COVENTRY AIRPORT AVIATION FAIR - FULL REVIEW AND PICTURES
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ISSUE 4 | NOVEMBER 2017
WORLD EXCLUSIVE!
BEHIND THE SCENES AT INFLIGHT200
LY THE ON E ZIN MAGA D TO TE DEDICA IRLINER A MODEL CTORS COLLE
LATEST RELEASES...
EVIE AIRBASE AIRPORT SPOTLIGHT
AEROCLASSICS KLM DC-8 & GEMINI JETS AER LINGUS A330-300 MODEL REVIEWS...
RETAILER INTERVIEWS
THE DEMISE OF MONARCH AIRLINES
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CONTENTS Nathan Bennett, Editor. Welcome to Issue 4 of Model Airliner Magazine. As with every issue, we would like to thank those who purchased Issues 1, 2 and 3. Your continued support is appreciated in helping this publication grow. We continue to expand and you'll notice this month we've added model reviews to the magazine as we strive to enhance the content of the publication. If you are new to our magazine, I invite you to visit our website and take a look at our back issues page. Alternatively, you can check out all the information on Page 32 of this issue.
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LATEST NEWS
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THE DEMISE OF MONARCH
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BEHIND THE SCENES @ INFLIGHT200
As always, we are interested in hearing from you and would welcome any ideas or articles that you wish to submit for consideration in a future issue.
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AN INTERVIEW WITH INFLIGHT200
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EUPHORIA CAFE INTERVIEW
You can get in touch by visiting the contact page on our website at www.modelairliner.com or via email at info@modelairliner.com!
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AIRPORT SPOTLIGHT
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CATHAY PACIFIC A330 REVIEW 1/400
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COVENTRY AVIATION FAIR REVIEW
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COMPETITION PAGE
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CREATING DECALS IN 1/400 (BH AIR)
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MODEL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
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KLM DOUGLAS DC-8 REVIEW 1/400
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AER LINGUS A330 REVIEW IN 1/200
We hope you enjoy Issue 4! Nathan Bennett Editor, Model Airliner Magazine ------------------------------------------------------------------------Editor In-Chief:
Nathan Bennett
Senior Editor:
Donald Gardner
Design & Art Direction:
Nathan Bennett
Contributors:
Mike Cage
Richard Stretton
Inflight200
Published by:
Delta Golf Publishing LLC
Every effort is made to ensure all the information in this publication is accurate. All views and thoughts are solely made by Model Airliner Magazine except within an interview or feature where the views are solely of the interviewee or contributor in question. © Copyright 2017 Delta Golf Publishing LLC. Model Airliner Magazine Issue 04. All rights reserved. Unauthorized redistribution or duplication of this publication is prohibited.
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LATEST RELEASES JC WINGS 1/200
JC WINGS 1/400
Airbus Industries A350-1000 F-WMIL Sichuan Airlines A320-200 B-8949 Sichuan Airlines A350-900 NA Malaysia A350-900 9M-MAB Oman Air B 787-900 A4O-SC Boeing Aircraft Company B 737-8MAX N8704Q Air Berlin A330-200 D-ABXA Air Berlin A330-200 D-ALPA SilkAir B 737-8MAX 9V-MBA Norwegian Air UK B 787-900 G-CKLZ
Boeing Aircraft Company B 737-8MAX N8702L Tianjin Airlines A320-200 B-8953 Tianjin Airlines A321-200 B-8389 Kunming Airlines B 737-700 B-1461 Kunming Airlines B 737-800 B-1507 Zhejiang Loong Airlines A320-200 B-1349 McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company MD-11 N211MD McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company MD-11 N311MD Air Berlin A330-200 D-ABXA Air Berlin A330-200 D-ALPA Shenzhen Airlines A330-300 B-8865 Japan Transocean Air B 737-800 JA05RK SilkAir B 737-8MAX 9V-MBA Norwegian Air UK B 787-900 G-CKLZ
OCTOBER 2017 RELEASES
OCTOBER 2017 RELEASES
GEMINI JETS 1/400 OCTOBER 2017 RELEASES
Air Canada Express / Air Georgian CRJ200 C-GKFR AirAsia A320-200 9M-AGA American Airlines B 767-300 N343AN British Airways A380-800 G-XLEC Finnair A350-900 OH-LWL KLM Fokker 70 “Farewell Livery” PH-KZU Qantas Airways B 737-800 VH-VXM TAP Air Portugal A330-300 CS-TOW United Express / Colgan Air DHC-8-200 N365PH Volaris A320-200 N528VL
MODEL AIRLINER
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PHOENIX 1/400
AEROCLASSICS
China Cargo Airlines B 777-200 B-2077 ANA All Nippon Airways B 777-200 JA743A Martinair Holland MD-11 PH-MCP China Southern Airlines A320-200 B-8965 ANA All Nippon Airways A321-200 JA131A China United Airlines B 737-800 B-5665 FrenchBlue A350-900 F-HREU Malaysia A350-900 9M-MAB Thai Airways International B 787-900 HS-TWA Singapore Airlines A380-800 9V-SKT Singapore Airlines A380-800 9V-SKU Qantas Airways A380-800 VH-OQK Shenzhen Airlines A330-300 B-8865 EVA Air B 747-400 B-16411
Aeronaves de Mexico DC-6 XA-NAM Air New Zealand F-27 ZK-NFF Canadian Pacific DC-6 CF-CZF Federal Express F-27 N709FE Finlantic DC-6 OH-DCA Icelandair DC-6 TF-ISC Iran Air DC-6 EP-AEV Loftleidir DC-6B TF-LLB Merpati Nusantara Airlines F-27 PK-MFK Mexicana A319-100 N750MX Olympic Airways DC-6 SX-DAD Royal Brunei Airlines A319-100 V8-RBP South African Airways A319-100 ZS-SFG US Airways A319-100 N700UW US Airways A320-200 N118US
OCTOBER 2017 RELEASES
PHOENIX 1/200
OCTOBER 2017 RELEASES Singapore Airlines A380-800 9V-SKT Singapore Airlines A380-800 9V-SKU Malaysia A350-900 9M-MAB Conviasa A340-200 YV-1004
INFLIGHT200
OCTOBER 2017 RELEASES United States Air Force B 737-200 72-0284 Thai Airways International B 737-200 HS-TBA PeoplExpress B 747-100 N603PE Rossiya B 747-400 EI-XLE Indonesian Air Force C-130 Hercules A-1332 Royal Netherlands Air Force C-130 Herc G-273 Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Herc A97-178 United States Air Force B 707-300 85-6973 Air Greenland A330-200 OY-GRN Air Mauritius A350-900 3B-NBQ Sichuan Airlines A350-900 NA Qatar Airways A350-1000 A7-ANA Luftwaffe B 707-300 10+03 Federal Aviation Administration B 727-100 N40 Iran Air B 747-200 EP-IAI Saudia - Saudi Arabian Air B 747SP HZ-HM1B Aviaco DC-8-63 EC-BSE Royal Netherlands Air Force DC-10-30 T-235 BOAC B 777-300 G-TRPL United States Air Force B 777-300 87-7000
