Show Your Latest 1:400 Purchase

I like the usage Phoenix is giving to its A340 family. The LH A360 had some livery issues (logo color and font), but I will take that in exchange of paying MSRP for it and having it available from a variety of retailers. From what I have seen, the livery issues were fixed on the LH A342, which is awaiting me at home. I'm putting my next order together and it is going to include the Aerolíneas Argentinas A342 in the Iberia-style livery. I hope they rerelease an Iberia A346 soon and an A343 with delivery markings.
 
Dragon Wings galore! Waffle Collectables was having a sale of Dragon Wings models, and I managed to grab some of my interest~

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ANA "Star Alliance" livery
(JA8290)
B767-300
Dragon Wings
  • Comes with a stand and gear covers
Continental Airlines
(N66051)
B767-400ER
Dragon Wings
  • Comes with a stand, gear covers and instructions
  • I flew this exact aircraft with this registration back in November 2022
    • Operated now as United in its "Evo Blue" livery
    • Flight UA120 Newark (EWR) --> Barcelona (BCN)
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Virgin Atlantic
(G-VAEL)
A340-300
Dragon Wings
  • Comes with a stand, gear covers and instructions
  • Nose gear was a little loose
Virgin Atlantic
(G-VSHY)
A340-600
Dragon Wings
  • Comes with a stand, gear covers and instructions
  • Box was slightly damaged when it arrived
 
Latest arrivals.
I've been having my eye on that Chile Inter for a while now. And the KLM retro, I want to get the NG model but it's too expensive right now.
 

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..... I hope they rerelease an Iberia A346 soon and an A343 with delivery markings.
Both in that gorgeous Landor scheme are much much desired and needed - I have inferior versions of both - the Hogan A346 and the GJ A343 - so getting a PH version for both is most needed!
 
Just received the recent AC JAL 742 - and I can confirm I lose any remaining confidence on AC for getting their 747 cockpit to print properly.

The model itself 20240119_112623.JPG
Nose - the forehead is as dreadful as the previous batch.20240119_112558.JPG
Rear20240119_112747.JPG
P.s. from the rear it seems like AC and JC ain't using the exact same mould - JC's version come with APU exhaust pipe and a more tapered rear while this one come with a much more flat rear without the pipe.
You can look at this pic for some idea - the EL AL is AC, while the THAI is likely produced by JC:
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Rumours are that the version AC used is a mix of different components from the market, while JC's mould is purchased at Witty's collapse.
 
Just received the recent AC JAL 742 -
looks awful I'm really sorry about that. IMHO. I don't see how this is different from the PH awfulness. Both look very very similar at their fronts. 747-like. But not the 747. This has been my pov for these new AC 747s as soon as I saw pics from the first batch - and that hasn't changed.
 
That mould is surely getting old... some models also seem to have a weird nose shape, a slight nose-up attitude and also an angled top of the vertical stabilizer. That Beluga whale forehead and poor cockpit window placing don't help either.
 
I strongly suggest AC print the cockpit 2mm upward. It wouldn't save the world but would surely be very very helpful. Current version just gives me some phoenix vibes
 
looks awful I'm really sorry about that. IMHO. I don't see how this is different from the PH awfulness. Both look very very similar at their fronts. 747-like. But not the 747. This has been my pov for these new AC 747s as soon as I saw pics from the first batch - and that hasn't changed.
Both are subpar purely by virtue of being cradles, but the AC somehow gets a pass.
 
The first arrivals of 2024, and they're not issue-free at all. Kinda sad but since they are all old releases and received quite an amount of discount, not a big deal.

Starting off with a mould that I reluctant to get models from: Starflyer A320-200WL JA26MC by PH. I must admit that PH's A320 offerings is not really strong, but not really that dreadful like their 747s either. I got confident in purchasing PH's A320s after received the Drukair A20N, which is quite good tbh. This model looks quite acceptable from afar, but not at close.
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So, you might have noticed the bent starboard main gears. I thought it was the only issue and a friend offered me the repair. But not until I looked face2face...
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The PH A320 looks quite "urghhh wt*" from this perspective and another issue arose: the port main gear has a missing strut. Not really that detrimental since the model can stand on its own. But for how long?

