SIGWX
Well-known member
These days, I pretty much only collect models after I've seen the real deal (or at least the airline/type combo). It makes each model feel more meaningful, and turns my collection into a kind of personal travel/spotting journal.
That said… past me did not have such strict criteria.
Looking back, it's always a pleasant surprise when a model I bought years ago ends up connecting to an aircraft I later spot in person. Sometimes it’s the exact registration, sometimes it's the same type and airline, and sometimes a former operator connection. Either way, it adds an extra unexpected layer to my collection.
The recent threads on models of planes we've seen or flown IRL also made me take a long, hard look at my models. So in the spirit of putting the cart… ahem… plane before the horse, here are a few examples from my collection:
In 2022, I picked up a China Airlines A300, tail number B-18503, by AeroClassics. No deeper connection behind it at that time, just got it out of an appreciation for the A300 and the graceful China Airlines livery.
A year later, while catching a flight out of IAH, I passed by a FedEx A300. Shortly after, I looked up the registration out of curiosity and discovered that the aircraft had previously flown for China Airlines as B-18573, just one digit off from my model.
So while not the exact same airframe, there was still a real lineage connection there - same aircraft type and a direct operator history link. Maybe a slight stretch, but definitely my first full-circle moment.
Others require more patience. Back in 2021, I picked up a model of Southwest N688SW, a 737-300, also made by AeroClassics. This was long after the type had retired by WN, and even though I never caught one during their active flying days, the -300 is such an iconic aircraft for WN that it felt like a must-have.
Four years later, after seeing off a friend at Love Field, I stopped by the Frontiers of Flight Museum. Even before stepping inside, I was greeted by Southwest 737-300 N300SW, the "Spirit of Kitty Hawk," sitting out in the parking lot - a sight that felt like a delayed payoff for that earlier purchase.
And a bonus, but my most satisfying example yet! During that same trip, I also caught a Southwest 737-700 departing overhead. The picture wasn't the best, so it lay in my camera roll among more exciting catches from the museum.
It wasn't until later that I realized it was N221WN, which I happened to pick up as an NG release just a few months ago. Being the same bird down to the registration, it was easily my most unexpected, but biggest "plane before the horse" moment so far.
What started as "that’s cool, I’ll get that" collection has gradually morphed into a memory-driven one, but I'm glad past me wasn't so strict. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had these unexpected full-circle moments.
I'd love to hear similar experiences from y'all!
That said… past me did not have such strict criteria.
Looking back, it's always a pleasant surprise when a model I bought years ago ends up connecting to an aircraft I later spot in person. Sometimes it’s the exact registration, sometimes it's the same type and airline, and sometimes a former operator connection. Either way, it adds an extra unexpected layer to my collection.
The recent threads on models of planes we've seen or flown IRL also made me take a long, hard look at my models. So in the spirit of putting the cart… ahem… plane before the horse, here are a few examples from my collection:
In 2022, I picked up a China Airlines A300, tail number B-18503, by AeroClassics. No deeper connection behind it at that time, just got it out of an appreciation for the A300 and the graceful China Airlines livery.
A year later, while catching a flight out of IAH, I passed by a FedEx A300. Shortly after, I looked up the registration out of curiosity and discovered that the aircraft had previously flown for China Airlines as B-18573, just one digit off from my model.
So while not the exact same airframe, there was still a real lineage connection there - same aircraft type and a direct operator history link. Maybe a slight stretch, but definitely my first full-circle moment.
Others require more patience. Back in 2021, I picked up a model of Southwest N688SW, a 737-300, also made by AeroClassics. This was long after the type had retired by WN, and even though I never caught one during their active flying days, the -300 is such an iconic aircraft for WN that it felt like a must-have.
Four years later, after seeing off a friend at Love Field, I stopped by the Frontiers of Flight Museum. Even before stepping inside, I was greeted by Southwest 737-300 N300SW, the "Spirit of Kitty Hawk," sitting out in the parking lot - a sight that felt like a delayed payoff for that earlier purchase.
And a bonus, but my most satisfying example yet! During that same trip, I also caught a Southwest 737-700 departing overhead. The picture wasn't the best, so it lay in my camera roll among more exciting catches from the museum.
It wasn't until later that I realized it was N221WN, which I happened to pick up as an NG release just a few months ago. Being the same bird down to the registration, it was easily my most unexpected, but biggest "plane before the horse" moment so far.
What started as "that’s cool, I’ll get that" collection has gradually morphed into a memory-driven one, but I'm glad past me wasn't so strict. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had these unexpected full-circle moments.
I'd love to hear similar experiences from y'all!