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1/400 DECEMBER RELEASES
HERPA 1/200
JAN/FEB 2018 RELEASES Airport Accessories Ground Foil NA Airport Accessories Building NA Aeroflot AN-24 CCCP-46466 French Air Force C-160 61-MA Libyan Air Force MiG-25 6716 Lufthansa B 707-400 D-ABOB Luftwaffe C-160 50+66 Olympic Airways Yak-40 I-JAKE Swiss International Air Lines CS300 HB-JCB Trans Canada Airlines Viscount CF-THI TAP Air Portugal A330-300 CS-TOW United States Navy F-14 Tomcat 161142
HERPA 1/500
JAN/FEB 2018 RELEASES Air Do B 767-300 JA602A Airbus Industries A350-1000 F-WMIL Alrosa Mirny Air Enterprise TU-154 RA-85684 Austrian Airlines DHC-8-400 OE-LGN Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras A330-200 PR-AIU BA Cityflyer ERJ-170 G-LCYG Emirates B 777-200 A6-EFL Etihad Airways B 777-300 A6-ETC Fiji Airways A330-300 DQ-FJW Icelandair B 757-200 TF-FIR Lufthansa B 747-8 D-ABYN Pan American World Airways A310-300 N806PA Safair B 737-800 ZS-SJS SAS Scandinavian Airlines A320-200 LN-RGL TAP Air Portugal A330-300 CS-TOW TransBrasil B 727-100 PT-TCB United Airlines DC-10-30 N1858U United Parcel Service B 747-8 N605UP Xiamen Airlines B 787-900 B-1567
GEMINI200
OCTOBER 2017 RELEASES Air Canada B 787-900 C-FRTG Continental Express / Trans-Colorado CV-340 N73102 Delta Air Lines B 767-300 N174DZ Southwest Airlines B 737-800 N8653A Spirit Airlines A320-200 N902NK Trans World Airlines B 717-200 N426TW Turkish Airlines B 777-300 TC-JJT
Inflight200 Announces Special Release United Airlines B747 “Friendship Livery” Inflight200 has announced the release of a special model, a United Airlines B747-400 featuring the “Friendship Livery”. It will no doubt be a very popular release among collectors as United is slated to retire the B747-400 from its fleet this November after 47 years of service.
HERPA 1/500 WingsClub release
MODEL AIRLINER
Herpa has announced their next WingsClub release, a Finnair Airbus A350-900 in OneWorld livery. Reg: OH-LWB. This is the 7th WingsClub release in 2017. News source: www.vosen.de/wings_news.htm
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THE DEMISE OF by Nathan Bennett It was a sad day on October 2nd, 2017 for the employees of Monarch Airlines. 1000’s lost their jobs and once again another great British airline is confined to the history books.
2013. I recall Elliot from Gemini giving me a nice friendly discount. This is one of those models that I would never want to part with purely because it has a memory attached to it.
I have many fond memories over the years of seeing their fleet come and go from the glorious days of the DC-10’s, the wonderful sound of the 757’s and the mighty A300. More recently, I have been fortunate to work inside the Monarch Aircraft Engineering facility at Birmingham Airport (BHX). I have spent many hours cleaning and polishing their A320/A321’s and making sure they left the hangar gleaming for their next batch of flights. Some aircraft I worked on included G-OZBX, G-OZBY, G-ZBAD, G-ZBAE, G-ZBAO and the A330 G-EOMA before the airliner left to join Wamos. The A320 I worked on G-OZBX has a particular place in my heart as that is one model I picked up when I visited the Airplane Shop/ADI in Las Vegas back in
As collectors, we have seen various models released as you can see in the table below. Now that the airline is defunct, I wonder if we will see other release in commemoration of this wonderful and sorely missed airline? Photo by Nathan Bennett
Full List of Monarch releases: Aeroclassics Gemini Jets Corgi Western Inflight200 Inflight200 Flight Mini Flight Mini Flight Mini Flight Mini Skyline Skyline Skyline Skyline Skyline Flight Mini Phoenix Wooster Flight Mini Dragon Herpa Net Models(a) Net Models(b) Net Models(c) Phoenix Gemini Jets Gemini200 Gemini Jets Flight Mini Aeroclassics Phoenix
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1/400 1/400 1/144 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/250 1/400 1/180 1/200 1/400 1/500 1/500 1/500 1/500 1/400 1/400 1/200 1/400 1/200 1/400 1/400
Boeing 720-23B G-BCBA MD DC-10-30 G-DMCA Bristol Brit 312 G-AOVH Bristol Brit 312 G-AOVT Boeing 737-2K9 N/A MD DC-10-30 N/A Airbus A300B4 N/A Airbus A320-212 G-MONX Airbus A321-231 N/A Airbus A330-243 G-SMAN Boeing 737-2K9 G-BMON Boeing 757-2T7 G-MONJ Boeing 720-051B N/A Airbus A300B4 N/A BAE 111-518FG N/A MD DC-10-30 N/A Boeing 767-31K G-DIMB Boeing 737-2T7 N/A Boeing 757-2T7 N/A Airbus A330-243 G-SMAN Airbus A330-234 G-EOMA Boeing 757-2T7 G-MOND Boeing 757-2T7 G-MOND Boeing 757-2T7 G-MOND Boeing 757-2T7 G-MOND Boeing 757-2T7 G-MONK Airbus A321-231 G-OZBL Airbus A330-243 G-EOMA Airbus A330-243 G-SMAN Bristol Brit 312 G-AOVH Boeing 757-2T7 G-MONJ
Gemini Jets Wooster Wooster Inflight500 Rise Soon Jet-X Jet-X 1st Choice Gemini Jets Gemini200 Aviation200 Aviation200 Aviation200 Gemini200 Gemini Jets Herpa JC Wings Inflight200 Rise Soon Rise Soon JC Wings Inflight200 Aeroclassics Phoenix Phoenix Inflight200 Gemini Jets SkyMarks Rise Soon Rise Soon ARD/Inflight
1/400 1/200 1/180 1/500 1/200 1/400 1/400 1/200 1/400 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/400 1/500 1/200 1/200 1/100 1/150 1/200 1/200 1/400 1/400 1/400 1/200 1/400 1/150 1/200 1/150 1/200
Bristol Brit 312 G-AOVT Boeing 757-200 N/A Boeing 737-3YO N/A Boeing 757-2T7 G-MONJ Airbus A330-243 G-EOMA Airbus A300B4 G-MONS Airbus A300B4 G-OJMR Bristol Brit 312 G-AOVT Boeing 757-2T7 G-MONC Boeing 757-2T7 G-MONK Boeing 757-2T7 G-MOND Boeing 757-2T7 G-MOND Boeing 757-2T7 G-MONJ Airbus A320-214 G-OZBX Airbus A320-214 G-OZBX Airbus A321-231 G-OZBU Airbus A320-214 G-OZBK MD DC10-30 G-DMCA Airbus A320-214 G-OZBK Airbus A320-214 G-OZBK Airbus A300B4 G-MAJS Boeing 737-2K9 G-BMON Airbus A300B4 G-MONR Airbus A300B4 G-MAJS Airbus A321-231WL G-ZBAO Boeing 720-051B G-AZFB Airbus A320-214WL G-ZBAA Airbus A320-214WL G-ZBAA Airbus A330-243 N/A Airbus A321 G-OZBZ Airbus A330 G-SMAN
MODEL AIRLINER MAGAZINE EXCLUSIVE!
