NG Model - 1:400 February 2023 Release "Hints"

[Barison82]

I'd much rather have HHK as it was put in service - in the shown livery but with its original long exhaust cowls. I wonder, does NG have a mould for the long cowl without hot section reversers?

There's so many livery variations on HHK stand alone:
- first flight as N64854
- rollout/pre-delivery (VR-HHK on #2 intake, L-1011 titles, line# behind the cockpit)
- ln removed, reg moved to the v.tail and "Super Tristar" added
- engine update (short exhaust) as posted by pons399
- updated livery (bare instead of white around #2 exhaust, shorter titles to make room for Swire logo - though on K it was seen just aft of the cockpit)
- updated Swire logo
...

I'd go for long exhausts with "Lockheed L-1011" and "Super TriStar" titles.

Btw, HHV in fresh CX colors with grey belly (hiding away the Court livery) would also look sweet.

Very good points about the long vs. short exhaust cowls - again these are distinct differences in the RB211 configuration (in the case of -HHK, a -22B-02) which of course would set the era of operation as with the detail differences in the colour scheme application. If they are present in original pre-modified form, then this would be in the very earliest years of operation; 1975-1977? I'd guess the exhaust modifications were carried out circa 1977-1978 but this is only an educated guess on my part?

Regarding the long cowls minus hot section reversers - NG have indeed covered this as well The Court Line & TWA Twin Globe releases have the long cowls with hot section reversers; ANA Mohican and the Delta -1 (N707DA ''We the people'') releases have the long cowls without them. I've literally just checked all mine now to confirm - even the box art correctly shows the difference where present! So, a correct pre-engine update -HHK could be produced by NG.

You've also, as per usual, quite throroughly fine-toothcombed all the other detail differences which exist - it's very easy to forget them all, there are just so many! I remember we've talked about this before as well in other threads. Hopefully NG are taking notes, and can accommodate a few versions to keep us all happy!

 

[JJ Skippy]

Nothing will be happening in their factory or in any factory in China until February 6th. They might release them soon for preorder though to see what demand looks like and adjust production accordingly.

I could see them doing that. It would definitely make sense considering they’re announcing 36 models this month including 1:200.

 

[danwashere]

Nothing will be happening in their factory or in any factory in China until February 6th. They might release them soon for preorder though to see what demand looks like and adjust production accordingly.

Actually most of them have either been started or almost done

From the looks if it before most of them are already almost done

 

[Airplane Wizard]

Actually most of them have either been started or almost done

From the looks if it before most of them are already almost done

I stand corrected and that’s excellent news then!

 

[danwashere]

I stand corrected and that’s excellent news then!

Since 30 plus models a month is kinda overkill at least they have some started

 

[MSRT&A Productions]

Full rundown:

77031 Southwest Airlines 737-700/w N7816B (Pixar "Coco")
77033 China Southern Airlines 737-700/w B-5247 (#Ordinary Hero#)
77035 China Southern Airlines 737-700/w B-5283 (with "4000th NEXT GENERATION 737" stickers; with skyteam logo)
88002 Southwest Airlines 737 MAX 8 N872CB (Canyon Blue Retro cs)
88008 Bonza Airline 737 MAX 8 VH-UIK
88010 Bonza Airline 737 MAX 8 VH-UJT (white winglets)
89001 United Airlines 737 MAX 9 N37508 (CO-UA merged livery)
07026 Corsair 747SP F-GTOM
53196 Cebu Pacific Air 757-200 RP-C2714 (City of Manila)
72026 All Nippon Airways 777-200ER JA745A (Kimetsu no Yaiba cs)
73025 Garuda Indonesia 777-300ER PK-GIE (with "wonderful indoneisa" stickers)
59008 Qatar Airways 787-8 Dreamliner A7-BCM
59009 Qatar Airways 787-8 Dreamliner A7-BCA (with "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022" title)
55105 Qatar Airways 787-9 Dreamliner A7-BHE (with "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022" title)
59012 Thai Airways International 787-8 Dreamliner HS-TQE (named "Kosum Phisai")
55107 EVA Airways 787-9 Dreamliner B-17885
48003 Tarom - Romanian Air Transport A318-100 YR-ASA (with Romania2019.eu stickers)
49008 Air India A319-100 VT-SCG
49009 Air India A319-100 VT-SCS (Mahatma Gandhi cs)
15026 Avianca A320-200 N821AV (LACSA Heritage cs)
13057 Air New Zealand A321neo ZK-NNA (all black)
13059 Air Busan A321neo HL8504 (Busan Expo 2030)
13060 Air Busan A321neo HL8394
13061 JetBlue Airways A321neo N2142J (Ribbons tail; named "A Mint Summer Night's Dream")
13062 JetBlue Airways A321neo N4022J (Streamers tail; named "Joel Petersen")
13071 United Kingdom - Royal Air Force (Titan Airways) A321neo G-GBNI
13080 Aegean Airlines A321neo SX-NAG (n/c)
13069 Air Transat A321neo C-GOIO
13070 Air Transat A321-200 C-GEZJ (kids club)
61056 Air Greenland A330-200 OY-GRN
31033 Cathay Pacific Airways L-1011-100 VR-HHK (1975 dlivery colors)
54008 Russia - Air Force Tu-154B-2 RA-85555 (with 223rd Flight unit logo)

