TrijetBlast
New member
Just received a copy of the JC version Tropical, along with the HX version from couple months ago. It’s worthy to do a comparison as both versions are available with flaps down configuration.
Dropping in my fancy and beautiful Chek Lap Kwok background into the mix
First let’s take a look at the packaging:
Mint-mint box factor/blood boiling factor/packaging/paper quality factor:
HX:
HX has nailed it perfectly. Their packaging is the best in the industry currently and each box comes with a clear plastic bag for an extra layer of protection. Box material is very sturdy and not using soft tissue paper like most other brands. Each release comes with a nice stand and collectable card. I have received numerous of their releases and each box comes in perfect shape no creases here and there or torn everywhere. HX really takes care of customers when it comes to packaging.
Mint-mint box factor: ★★★★★
Blood boiling factor: None, generally each release arrives perfectly
Paper quality factor: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★★
JC:
JC is known for its super bad packaging, from 1/400 to 1/200, with many torn or badly creased boxes. Luckily on this release the box arrived flawlessly. Paper material is also bad, it’s too soft and easily gets creased, dented or torn. Out of 10 boxes 9 are usually bad. Not to mention unlike HX it doesn’t give extra stuffs like display stand or collectable card.
Mint-mint box factor: ★☆☆☆☆
Blood boiling factor: Very high, with almost every single release arrives with problems
Paper quality factor: ★☆☆☆☆
Packaging: ★★☆☆☆
Next, some side by side comparison:
Looking at the head to head shots, from nose to nose and tail to tail, it appears that the JC version stands much lower than the HX. HX features two antennas on the top front portion of the fuselage, whereas JC is missing one. On the 1:1 version, there are actually two on the front JC version has red and amber rotating beacon markings imprinted on top and HX doesn’t. HX wins another point with the extra detail like for example the undercarriage front antenna has red/white pattern whereas the JC is just a plain white antenna. However, it appears that the orange line painted on the tip end of the vertical stabilizer is too thick on the HX version.
Paint quality: not sure why so many JC releases have some sort of issue with the paint quality, if it’s not blemishes it’s bubbles or paint chips here and there. Glossiness is also a hit or miss on JC. JC is like a cheap car with bad quality paint job whenever you drive it off the dealer lot brand new it gets paint chips right away. Sorry I cannot install PPF (paint protective film) to a JC model
Fuselage antennas/attention to details:
HX: ★★★★☆
JC: ★★☆☆☆
Paint/overall quality:
HX: ★★★★☆
JC: ★☆☆☆☆
Landing gear: as many know HX/YY or the 1/200 SQ Wings are always the best in class with the most detailed gear hubcap, and this Tropical release is no exception. JC, on the other hand, has a too-short looking gear strut and also tilted in a very awkward angle. HX also has its issue with the front landing gear door being too large.
HX: ★★★☆☆
JC: ★☆☆☆☆
Next let’s look at nose shape and cockpit placement.
Both feature silver frame on the 2 main cockpit panels, which many people have seen since the early days of the old Big Bird version. On this version, JC looks somewhat wonky in certain angles that may have to do with the shape on the upper front tip of the fuselage right in front of the upper deck emergency cockpit exit. HX on the other hand has the cockpit printed just a bit too high.
HX: ★★★☆☆
JC: ★★★☆☆
Now moving on to color and paint scheme:
Haven’t looked closely enough with the details of the Tropical scheme design so if anyone notices something that doesn’t look right please share.
Wings and horizontal stabilizer silver color: for some reason the JC version’s silver on the wings looks almost like yellowish grey, but the horizontal stabilizers look almost like white that doesn’t match up versus HX’s more natural silver on both the wings and horizontal stabs. Not liking the grey on the JC version it looks almost like plastic that got yellowed by UV and the color inconsistency with the horizontal stabs.