BEHIND-THE-SCENES AT INFLIGHT200 As collectors, we often wonder what goes on behind the scenes before we get our hands on our beloved models. As part of an exclusive feature for Model Airliner Magazine, we are pleased to share with you images kindly supplied by Bob Cass at Inflight200.
Based out of their factory in China, we see the work that is involved in the various stages of the manufacturing process from concept to the finished product.
STAGE 1: DECIDING THE SUBJECT OF THE NEXT MOULD Using the 747 as an example, the first thing to establish is how many liveries can be applied to the aircraft, bearing in mind that the mould cost for this aircraft is in excess of US $80,000! Of course, the 747 will be a very popular subject, hence the next step is to approach Boeing for the license to manufacture their aircraft. Once a licensing agreement is reached and royalties are negotiated, we can move on to stage 2...
STAGE 2: DECIDING THE COLOUR SCHEME FOR THE NEXT RELEASE This stage of production takes place at least six months before the scheduled release date. The choice of scheme depends on a number of factors, such as the airline license, saleability and collectability. If an airline approaches us for a product, we do our best to ensure that limited numbers become available for the collector. Once an airline has been decided, airline licenses are obtained and royalties negotiated, we can then move on to stage 3...
The mould cost for a Boeing 747 is in excess of US $80,000! MODEL AIRLINER
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STAGE 3: ARTWORK Communication with the factory in China opens with us sending information and reference pictures for the chosen subject. With regular visits to the factory, we are able to check up on progress, and make corrections and alterations where necessary. If needed, we can consult the airlines for their requirements. Artwork (see right) can take anywhere from two to three months to achieve the required standard, with various emails and telephone calls back and forth to the factory before stage 4 commences...
STAGE 4: MANUFACTURING PROCESS Once the artwork has been approved and signed off, the model can then go into production. Contrary to belief, these models are hand made. Each model passes through approximately 30-40 pairs of hands before the finished aircraft is boxed for dispatch. • The cast of the aircraft is produced and cleaned up by hand. • The wing and fuselage sections are then prepared for printing. • The prepared sections are then tampo printed for the correct colour scheme. • This process can take several repetitions, depending on the complexity of the final colour scheme. • The printed parts are then assembled and quality control looks for any defects on the parts. • The final stage in the factory is for the product to go through a final quality control check, then it is boxed in preparation for dispatch.
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MODEL AIRLINER
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STAGE 5: DISTRIBUTION All orders are fulfilled from the distribution centre in Hong Kong and shipped out around the world to the relevant distributors, who in turn distribute them to their authorized retailers.
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INTERVIEW WITH INFLIGHT200 When was Inflight200 started? What was the first model you produced?
Inflight first started in 1999 in the United Kingdom as Inflight LE (Limited Edition). Our moulds were made by Western Models UK and were also hand finished to a very high standard in the UK by Bees Models. The first tooling we decided on was the Douglas DC-10 and these were made in very limited numbers due to the nature of a one man finishing operation. With increasing demand for this range Inflight had to think about a bigger production run to meet the demand for this range worldwide. The Inflight200 directors met in China at Witty Models in 2002 and with the Chinese factory management agreed on the first tooling which was to be the USAF Air Force One Boeing 707. Success was such that the market demanded more types and airline liveries. Inflight200 went from strength to strength making a DC-8-62 and then our biggest challenge, the Boeing 747 being added to the line up in the following year. Where is Inflight200 located? Inflight200 is based in China where I organize the production and distribution of models worldwide. Over the years, what models have been the most popular? The first release of a new tooling is always a best seller. Inflight200 have had many good selling models but the Boeing Rollout 747 “City of Everett” was by far our biggest production run and most popular release to date, being delivered direct to Boeing for their retail stores in Seattle and worldwide. Inflight200 gained a Boeing licence very early in its history and a close partnership remains to this day. The Boeing 747 changed air travel for the world and also made a great success for Inflight200. The Boeing 747-100 in the rollout scheme was popular with model collectors worldwide because of the significance of the aircraft and the attractive airline logos along the fuselage. What is your current role at Inflight200 and how is your day spent? I am the operations manager based in China working within the factories and I have been here for eleven years now. Working in China can be challenging to say the least, but very interesting not only with the language barrier but the culture and extreme weather conditions at times. My day will start MODEL AIRLINER
around 8am and finishes in the evening, normally around 9pm or later on occasion 6 days a week. I have an office with a great coffee machine and a good team working with me, which are both essential ingredients for a successful business. The day normally starts after the first coffee with a walk around the factory to inspect and see how far production has progressed on the models in manufacture and to see if there are any issues that need addressing. Following the factory walk around, I return to the office and begin emails, artworks, and checking newly announced liveries from airlines and military schemes which we might be able to produce as a model for the future. What sparked your interest in aviation? I was brought up in an aviation family with both my parents being in the Royal Air Force and then my brother Steve joining the RAF too. Having spent most of my childhood in Windsor in the UK which is on the flightpath of Heathrow, the inevitable happened when I was around 9 years of age and began to collect registration numbers with my brother aircraft spotting in the back yard. Sometimes on a Sunday we would go to Heathrow or Gatwick Airport on the bus with sandwiches packed in the Tupperware box, a telescope, notebook and pen. During this time my brother and I did not have the technology we have now with as flightradar24 so a trip on the bus was needed, standing in the rain at the end of the runway and not knowing what aircraft was coming in next. How many models has Inflight200 released over the years? We will be working on a model database very soon to add onto our new website due in October 2017. Do you have your own personal model collection? I do have a model collection, but only a select few which I really like. Since I am working with model aircraft 24/7 in China I no longer collect every release. My model collection started in 1988 when I went to a collectors fair in Birmingham UK with my brother and I purchased my first model which was the 1:250 Schabak Lufthansa 747-400 and then I got hooked on collecting. I left the show very happy but I didn’t get out of the carpark before I stopped the car and went back and purchased my next two models - the Swissair
and BA Landor Boeing 747’s. Then I got hooked on collecting and couldn’t get enough of them. I did have a substantial collection but when I left the UK to work in China this was sold as I would have needed an aircraft to myself to transport the models to Shenzhen. Now I am very lucky in what I do and see the models being made everyday and I enjoy the few I have in my personal collection which mean a lot to me. Pride of place in my collection is the BOAC 747-100 which reminds me of my father as he managed to get us on board a BOAC 747 when BOAC had the pilots strike and the aircraft were all parked outside the famous hangars at Heathrow. At this time of the delivery of 747’s to BOAC there was a joke going around the airport which was - why does the 747 have such a huge bump at the front? The answer is so the pilot can sit on his wallet! The strike was all about pilot pay. On my desk I have a 2015 Ford Mustang model because I have a passion for the Mustang, however I do have a lot of aircraft samples on display in my office. It seems one of the most important things to model collectors worldwide is quality control. How do you ensure that the highest quality control standards are maintained during the manufacturing and distribution of your products?