Enough with an unlucky start, we head to the staple of 1:400 models - the Boeing 757 by NG. When the mould was released back then, it caused quite a big stir, because it is the best offering by then (and now too, of course). The PW2000 engines are not their largest advantage but not completely wrong either. In the paint of an US-carrier: Asia Pacific Airlines B757-200F N757QM. This and the following 757s are a part of my fictional airline fleet. I wish that NG release the updated Asia Pacific livery. The front landing gear on this one is glued slightly backward, not a big deal from this angle.
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Right next to it is a Russian freight-carrier - Aviastar TU Boeing 757-200F VQ-BGG. A beautiful scheme and well-rounded model! I might do some virtual custom to remove all the titles on this model. This model is the replacement for the unfound Icelandair 752s in my order. Not bad, though!
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This should be the star of today's arrival: American Airlines B757-200 N664AA Pink Ribbon. It amazes me that this model made it to the sale round. The polish is bright and all details are great! A great praise to NG for this model!
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Going from far to near now, then! It is the Jet2 Airbus A330-200 G-VYGL by PM leased from AirTanker and based at MAN. A basic and quite bland scheme, what can go wrong? Yes, to my surprise: The color of the wings and stabilizers are way too dark. The model was new in its box and I even saw the polishing oil - it has never left the box once!
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Finally, another model to my US carrier collection: Omni Air International Boeing 767-200ER N207AX by JCW.The aircraft is seen mostly on military charters, sometimes it also flies commercially, like the case of Air Canada wet-lease 2 or 3 years ago. The only cradle-mould model in this batch - I am used to seamless models by now! This model is a bit unpopular, contrary to my initial expectation!
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The bubbling issue now found its way to other types than the B747s - which were notorious for that. My model got lots of bubbling, not only under belly like this shot below bit also on top of the model! This reminds me a lot of the structural damage due to hard landings. The problem is quite difficult to see and capture with direct light but it is present! But then, yeah, I am disappointed.
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Overall, I am quite sad because they did not come all perfect. Which model is your favorite in this batch?
 
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The Omni 767 is my favorite, I think it's an awesome model despite the old mould.

By the way, I find funny how basically every Phoenix model is somehow "not good but not bad either" or just plain crap :LOL:
I like their 767s but they sure have their flaws aswell.
 
The Omni 767 is my favorite, I think it's an awesome model despite the old mould.

By the way, I find funny how basically every Phoenix model is somehow "not good but not bad either" or just plain crap :LOL:
I like their 767s but they sure have their flaws aswell.
I agree that the Omni 762 is a nice addition. But omg, the QC is a true let-down!

I am actually happy with the PHX I owned actually. Only this A320 is something I feel sad about. But like you said the others are at fine level and not at that level that I am crazy about, like I did with NG L-1011s.
The PHX B767s has too high nose gear, I wish that could be fixed. Other than that their 767 is quite strong on the market, with slot-in wings and so on.
 
Just received the recent AC JAL 742 - and I can confirm I lose any remaining confidence on AC for getting their 747 cockpit to print properly.

The model itself View attachment 26476
Nose - the forehead is as dreadful as the previous batch.View attachment 26477
RearView attachment 26478
P.s. from the rear it seems like AC and JC ain't using the exact same mould - JC's version come with APU exhaust pipe and a more tapered rear while this one come with a much more flat rear without the pipe.
You can look at this pic for some idea - the EL AL is AC, while the THAI is likely produced by JC:
View attachment 26479
Rumours are that the version AC used is a mix of different components from the market, while JC's mould is purchased at Witty's collapse.
I think it is the same mold, AC just gets them from JC. The APU exhaust pipe can easily be sanded out.
 
That mould is surely getting old... some models also seem to have a weird nose shape, a slight nose-up attitude and also an angled top of the vertical stabilizer. That Beluga whale forehead and poor cockpit window placing don't help either.
I think the beluga forehead is actually better than what the original BigBird had. The problem is they are printing the cockpit windows too low, which negates the benefit of the modification. I'm tempted to correct them with decals, but based on my experience with Aeroclassics, you just can't remove markings, everything comes off right down to the bare metal 😖
 
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