more because the others are worse.

So let me look at some of those issues:

Gear lengths (ground clearances):
A brief look at the measurements (model / Boeing docs) - in mm:
- Fuselage clearance: 7.25 / 4.7-5.2
- engine 2/3: 4.9-5.32 / 2.85-3.43
- engine 1/4: 7.4-7.52 / 4.55-5.33
- wingtip: 18.1-18.6 / 13.4-15.6
Seriousely, this model is sitting on stilts!
Fix this biggest issue and the model looks a lot better.

Enough has been said about engines/pylons - particularly the #2 and 3. There's not much you could do given the wing profile, but I'd set the pylon LE a bit farther front so that it would appear better proportioned.

My eyes don't really fancy the v.tail. Without further checking I'd blame it on a too big radius of where the leading edge joins the fuselage. No big deal though.

But then there's that issue with the aft fuselage taper when I saw the first production shots (here) - it sure is not as much of a mess than I initially thought but it still looks extremely weird on the model.
I wonder why HX modeled this strange "bump" to the sides of the rear fuselage? The real thing has a rather clean and smooth taper.
HX747ee by Alexander Kern, auf FlickrHX747aa by Alexander Kern, auf Flickr

I've been desperately waiting for a top notch 747Classic mould for years but this one certainly isn't it. While this one's "ok", my wait goes on. But I'd suggest the gear heights to be reviewed by HX to turn this into a "good" mould.


HX747e by Alexander Kern, auf Flickr
HX747c by Alexander Kern, auf Flickr
HX747b by Alexander Kern, auf Flickr
HX747d by Alexander Kern, auf Flickr
 
Now that JC wings has released pictures of their version on Instagram, how does that one compare to the HX?

I am doubting if I should buy HX, JC or wait for NG (even tough it is unclear how the NG version will be, and at least with the other 2 you kind of know what you are getting).

JC or NG have the benefit of being available at my local retailer in the future, HX not and I try to avoid Ebay as much as possible for various reasons.

Choices, choices..
 
HX looks wonderful to me, but indeed the gear height is bad. Too tall...

JC version uses the old BigBird cradle mould. This might be a deal-breaker for some, but overall the model looks decent by the pic I've seen on their Instagram. They also managed to put the antenna at the hump, just like HX version.

NG version still is a big mystery. It is expected to be the best in the market, but NG is really struggling with their 747 shapes lately.

I went for the blank version of the HX version, because I'll use it as a custom donor. :)
 
Well this isn't 'the' 747 Classic we've been waiting for then.
Appreciate it @Phantom - with this review

I've anyways been holding on for a great 747 classic mould, and I was hoping HX with their price point and detail would be a great option - but yeah hopefully they'll improve this - @Jim from HX is on the forum, as is @panda_CAT, requesting them to see how these issues can be addressed to improve this
 
planes_on_a_shelf said:
Well this isn't 'the' 747 Classic we've been waiting for then.
Appreciate it @Phantom - with this review

I've anyways been holding on for a great 747 classic mould, and I was hoping HX with their price point and detail would be a great option - but yeah hopefully they'll improve this - @Jim from HX is on the forum, as is @panda_CAT, requesting them to see how these issues can be addressed to improve this
Click to expand...

You talk like this was NG Lite B747-100 again. This HX 747 looks pretty much great overall, the gears being really the only drawback. All the other issues are very minor (well, at least in my POV)

Anyway, let's hope HX will fix the gear height for the next releases.
 
LeoMuse747 said:
You talk like this was NG Lite B747-100 again. This HX 747 looks pretty much great overall, the gears being really the only drawback. All the other issues are very minor (well, at least in my POV)

Anyway, let's hope HX will fix the gear height for the next releases.
Click to expand...
Haha. If they fix the landing gear height, and the fuselage bump before the h stabs leading edge, and it remains at their current price point, it'll be a sure winner, against NG Lite of course, but perhaps even NG Regular, considering the almost min. 30% price difference.
 
Yeah, in reality this is a great mould it is just @Phantom , as much as I love him, is an incredible nitpicker - in the best way from an analytical perspective but it does mean his rankings of good are not close to most peoples. The only thing picked out that is at all consequential at 400 scale is the gear height and even this is far better than a too short gear (as on the JC 747-400).

The 'new' JC release is much inferior to this, as JC themselves recognise, hence the extra (and rubbish) GSE it comes with.
 
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