Quality control is one of the hardest things to control in a manufacturing plant and this is the same in any factory in China. QC is part of my job and I take it very seriously, unfortunately sometimes a model does get through with a problem for one reason or another. Some collectors do not understand that Inflight200 models are all hand made and each model will pass through 40 pairs of hands before being boxed and sent out to the distributors. Inflight200 have appointed a full time QC person in each department to help control things from start to finish. Most of the employees have never seen an aircraft up close and therefore have to be trained with pictures on the internet and artwork as to what the finished article must represent. Inflight200 have taken a few staff members on an orientation trip to familiarize them with what our business is all about. When I took my designer on his first trip on a plane it gave him a new perspective on what he is doing everyday and this has made a difference with his outlook on our finished product and the QC.
ISSUE 4 / NOVEMBER 2017 | 11
The Inflight office with a lovely selection of 1/200 releases. How long does the model design and production process take from start to finish? When an order is placed it will normally take about ten weeks to complete delivery, but if a quicker turn around is needed we can do it in 7 to 8 weeks. What is the most challenging dynamic when it comes to designing a model? Getting it right! There is so much conflicting information on the internet and Inflight200 have to research the models very carefully as airlines change their schemes a lot with some minor small changes which can conflict with the final model. What we have to do is to set a picture for the model and then use this as a benchmark and to make sure the model represents the picture. Some airlines do supply pantone colours to us for manufacture, but many do not even reply to our requests. The collector now rightfully wants an accurate model which we try to achieve with the information we have and one of the challenges working in China is the difficulty in accessing the internet with so many sites being blocked. Can you take us through the steps of the model design process? The start of a new model comes from information and inspiration. A few models were manufactured from memories of aircraft spotting on the Queens Building at Heathrow so we need to start by getting the right subject matter. Once this has been confirmed, the artwork can be started and the information sheet can be sent out to our distributors around the world. While the artwork is being completed 12
the manufacturing side begins to work on the die-cast injections for that model and the polishing process begins to make sure the models are ready for spraying and printing against the completed artwork. Both the artwork and polishing can be completed at the same time. The base colour will be applied to the parts of the model such as fuselage, tail, and wings and then onto the print department for the finer details to be printed. Colour matching is a very difficult job to master and takes many months of training to achieve the required result. Tampo printing machines can take up to 3 hours to get running correctly and are a very critical part of the production. There is a QC check in every department so before assembly all items are checked for conformity. The assembly line uses a passed sample as a reference for putting everything together and once assembled the models will be packed and distributed. Diecast model aircraft collecting has increased in popularity in recent years. When it comes to the future do you think model aircraft collecting will continue to grow? Have you seen an increase in the number of collectors since Inflight200 was founded? Retailers are all saying that there is a lack of new collectors worldwide due to the younger generation being interested in smart phones, I-Pads and Xbox type games and not watching aircraft at the airports, which is what all of us at Inflight would do as youngsters. I personally think the great days of aviation were when the props were giving way to the jets in the 60’s and 70’s which were the
exciting days of aviation. Probably the saddest day in aviation was the retiring of Concorde in 2003, when lots of people would gather every day to watch the New York departures and arrivals which was rivalled by no other aircraft type. People are discouraged from visiting airports to watch aircraft these days due to the increased security which is a sad loss to the culture of aviation. The magic of flying has been diminished by airport lounge gates connecting to the door of aircraft and poor viewing facilities all lead to the aircraft as being just a mode of transport instead of a magical feat of engineering. Do you have any upcoming surprises or interesting releases for collectors? Yes of course and some of these will be announced soon. Inflight 200 has a new website under construction and a new logo first shown here. The new website will announce new models for the collector and new ideas which we have for the future which will be shared with you at Model Airliner Magazine. Inflight200 are sure that the collector will like some of the new ideas which we have planned. Inflight 200 would like to take this opportunity to thank collectors for their support with our models and any comments are always welcome as we do listen to constructive feedback. Photos courtesy of Inflight200.
Foynes and the Flying Boat Museum www.flyingboatmuseum.com
The museum is located in the town of Foynes - a 30 min drive from Limerick, Ireland. Hours: Mid-March through Mid-November 9:30AM-5:00PM June, July, August 9:30AM-6:00PM Admission: Adults: €11.00, Seniors and Students: €9.00 Children under 14: €6.00 Children under 5: FREE Family Ticket: €28.00 (2 adults and up to 4 children)
Article and Photos by Donald Gardner Located on the River Shannon, the town of Foynes appears small, empty and quaint. The main street is nearly vacant in terms of traffic, a few cars are parked on the street and a lonely ship is visible in the distance. Although this is today’s image of Foynes, the town was once a bustling hub for transatlantic air travel when Pan American Airways turned the town into a gateway between Europe and the United States. Today, the Flying Boat Museum houses several exhibits dedicated to this era of commercial flight.
