Xin Long into 2026

YesterAirlines

Moderator
Staff member
Spring has arrived in the UK so it is getting a bit warmer and I can get back into the garage and dust off the Xin Long model. First modification for the 2026 season is an extension to the T2 terminal building pushing back the building to the rear margin of the diorama to give it a larger footprint more in keeping with the size of the gate area. All of the models in view live out on the diorama, having been replaced in the cabinet collection by updated versions.

I have future work planned on the model at the other end of the setup and hope to create more content this season using it so stay tuned.

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I love seeing this airport. Always feels very “US deigned” in an odd way with lots of little odd shaped terminal building to cram as much as possible. Very cool design choices and helps it feel very realistic. Trying to understand your plans a bit better: Is the terminal shape changing or just specific gate aircraft size limits changing? or Both? Excited to see how it turns out!
 
I love seeing this airport. Always feels very “US deigned” in an odd way with lots of little odd shaped terminal building to cram as much as possible. Very cool design choices and helps it feel very realistic. Trying to understand your plans a bit better: Is the terminal shape changing or just specific gate aircraft size limits changing? or Both? Excited to see how it turns out!
I've certainly tried to maximise gate space, but hopefully in a realistic way.

The photo above is the finished change. All I really did was replace the roof of T2, which used to be a lot smaller. Here was the previous version - you can see there was a gap behind the terminal before:

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Always loved the Xin Long display of yours. Glad to see it being worked on again! One thing you should definitely do is replace the Gemini jet-bridges with some better ones. (Clipper?)
Have you got suggestions for airbridges? I haven't really seen any better than the GJ ones, at least not at a price that allows me to replace 40+ gates with them!
 
Have you got suggestions for airbridges? I haven't really seen any better than the GJ ones, at least not at a price that allows me to replace 40+ gates with them!

Clippermodels just released an “assemble yourself” kit of 5 bridges for 12.99usd. Probably the best deal out there for the quality and I can confirm that Clippers jetways are indeed great (look at my KPIT diorama for general shape as I think he’s updated his just a bit since then (and mine are a different color). Outside of that the JC don’t look the most realistic in scale sometimes and some other 3D printers have okay but sometimes meh for the price depending where you look.
 
To be honest, your upgrades on the GJ bridges look great. It may not be worth it to upgrade for you in the end. If anything, you could try messing with thin plastics to upgrade the Gemini further tbh. Might be your best bet!
 
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