The verdict, the pros/cons:
In many categories HX seems to score ahead of the JC, from packaging to paint quality to attention to details. Let me know you thoughts about both versions and which one you prefer more
HX:
Pros: the best packaging in class, extra goodies, high quality paint job, more attention to details, the best landing gear hubcap
Cons: landing gear door a bit too large, cockpit a bit too high
JC:
Pros: you are buying Johan Chan’s image (the brand)
Cons: the worst packaging in class, bad quality paint job with defects, wonky cockpit, bad looking and awkward landing gear, color inconsistency
Dropping in my fancy and beautiful Chek Lap Kwok background into the mix
First let’s take a look at the packaging:
Mint-mint box factor/blood boiling factor/packaging/paper quality factor:
HX:
HX has nailed it perfectly. Their packaging is the best in the industry currently and each box comes with a clear plastic bag for an extra layer of protection. Box material is very sturdy and not using soft tissue paper like most other brands. Each release comes with a nice stand and collectable card. I have received numerous of their releases and each box comes in perfect shape no creases here and there or torn everywhere. HX really takes care of customers when it comes to packaging.
Mint-mint box factor: ★★★★★
Blood boiling factor: None, generally each release arrives perfectly
Paper quality factor: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★★
JC:
JC is known for its super bad packaging, from 1/400 to 1/200, with many torn or badly creased boxes. Luckily on this release the box arrived flawlessly. Paper material is also bad, it’s too soft and easily gets creased, dented or torn. Out of 10 boxes 9 are usually bad. Not to mention unlike HX it doesn’t give extra stuffs like display stand or collectable card.
Mint-mint box factor: ★☆☆☆☆
Blood boiling factor: Very high, with almost every single release arrives with problems
Paper quality factor: ★☆☆☆☆
Packaging: ★★☆☆☆
Next, some side by side comparison:
Looking at the head to head shots, from nose to nose and tail to tail, it appears that the JC version stands much lower than the HX. HX features two antennas on the top front portion of the fuselage, whereas JC is missing one. On the 1:1 version, there are actually two on the front JC version has red and amber rotating beacon markings imprinted on top and HX doesn’t. HX wins another point with the extra detail like for example the undercarriage front antenna has red/white pattern whereas the JC is just a plain white antenna. However, it appears that the orange line painted on the tip end of the vertical stabilizer is too thick on the HX version.
Paint quality: not sure why so many JC releases have some sort of issue with the paint quality, if it’s not blemishes it’s bubbles or paint chips here and there. Glossiness is also a hit or miss on JC. JC is like a cheap car with bad quality paint job whenever you drive it off the dealer lot brand new it gets paint chips right away. Sorry I cannot install PPF (paint protective film) to a JC model
Fuselage antennas/attention to details:
HX: ★★★★☆
JC: ★★☆☆☆
Paint/overall quality:
HX: ★★★★☆
JC: ★☆☆☆☆
Landing gear: as many know HX/YY or the 1/200 SQ Wings are always the best in class with the most detailed gear hubcap, and this Tropical release is no exception. JC, on the other hand, has a too-short looking gear strut and also tilted in a very awkward angle. HX also has its issue with the front landing gear door being too large.
HX: ★★★☆☆
JC: ★☆☆☆☆
Next let’s look at nose shape and cockpit placement.
Both feature silver frame on the 2 main cockpit panels, which many people have seen since the early days of the old Big Bird version. On this version, JC looks somewhat wonky in certain angles that may have to do with the shape on the upper front tip of the fuselage right in front of the upper deck emergency cockpit exit. HX on the other hand has the cockpit printed just a bit too high.
HX: ★★★☆☆
JC: ★★★☆☆
Now moving on to color and paint scheme:
Haven’t looked closely enough with the details of the Tropical scheme design so if anyone notices something that doesn’t look right please share.
Wings and horizontal stabilizer silver color: for some reason the JC version’s silver on the wings looks almost like yellowish grey, but the horizontal stabilizers look almost like white that doesn’t match up versus HX’s more natural silver on both the wings and horizontal stabs. Not liking the grey on the JC version it looks almost like plastic that got yellowed by UV and the color inconsistency with the horizontal stabs.
The verdict, the pros/cons:
In many categories HX seems to score ahead of the JC, from packaging to paint quality to attention to details. Let me know you thoughts about both versions and which one you prefer more
HX:
Pros: the best packaging in class, extra goodies, high quality paint job, more attention to details, the best landing gear hubcap
Cons: landing gear door a bit too large, cockpit a bit too high
JC:
Pros: you are buying Johan Chan’s image (the brand)
Cons: the worst packaging in class, bad quality paint job with defects, wonky cockpit, bad looking and awkward landing gear, color inconsistency
He must be making billions and pocketed enough money for all the announced new releases yet nothing is delivered who cares about quality of anything!