Foynes and Transatlantic Air Travel
In the mid 1930s, air travel was growing and so was Pan American Airways. Pan Am CEO Juan Trippe sought the help of world renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh to help the carrier connect the United States and Europe. In 1933, he scouted the River Shannon near Foynes as a potential location. Two years later in 1935, Foynes was chosen as a hub for transatlantic air service.
known as Pan Am Clipper III departed Botwood, New Foundland bound for Foynes, signifying the launch of eastbound transatlantic air service. Meanwhile, Imperial Airways Shorts S23 “Caledonia” operated a flight westbound on the same day.
The Flying Boat Era
From 1939 to 1945 several airlines including Pan American, Imperial Airways and Air France Transatlantique entered the transatlantic air travel market. The carriers would operate a host of different flying boats including the B-314, Sikorsky S42.
The Museum
The Flying Boat Museum is housed in the original Foynes Flying Boat Terminal and offers visitors the opportunity to see a variety of interesting artifacts which highlight the early years of transatlantic air travel and the flying boat. You will find everything from old flight planning charts and radio machines to pilot uniforms. Although, no actual Pan Am Clipper B-314 flying boats were preserved, a replica of what the flying machine is on display. You can even find a flight simulator to test your flying skills. The museum does an excellent job on the history of transatlantic air travel as well as showcasing the impact it had on the town of Foynes. Believe it or not, there's even a connection betweetn the Foynes Flying Boat Terminal and Irish Coffee. If you have an interest in ships be sure to checkout the maritime exhibits which are also part of the museum property.
The History of the Flying Boat
Early flying boats first made an appearance during World War I, and helped identify German U-boats that posed a threat to American shipping vessels. At the conclusion of the war, four of the flying boats, NC1, NC3 and NC4 remained and eventually made history as the first aircraft to attempt a transatlantic crossing. However the treacherous North Atlantic weather conditions proved to be a challenge for the aircraft and its aviators. NC1 ditched in the North Atlantic, while NC3 only made it as far as the Azores. NC4 was the only boat to make a successful crossing as the aircraft landed in Lisbon, Portugual. Its arrival was a milestone as it showed that transatlantic flight, if planned and executed correctly was achievable. On July 6, 1937, a Sikorsky S42 aircraft MODEL AIRLINER
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RETAILER INTERVIEW by Donald Gardner.
AVIATION & COFFEE AT EUPHORIA CAFE Location: 124 – 5403 Crowchild Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 4Z1 Canada. MAM = Model Airliner Magazine | MO = Matthew Osman MAM: What came first, your love for aviation or coffee? MO: I think I have always had coffee in my blood, but my love for aviation definitely came first! MAM: When did you become interested in aviation? MO: I have loved aviation ever since I was 2-3 years old. I’ll never forget my first toy airplane; it was a big Pan Am Boeing 747. My dad would always take me to the airport and spot airplanes landing. I was one happy kid!
MAM: Favorite aircraft? MO: Definitely the Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747. It is sad to see them retire! MAM: When did Euphoria Café open for business? MO: Our grand opening was July 7, 2009. I can’t believe it has already been over 8 years! We did not add the aviation side of things though until August 2017. MAM: Do you have a theme for your café? MO: We don’t necessarily have a theme per say. Our menu is quite European. We have a traditional way of making espresso drinks on our Florence made La Marzocco, French pastries, paninis, etc.
MAM: Favorite coffee? MO: Traditional 8oz Cappuccino. That first sip is heaven! MAM: Favorite airport? MO: This is a tough one! For spotting it would have to be Amsterdam Schipol. Heathrow is a close second! For design, I loved traveling through Stockholm– Arlanda.
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MAM: Does the name “Euphoria Café” have a special meaning? MO: The definition of “Euphoria” is a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness. That is what we strive for everyday, to make our customers happy and excited every time they come in. The smile on their faces is priceless. MAM: What type of models and aviation products do you stock? MO: We are currently stocking 1:400 scale Gemini Jets and growing our stock of Gemini200. We are always happy to order our customers any model we may not have in stock. We are also about to start adding 1:400 Phoenix models. As our aviation side of the business grows, we will look to add other models and products.
buy Gemini Jets, we are certainly seeing more and more aviation enthusiasts coming to buy aviation models and a cup of coffee. Our everyday coffee aficionados haven’t necessarily started to buy models, but it has created awesome conversations. People talk about their travel experience, or recognize airlines or aircraft they have flown. Our customers love looking at the models as they wait for their drinks to be made. We have even discovered some of our regulars are pilots, flight attendants, and aviation professionals. We have a regular Cathay Pacific pilot that always tells me his experiences. Very cool! MAM: What type of experience do you hope to provide for customers who visit the café? MO: We strive to give our customers a great happy experience while giving them something they don’t see or receive at other places. I love making people happy! With the aviation side of things, I have been a collector myself for years. I understand it can be an expensive hobby, but my goal is to do things different and to try new things, while keeping our prices low. We offer a unique loyalty program where you receive a free model after 23 model purchases. I am always open to hear what the customer wants. Keeping people happy is the most rewarding part of the business. MAM: Do you have an airport diorama, or model collection on display inside your store? MO: I would love to put in an airport diorama someday. However we do have 35-40 Gemini Jets models on display in glass cabinets for everyone to see! MAM: Do you have a website where other collectors can visit your store? MO: Our customers can visit www.euphoriacafe.ca to shop online with ease. We ship our Gemini Jets and awesome coffee beans worldwide!
MAM: I find your concept of a coffeeshop and model shop very interesting. What inspired you incorporate the model shop venture into your coffeeshop?
A very big thank you from Model Airliner Magazine to Matthew Osman and Euphoria Cafe for being part of our Retailer Interview Series!
MO: My love for aviation has never stopped. I have always had in the back of my mind that I would love to have an aviation shop. Calgary or even the Prairies Provinces (Western Canada) has no shop to purchase diecast model airplanes. We have a decent sized retail space in our coffee shop. It just clicked, why not add aviation models in that space? What could be better than coffee and planes. I felt it added character to the shop. I got in contact with Gemini Jets, and it took off from there! MAM: Since you began selling Gemini Jets in your store, have you seen an influx in the number of customers who are aviation enthusiasts? Have you turned any coffee aficionados into aviation fans? MO: As word spreads that Calgary finally has a place to MODEL AIRLINER
ISSUE 4 / NOVEMBER 2017 | 15
MODEL AIRPORT SPOTLIGHT Photos courtesy of Evie Air Base
EVIE AIR BASE (NATO) Current Location: Kent, United Kingdom
MAM = Model Airliner Magazine | EAB = Evie Air Base
MAM: What scale is your airport? EAB: 1/150 scale although the aircraft are 1/144 scale which gives a better visual representation. The largest aircraft based at Evie Air Base is the Boeing C-17, while the smallest is a Cessna (L-19) O-1 Bird Dog. MAM: When did you first become interested in model aircraft collecting? EAB: I must have been 6 years old. My brother, who was a year older, and I used our pocket money and to purchase two Airfix models. Mine was the Avro Vulcan and I was fascinated by its huge wingspan. We muddled through the instructions, with glue cement everywhere and I don’t even think I painted mine. Only God knows what they truly looked like. However, when we hung them from our bedroom ceiling with string and sellotape. They were masterpieces in our eyes and from that moment I was hooked! MAM: What encouraged you to create a military air base diorama? EAB: Many dioramas out there tend to be civilian. While I love all things aviation, I have always had a fascination for military aircraft. Being a young teen at the outbreak of the Falklands War, I was in awe of the Harrier and its proven capability in that conflict. My small airplane collection was mainly military so it made sense that my diorama should be the same. Getting a larger house with a huge 20 x 18ft shed (I call Gardenwood) also meant I now could build the layout. So I did. MAM: From start to finish how long did it take to design and build Evie Air Base? EAB: It took about 2 months to construct the original Evie Air Base in 2013. The design in 2017 took about 4 months to complete.
