Who Are HX Models & What Does It Mean for 400 Scale?

[pons399]

JC Wings put out a rant on their Instagram.
View attachment 32857View attachment 32858
I've been told by a friend that this is in reference to HX Models. Apparently HX Models was a former JC Wings factory(pretty sure this was widely known by the collectorate), and one of two closed down by JC Wings a few years ago. It was reopened without JC Wings knowing, using the JC moulds or slight modifications of them to make Models that could undercut JC Wings themselves. Johan Chan himself has taken great offense to this and is allegedly suing the HX Factory for theft of intellectual property. Very interested to see what becomes of this, if it ends up with HX Models being stamped out of existence or if HX Models manages to pull through. Another thing of interest is if any HX Models on preorder make it out to customers.

HX/SQ did deny it, but there's probably some truth to this if their 1:200s are anything to go by.

That being said, I find it hard to feel sorry for JC. Nonexistent QC, persistent printing issues, iffy coloring etc... Horror stories are everywhere on FB groups. Collectors in my country buy a lot of JC due to their frequent KE/OZ releases, and there's been exactly zero from the last two years without some glaring defect. It's great to finally get a quality alternative (especially in 1:200).

 

[Mark22]

Bad QC is with all brands; especially AC, Phoenix and JC I don't buy online anymore. The AN-22 sample at the Shanghai show makes it in my eyes obvious that all this work is not all done by themselves (HX), no way that two brands have their own sample ready at the exact same time.

 

[YesterAirlines]

Bad QC is with all brands; especially AC, Phoenix and JC I don't buy online anymore. The AN-22 sample at the Shanghai show makes it in my eyes obvious that all this work is not all done by themselves (HX), no way that two brands have their own sample ready at the exact same time.

The An-22 is by Patriot Models working with JC Wings so that isn't an issue. However, the XB-70 on the table at the show does illustrate the point you're making.

JC Wings are no worse than anybody else when it comes to QC, print mistakes and the odd off colour (and certainly better than some). I do think @pons399 that sometimes your expectations are a little off for what 400 scale can regularly produce at the sort of price these are retailing for.

 

[planes_on_a_shelf]

A surprising thing
HX's Korean 748i's aren't selling at all, even though their own SQ-branded 1:200 ones have sold out - within a day or two.

Screenshot from MHH

Curious - anything in the grapevine? Is there a call to boycott HX or something?

 

[YesterAirlines]

JC have definitely told people to boycott, at least tangentially, but I don't expect that to be at all effective.

YY Wings has a KE 748I HL7630 and a KE 748F HL7629 available too in flaps up and down versions (and interactive for the F).

 

[quanng]

One probable reason could be the result of NG’s CRP - people are waiting for NG’s iteration. A little group of collectors would only stick to specific manufacturers and hence, doesn’t purchase from new buyers. Guesses are guesses. There was a time when we don’t have any KE 748 at all. And now we have plenty options to consider.

 

[mike_charlie_lima]

FYI, HX is also developing A346 in both flap configuration.
the first model will be China Eastern EXPO livery B-6055.
unfortunately no white mould pics available yet


translation: all-new A340-600 new mould, manufactured by HX

 

[quanng]

FYI, HX is also developing A346 in both flap configuration.
the first model will be China Eastern EXPO livery B-6055.
unfortunately no white mould pics available yet

View attachment 34701
translation: all-new A340-600 new mould, manufactured by HX

It would be interesting to see the final product, given that the origin of the mould is recognizable. I think a goodbye to the wing cradle is surely on the plan considering what is taken with the B747 Classic. However I am interested whether the nose form would be corrected as well (the A346 wing of the original mould seemed to be too “thick” for me - or my eyes are playing an illusional game).

 

[planes_on_a_shelf]

JC have definitely told people to boycott, at least tangentially, but I don't expect that to be at all effective.

YY Wings has a KE 748I HL7630 and a KE 748F HL7629 available too in flaps up and down versions (and interactive for the F).

Wait, isn't HX just YY re-branded?

 

[planes_on_a_shelf]

FYI, HX is also developing A346 in both flap configuration.
the first model will be China Eastern EXPO livery B-6055.
unfortunately no white mould pics available yet

View attachment 34701
translation: all-new A340-600 new mould, manufactured by HX

I'd loooovee an A346 FD

 

[YesterAirlines]

Wait, isn't HX just YY re-branded?

No YY is a Taobao store that is using HX as an OEM. I was confused about that too but I asked and that is what I was told

 

[pons399]

A surprising thing
HX's Korean 748i's aren't selling at all, even though their own SQ-branded 1:200 ones have sold out - within a day or two.

Screenshot from MHH

Curious - anything in the grapevine? Is there a call to boycott HX or something?

View attachment 34690

Probably because this is coming (finally). HX’s mould isn’t the best.

 

[planes_on_a_shelf]

Probably because this is coming (finally). HX’s mould isn’t the best.

View attachment 34812

I'm glad that this CRP Wishlist has ensured some long pending models are getting made. That's great.

 

[abdulmohiuddin]

They seem to have an active website now

HX Models

www.hxmodels.com

 

[LeoMuse747]

They seem to have an active website now

HX Models

www.hxmodels.com

They have lots of Cathay and Air China 747s incoming, including an interactive version of a B747-200 freighter. Interesting stuff! I might keep an eye out for these.

EDIT: Now I see they have 787s, A380s and MD-11s aswell

 

[BD416]

I am certainly interested in the CX Asia World City 744. But this would be their first 747-400, correct? I'm just wondering about the mold. Have any samples been sent?

 

[Mark22]

The MD-11 seems to be JC's mould, so nothing really exciting. Hopefully they'll make some other 747 classics though, JC already makes the Chinese ones

 

[quanng]

I am certainly interested in the CX Asia World City 744. But this would be their first 747-400, correct? I'm just wondering about the mold. Have any samples been sent?

Nope the first 744 from them are these Air China B747-400s, whose real model image just appeared very recently on Taobao (they don't have a full length profile shot unfortunately).

 

[quanng]

The MD-11 seems to be JC's mould, so nothing really exciting. Hopefully they'll make some other 747 classics though, JC already makes the Chinese ones

I guess they probably make a twist (i.e: make it as a slot-in wings instead of cradle).

I feel that they had improved the 744s, which JCW made very ling and would scrape the ground.

 

[LeoMuse747]

Nope the first 744 from them are these Air China B747-400s, whose real model image just appeared very recently on Taobao (they don't have a full length profile shot unfortunately).
View attachment 35675
View attachment 35671
View attachment 35672
View attachment 35673
View attachment 35674

Looks decent to me! I wouldn't mind taking that