 

[pons399]

I'd love to see VR-HHK with the black radome, Union Jack and Super TriStar logo. The black radome in particular is a staple of most classics.
View attachment 11515

This was bang on lol, NG even used this exact pic.

 

[Phantom]

This was bang on lol, NG even used this exact pic.

When they used this pic, then it's not "as delivered"

 

[Phantom]

Happy to see the Tu-154B finally. I so hope they made all the corrections necessary. The sample was lightyears away from meeting any NG standards.

 

[pons399]

When they used this pic, then it's not "as delivered"

Yep, wouldn't the delivery scheme not have the black radome? Wonder which version they're going for.

 

[Airplane Wizard]

My wallet is dead. I count 9 from 1/400 and Messi’s plane in 1/200. Will be dividing up my orders amongst different retailers (Midwest, Westcoast, Jetcollector, Waffle) to minimize shipping damages and optimize QC

-89001 United Airlines 737 MAX 9 N37508 (CO-UA merged livery)
-07026 Corsair 747SP F-GTOM
-73025 Garuda Indonesia 777-300ER PK-GIE (with "wonderful indoneisa" stickers)
-59008 Qatar Airways 787-8 Dreamliner A7-BCM
-59012 Thai Airways International 787-8 Dreamliner HS-TQE (named "Kosum Phisai")
- 49008 Air India A319-100 VT-SCG
-61056 Air Greenland A330-200 OY-GRN
-31033 Cathay Pacific Airways L-1011-100 VR-HHK (1975 dlivery colors)
-54008 Russia - Air Force Tu-154B-2 RA-85555 (with 223rd Flight unit logo)

 

[DiamondCollector]

About the Portuguese A330 (the one with CS reg), let's keep in mind that TAP isn't the only Portuguese operator of the A330-200/300.
There's also HiFly and some defunct carriers like Air Luxor, for example

Weirdly enough it wasnt released

 

[DiamondCollector]

The N21XXX A321neo could also be Hawaiian Airlines, which is on my wish list so that would be great!

That one wasn’t released either weirdly enough aswell

 

[Phantom]

Yep, wouldn't the delivery scheme not have the black radome?

No black radome, yes. It carries a replacement radome in the pic you posted.

 

[pons399]

No black radome, yes. It carries a replacement radome in the pic you posted.

Wonder what they'll go for, NG didn't post the actual artwork they were using.

 

[JJ Skippy]

Great set this month, but NG really needs to slow down with how much they’re pushing out of the factory. Seems like we have the same type of stuff released again as have been the last several months. Qatars, rereleases of the Malev 736 and TAROM A318 (were they popular enough to deserve a rerelease?), and way too many special liveries. Diversity is starting to lack in their releases.

Special liveries are great, don’t get me wrong on that, but it feels like all their releases are slowly starting to be dominated by these specials. It seems like they have developed a mindset where any regular livery planes won’t sell, whereas on the contrary specials will.

 

[planes_on_a_shelf]

Weirdly enough it wasnt released

I'm thinking if it's TAP then licensing could have held up the release as they're very litigious

 

[Barison82]

No black radome, yes. It carries a replacement radome in the pic you posted.

Wonder what they'll go for, NG didn't post the actual artwork they were using.

Thrilled that we have VR-HHK coming. Checked on NG's site but no artwork pics yet for this one, others in the list are up however. Very curious to see what we get; and which engine configuration - it should also have the long exhausts if it's truly 1975 delivery spec., plus ''Lockheed L1011'' in black on the rear of the fuselage, on both sides (illustrated in b&w pics attached). The earliest year I can find in dated photos with the black radome installed is 1977, which also coincides with modified engine exhausts and the ''Lockheed L1011'' removed.

 

[Barison82]

Yep, wouldn't the delivery scheme not have the black radome? Wonder which version they're going for.

That picture you attached also shows her in ex-Palmdale condition, roll-out/pre-delivery: VR-HHK on the #2, ''Lockheed L1011'' on rear fuselage and line # behind cockpit, as referenced by Phantom earlier. Another photo here showing her on the line (MSN #1118):

 

[Purpleplane]

Even though it doesn't fit my criteria, this is going to be a great one.