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MAM: What type of military and civilian aircraft are part of your diorama? EAB: There are several planes in my collection including the McDonnell Douglas F-15, and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. I also have several F-18 Hornets, a Eurofighter Typhoon, and Panavia Tornado GR-4 among several others. Surveillance aircraft such as the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye and Boeing E3 Sentry are also present. Bombers include the B-2 Lancer. The formidable Boeing C-17 Globemaster III also makes an appearance. I don’t want to spoil future updates so I’ll stop there. MAM: How many aircraft are based at Evie Air Base? EAB: The number of aircraft based at Evie remains classified. However, my collection is a reasonably sized one and continues to grow as I can’t stay away from eBay or Amazon!
MAM: Favorite Military aircraft? EAB: My favorite trio has to be the aviation classic- Bomber Command- V-Force comprising Vickers Valiant, Handley Page Victor and the famous Avro Vulcan. I don’t like being asked to choose but if you insist, it will have to be the Vulcan. They all made a special appearance at Evie’s 2013 Airshow. MAM: How did you come up with the name Evie Air Base? EAB: Construction of the original Evie Air Base started in May 2012 and most of the diorama building was completed by that July. The diorama sat unused and with no name and no planes until March 2013 when I officially launched the base and named it Evie. The name came from a tragic event in 2013, when I lost my baby daughter who died pre-term, approaching 20 weeks. She was to be named Eve. At the time, it just made sense, as my tribute to Eve, to name my diorama creation Evie and the time I spent creating the early scenes and stories provided a healthy distraction from the personal pain and sadness. MAM: What ground foil product do you use for your airport? EAB: My ground designs are all scratch, using cork tiles and card sheets. The runway however, is printed sheet. MAM: Are there any future expansion plans for your airport diorama layout? EAB: We've actually just expanded from a layout size of 6x2ft to 9x3ft. MAM: Do you have a website where other collectors can see your airport? EAB: I’ve actually been meaning to create one, but haven’t found the time. I do however have a YouTube channel called BoyzInTheHoo where some of the Evie Air Base ‘photo story’ videos are featured alongside some of my other works. Please check it out or just search ‘Evie Air Base’ on YouTube to view my channel.
Interested in being part of our Airport Spotlight Series? Send a photo of your airport diorama to us at info@modelairliner.com!
MODEL AIRLINER
ISSUE 4 / NOVEMBER 2017 | 17
SPIRIT OF HONG KONG
Cathay Dragon A330-342 [B-HYB] Panda Models 1/400
Panda Models have continued to release a strong selection of Airbus A330s in 2017 and not just of Chinese airlines, with both Lufthansa and Singapore releases also made. They have also not shied away from producing a wide variety of Cathay Pacific, Dragonair and Cathay Dragon models despite the Cathay Group’s attempts to litigate against manufacturers and retailers selling models wearing their liveries. That includes the recent Hong Kong anniversary models. Personally licensing just isn’t something I care about, especially when the models being produced are this good.
THE REAL THING July 1, 2017 marked twenty years since Britain handed Hong Kong back to the Chinese government. In the process Britain managed to protect some of Hong Kong’s freedoms, as it was setup as a Special Administrative Region where the Chinese agreed to govern under the principle of “one country, two systems’, at least for the next 50 years. This agreement has not come easy for China, which is fine with elections as long as it knows the outcome well in advance! Certainly it hasn’t been able to resist meddling in the Hong Kong Legislative Council, which has resulted in mass protests. It is far from clear what the long term future of Hong Kong will be following the 2047 ending of the special agreement that marked the handover, but so far the past twenty years have been largely business as usual for the small city-state and its airlines. Having said that Cathay 18
Article and Photos by Richard Stretton
Pacific is nowadays part owned by Air China, as well as Swire Pacific, and so it has a much larger integration with the mainland than it did in 1997. It has built up its Dragonair subsidiary to be the primary mover between Hong Kong and the China mainland.
majority of the A330s can’t be far behind; however Cathay Dragon itself appears to have a bright future bringing the people of Hong Kong and the PRC together, hopefully in peace.
In January 2016, Cathay Pacific announced that Dragonair would be rebranded as Cathay Dragon to better align it with its parent. The move allows Cathay to leverage Dragonair’s lower costs and existing traffic rights, but expand the carrier’s recognition outside of the 60% of passengers who fly with it who are from Hong Kong or the PRC. The new colours adopt the Cathay brushwing logo but with a base colour of maroon. Dragonair’s dragon logo is retained albeit on the front of the aircraft.
The format for my reviews is to split them into three key areas:
Unsurprisingly both Cathay Dragon and its parent could not ignore the significant milestone of the 20th anniversary of the handover and both created special schemes for the occasion. Much of Cathay Dragon’s 22 strong A330 fleet is the world’s oldest, as the airline was provided with 5 1992-94 build ex-Cathay A330s in 2012. The aircraft chosen to wear the anniversary livery is actually the longest serving aircraft in the fleet as she was delivered new to Dragonair way back in July 1995 as VR-HYB. It seems fitting that an aircraft that experienced the transition should wear the anniversary livery. Fleet renewal for Cathay Dragon is underway with a recent August 2017 order for 32 A321neos to replace its mixed A320/ 21ceo fleet. A replacement order for the
THE MODEL
• The mould of the aircraft • The paint and livery • Printing and quality control Each can get a maximum score of 10 for a section giving a maximum combined score of 30.
