1/400collector
Well-known member
If JC is already making classic 744 why not make the Iberia 744
NG Model - 1:400 February 2023 Release "Hints"
- Thread starter BA117
- Start date
Mikeymag
Well-known member
Count on Panda Models to make some US carriers, next on their list is the US Airways A320 N106US. I've already have the Jetblue A320 N794JB and the United A319 N876UA.
Bulgogi77
Well-known member
I'm really hoping we get that soon as well. That would be an absolute slam dunk.
I'm a bit worried that we might end up seeing a regular Globe livery A320 or even the Friend Ship retro livery first since NG has been making some strange release decisions. We got the revised '787 style' globe livery for the first United 737-9, but technically the current livery is Evo Blue. We got the Canyon Yellow and Canyon Blue retro Southwest 737-8s instead of the normal Heart livery. I feel like this will probably be the case for the Alaska 737-9 (the Orca or Seattle Kraken liveries being released first). I understand that special liveries are valuable, but I believe that releasing aircraft in their standard and most current liveries should be prioritized first.
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OscarBravo992
Well-known member
Cathay Tristar artwork is out... 'Super Tristar' titles, black radome, UK flag, I'm liking it!
pons399
Well-known member
Amazing, looks like they nailed the longer exhausts as well. Can't wait to see the electroplated chrome!Cathay Tristar artwork is out... 'Super Tristar' titles, black radome, UK flag, I'm liking it!
Barison82
Well-known member
Yes they’ve faithfully detailed the longer exhaust on the #2, as in the photo they showed before. However the #1 and #3 have the shorter exhausts, which is interesting (and again correctly replicated in their artwork referenced from that same photo). I only just noticed that. So we have VR-HHK in 1977-1980 condition - they need to update their description in the database! Which is fine by me, this is more prototypical as she didn’t stay in 1975 condition for that long (a year and a half or thereabouts).
However I wonder how long the #2 remained with the longer exhaust in combination with the modified shorter types on the #1 and #3? They were all certainly modified by the early 1980s.
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Barison82
Well-known member
Just to add to the above. It’s looking more and more likely that the long #2 exhaust exhaust arrangement in combination with modded short #1 & #3 is a one-off situation which was very short-lived, and would not have been the operating arrangement on -HHK for very long. Indeed, the radome in that single reference picture is also not matching as a portion of the black cockpit anti-glare is missing on it. I don’t think this is shown on the artwork. The aircraft appears to have been caught in a temporary condition.
All the artwork needs is a revision to the #2, making it a short exhaust to match the other 2 engines, so it would correctly reflect the prototypical condition for -HHK during the period this livery style was worn. Otherwise, it’s an oddment release.
Original NG ref. pic attached, from which artwork is derived, with 2 others; one in 1977 clearly showing full matching radome (compare to NG ref. pic), can’t confirm exhaust situation here but strongly suspect all are matching, shorter exhausts; then another taken in Perth in 1980, showing same livery style, definitely confirming matching short exhausts on all 3 engines by this time:
All the artwork needs is a revision to the #2, making it a short exhaust to match the other 2 engines, so it would correctly reflect the prototypical condition for -HHK during the period this livery style was worn. Otherwise, it’s an oddment release.
Original NG ref. pic attached, from which artwork is derived, with 2 others; one in 1977 clearly showing full matching radome (compare to NG ref. pic), can’t confirm exhaust situation here but strongly suspect all are matching, shorter exhausts; then another taken in Perth in 1980, showing same livery style, definitely confirming matching short exhausts on all 3 engines by this time:
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Phantom
Well-known member
By 1980, HHK had already been through a paintshop (now bare around #2). The position of the Swire logo at that time is interesting.
Barison82
Well-known member
Oh yes, the light is reflecting off the bare metal area around the #2, and the Swire logo has indeed been moved again, up behind the cockpit. Then it moved up in front of the ‘Cathay Pacific’ titles for a 3rd time after this! This livery is a pain because it doesn’t seem to stay the same for 5 minutes! Always something slightly different going on.
Phantom
Well-known member
I'd blame it on much shorter time frames between longer lasting shop visits - they had the time to touch up the livery.
And air frame lacquers back then weren't as durable as they are today. A single flight through a hail cloud could be enough the peel the colors from the radome. Durability (and ray permeability) was the major reason for why most simply operated their radomes in the well known black rubber coating.
Barison82
Well-known member
A good reminder that paint technology has come a long way since the 1970s - that era is quite a way back in time now that we're marching through the 2020sI'd blame it on much shorter time frames between longer lasting shop visits - they had the time to touch up the livery.
And air frame lacquers back then weren't as durable as they are today. A single flight through a hail cloud could be enough the peel the colors from the radome. Durability (and ray permeability) was the major reason for why most simply operated their radomes in the well known black rubber coating.
Phantom
Well-known member
This is actually something I REALLY like with NG. There often is a notable relation between artwork "nitpicks" and the final product. Probably meaning they still care to get the stuff done right after receiving feedback.
pons399
Well-known member
Never mind, it's up!
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Barison82
Well-known member
No change with the artwork on the box then, looks like they’re sticking to that very short-lived/temporary configuration with modified short exhausts on #1 & #3, and long exhaust on the #2. If I had some spare short exhaust bits I’d yank that off and replace it to make it prototypical. Attractive box art as per usual though!
pons399
Well-known member
Well, that does give NG one extra CX Tristar to make. The more, the merrier! I'm sure we'll see some longer-lived schemes down the line.
Barison82
Well-known member
I’m still looking forward to this one. It fits the criteria of the late 1970s. Definitely, I’d love to see a version with the later style Swire flag ahead of ‘Cathay Pacific’ titles with the Union Jack & ‘Super TriStar’ titles on #2, minus black radome/glare shield, and unpainted #2 exhaust area (as per VR-HHY in attached photo). That’s never been done and would cover the mid-1980s, circa 1983-1986. The CX ‘lettuce’ scheme seemed to change every 5 mins, with one detail or other being different, on the TriStar at least! Perhaps the version minus the Union Jack and ‘Super TriStar’ titles may have been the longest?
I don’t know how likely it’ll be now for one in the ‘1975 in-service c/s’ with ‘Lockheed L-1011’ etc., that’s the version Phantom was really hoping for here. Covering so many subtle variants of the livery might not be viable. Usually we get a main version for ‘70s-‘80s then another for ‘80s-‘90s, but perhaps NG will still plug more gaps.
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