THE MOULD Panda Models A330 joined the scrum of moulds reproducing the ever popular mid-range widebody in late 2016 and they have quickly become my go to A330 manufacturer. My detailed review of the A330 moulds (see the Yesterday’s Airlines website) has shown that the Panda mould is the best of the current crop of available A330s. This is no mean feat as several of the existing moulds are very good, but has probably been helped by a leg up from the Aeroclassics mould, since the pair are very similar and the Panda may indeed be a clone. Sharing them with the Aeroclassics mould the nosecone, fuselage wings and vertical stabilizer are effectively perfect. In fact the nosecone of the Panda looks a little sharper than the Aeroclassics, to the aircraft’s benefit. The undercarriage is also excellently detailed and positioned, however the colour and detailing of the wheelhubs is not as good as on the Aeroclassics and Phoenix moulds. The tyres are also a little weak as they are very thin. The big addition to the mould are the aerials and, where appropriate, satnav domes. All four aerials are present (the age of this A330 precludes the dome) and are well scaled. This is a top of the line mould - there’s no doubt about it.
SCORE - 10 PAINT & LIVERY Compared to many special liveries from Chinese airlines, and previous examples from Dragonair, both the Cathay ‘Spirit of Hong Kong’ schemes are quite subtle and stylish, befitting the marketing image the group wants to portray. I don’t mind outlandish special schemes but I have to say that this Cathay Dragon livery, layered carefully over the standard Cathay Dragon scheme, is quite beautiful. Indeed the detailing of the grey band could be kept quite comfortably in the standard Dragon scheme as it really lifts it in my opinion.
elements is spot on, including all the various titling. This includes airline and ‘The Spirit of Hong Kong’ titles in English and Chinese characters, plus the small 20th anniversary logo inside the grey band and Swire logo towards the rear. The colour of the special logo elements (white in the band, then moving from light orange to maroon at the rear) is excellent as is their position and definition. The only complaint I have is that the most forward elements under the cockpit are a bit too feint. The engines are correctly coloured to match the fuselage band and the winglets also are coloured to match the tail. It is however on the winglets that a rare error has crept in as on the real thing the brushwing logo is only applied on the inwards side of the winglets whereas Panda has applied it to both sides. Ironically I think it actually looks better on the model, but alas it isn’t correct.
SCORE - 9
PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL The printing on Panda Models aircraft rivals that of JC Wings and Gemini Jets for quality. It is again excellent on this model with superb detailing of a very intricate livery. Other strong printing can be found around the engine nacelles, which have great paneling detail and counter-shaded pylons. There are no print deficiencies and I have to say that Panda tends to do better printing of the cockpit windows than Aeroclassics manages on its A330s. Likewise construction quality is almost always high on Panda products. The moulds is fitted together well with no loose parts, including the small and fiddly aerials. It is only the tyres that let the model down slightly. They are too thin on all the gear legs and there is even a little tabbing present on the nosegear.
SCORE – 9 CONCLUSION It may seem like I’m bigging up Panda Models quite a lot and the simply reason for that is that they are producing top quality models on top quality moulds. If you ignore all the politics and accusations from some quarters then the evidence suggests they are a great manufacturer. This model simply reasserts that as it is near perfect and the best version of this scheme likely to be produced.
FINAL SCORE – 28/30 Checkout Richard's site www.yesterdaysairlines.com for an an in-depth review of airline history, model reviews and more!
Central to the design is the five petal Hong Kong orchid tree that forms the central element of the flag of Hong Kong. It recurs regularly, amongst a selection of what look like wispy clouds, inside the grey band at first but breaking out onto the rear fuselage after the wings. The primary colour of the Cathay Dragon scheme is a light maroon (deeper than the previous Dragonair bright red). Its shade seems to vary in different lighting conditions but Panda’s attempt is nicely done, especially as on the tail it appears to darken towards the rudder. The tail logo is very well printed with the feathered top of the brushwing excellently detailed. Positioning of the fuselage MODEL AIRLINER
ISSUE 4 / NOVEMBER 2017 | 19
COVENTRY AVIATION ENTHUSIASTS FAIR '17 Article and Photos by Nathan Bennett
On Sunday October 8th, 2017, I went along to the annual Coventry Aviation Enthusiasts Fair. Previous years had seen the event take place at Solihull Moors near Birmingham Airport, but this year their new home was at Coventry Aviation Museum. Positioned on the perimeter of Coventry Baginton Airport, the runway has had its share of activity over the years. Mainly used for small private pilots
and the odd cargo plane these days, there was a time a few years ago when Thomson would fly their Boeing 737-800’s in for trips to the Mediterranean. Those days are now long gone! The main reason for the fair visit was to promote Model Airliner Magazine. The table was booked, back issues ordered from the printers, promo material sorted and it was all systems go!
As this was the first show Model Airliner Magazine has attended, it was a test to know what to bring! The display we had set up (see above) will get better as time goes on I am sure! In fact, we are booked to appear and will be an official partner the forthcoming Amsterdam Aviation Fair in February 2018 so by then we will have hopefully mastered our stall look and feel. 20
As an extra bit of interest on the stall, I decided to take my own hand built diorama. As you can see it is a mixture of Herpa 1/500 terminal buildings and 1/400 models from my collection. Works well I think so not too much out of place. Throughout the day it attracted lots of attention and the kids at the fair loved the diorama. It was something different that no one else had at the event.
MODEL AIRLINER
The main hangar featured an array of stalls selling all types of aviation memorabilia, models and things you never knew existed in this wonderful hobby. These were scattered between real aircraft on display at the museum which made the atmosphere even more special.
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It was great to catch up with some great friends who I have built up relationships with since the Model Airliner Magazine’s birth such as Geoff Noble who runs a mail-order model company and is a regular on the fair circuit. He tends to have 4 or 5 tables and is a big Gemini Jets and Gemini200 seller. The Model Airliner Magazine stall was posi-
MODEL AIRLINER
tioned next to my other retailer friend Peter Johns from AirSpotters. It was great to spend the day with him catching up on model related banter. The static aircraft on display outside of the hangars were a real treat for aviation enthusiasts!
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Up and around the back of the hangar was an area that I took interest in. Lots of old aircraft parts strewn around and sat rotting away. It was a sad sight and conjured up lots of thoughts in my head about where these planes had flown in their previous life and how they ended up here. Very fascinating stuff!
All in all, a lovely day out and highly recommended for a visit if you are ever over this way. Thanks to Carl McQuaide for organising the event and for all the guys who helped make the day run smoothly. More information on the event and the Air Museum can be found at: http://speedbird707.wixsite.com/bhamaviationfair or www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk
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WIN
We are pleased to announce our next competi-
tion to win a 1/400 scale Gemini Jets Delta Boeing 747-400. One of our lucky readers will walk away with this fantastic model. Enter today!
Gemini Jets Delta Boeing 747-400 GJDAL1640
You could get your hands on this very model! To win this fantastic release all you have to do is answer the following question: As of October 2017, how many Boeing 747-400's are currently active in the Delta Air Lines fleet? a) 6 b) 8 c) 12 Send your answer and full name to our email: info@modelairliner.com We will draw out the winner at the beginning of December 2017. All entries will be kept confidential and your email address will not be shared. We will draw out a winner from a hat, the good old fashioned way! The winner will be announced via email at the beginning of December 2017. Postage costs are covered by Model Airliner Magazine. Model is brand new. Returns are accepted however we will make sure all is in good working order before posting the model out to the winner. Return postage is to be paid for by winner.
MODEL AIRLINER
ISSUE 4 / NOVEMBER 2017 | 25
Creating Decals in 1/400 by Mike Cage
BH Air (Balkan Holidays) Airbus A320 [LZ-BHG]
Creating the Billboard Logo Designing your own custom model might be easier than you think. I'll walk you through a few simple steps to create your very own decals. First, use a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, insert a text box and type bhairlines.com in the box. Next, scroll through the available font options to find the nearest match to the font used by the airline. The graphic on the following page explains the process. Once you have created the jpeg image of the logos use Photo Editor to generate the 2 logos (left and right sides) required by cropping the image. Each logo is then imported back onto the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. On the same spreadsheet, create the required window and door patterns by inserting appropriate shapes available 26
from the shapes box. The billboard logos can then be dragged over the window pattern and sized correctly. Below is the decal sheet that has been generated. The tail and engine logos are imported images downloaded from the internet and sized to suit. The under wing registration is simply a text box with the font sized to suit, as is the letter G that appears over the cockpit windshield.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED...
Microsoft’s Operating System, Photo Editor, Microsoft Excel and Paint. Alternatively, if you are a Mac guy then the same principles can be followed using Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.
Now you’re ready to conduct a test print, on plain paper, of the decal sheet (excluding the aircraft images). Next, adjust the percentage(%) print size until it matches the dimensions of the donor model. In my case it was a 35% size. Finally print the decals onto clear decal paper and seal using an acrylic gloss spray.The donor model for this custom model was an early SkyClub (Dragon Wings)
production which lacked the refinement of the more current examples of an A320, but it was reasonably priced and careful use of acetone easily removed the tampo printing. Lastly a comparison image of the model and the actual aircraft.
MODEL AIRPORT LAYOUTS BROWSE OUR WIDE SELECTION OF 1/400, 1/500 and 1/200 AIRPORT MATS Professionally printed onto 200GSM Satin Paper and shipped rolled in a tube. VIEW THE CURRENT LAYOUTS ON EBAY UK. SEARCH USERNAME:
Bmediauk
MODEL AIRLINER
ISSUE 4 / NOVEMBER 2017 | 27
Model Aircraft Photography Contest In conjunction with The Diecast Flier, we are proud to annouce the winner of the October 2017 Model Aircraft Photography Contest. Below are the photos taken by the winner Francisco Salpurido. They are an Inflight200 Iberia Boeing 747-100 and Aviation200 Iberia DC-10-30. Both models feature the 70's livery as a tribute to the Spanish carrier in the year of its 90th Anniversary. His prize was a Gemini200 jetBlue Airways ERJ-190 "Blueprint Livery" model.
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You can keep up-to-date with all the latest model news and reviews, manufacturer interviews and more on our sister site The Diecast Flier and our Facebook page! Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @diecastflier!
www.thediecastflier.com | www.facebook.com/diecastflier/
Welcome to the Start of Something Big! A Letter from Delta Gold Publishing LLC Hello Model Airliner Fans, We are excited to announce that Delta Golf Publishing LLC, parent company of The Diecast Flier has entered into an agreement to acquire Model Airliner Magazine. I’m sure many of you have visited The Diecast Flier, which has served as a wonderful resource for model collectors and enthusiasts worldwide! We have began the transition of combining Model Airliner Magazine with The Diecast Flier, which will bring you the most up to date model news, reviews, manufacturer interviews, model building tips and more. The Diecast Flier branding will also transition to be known as Model Airliner Magazine. The combined entity will have both an on-line and in-print MODEL AIRLINER
presence. Our on-line site will continue to offer some model aircraft reviews (including video reviews), manufacturer interviews, airport building, collecting tips and more. We also plan to add an online forum for our users. The magazine will be available for purchase and will feature premium content including our Airport Spotlight Series, Collector's Spotlight Series, Airport Builders Corner, Manufacturer's Corner as well as Model Reviews. We're excited to be adding reviews to the magazine as we believe this will enhance the content available to model enthusiasts. We are also grateful for the work and creativity Nathan Bennett, has put into Model Airliner Magazine and its evolution.
We're excited to announce he will be staying on as an editor with the magazine and will continue to provide great content and design work for the combined publication. Once again thank you for your support of Model Airliner Magazine and The Diecast Flier and we look forward to continuing to be a hub for model collectors and enthusiasts worldwide! For more information we invite you to visit modelairliner.com and www. thediecastflier.com! Thank you! Donald Gardner President, Delta Golf Publishing LLC
ISSUE 4 / NOVEMBER 2017 | 29
MISSING ADMIRAL BYRD
KLM Douglas DC-8-52 [PH-DCK] Aeroclassics 1/400
The Dutch flag carrier KLM has been one of the more stable and successful major European national airlines, even when saddled with its partnership with Air France. It is also popular in 1:400 scale and a regular subject of models. It is only Aeroclassics that produce classic fleet members however and they have been popular enough at times to see re-releases. Their DC-8s are great but sometimes re-badging a model for a second release requires more than just changing the last letter of the registration.
THE REAL THING Following the end of World War Two KLM was quick to restart operations and, as with almost everyone else, did so initially using a collection of ex-military Douglas C-47s and C-54s/R-5s. These were merely a stopgap and the first of an eventual 48 Lockheed Constellations joined the fleet as early as 1946. Nevertheless the Dutch flag carrier was unusual amongst European airlines in resisting popular European types such as the Vickers Viscount, it instead selected the piston engine Convair 240, and Sud Aviation Caravelle. Viscounts were eventually operated, but not until 1957. KLM much preferred American equipment. Additionally whereas most major airlines selected either the Douglas props or Lockheed’s Connies, as their primary long haul equipment, KLM selected both. DC6s joined in 1948 but so did Lockheed L-749s a year later. This strategy continued into the 1950s with the addition of DC-6Bs and DC-7Cs as well as Lockheed 30
Article and Photos by Richard Stretton
Super Constellations and turboprop Electras. Even so with Lockheed out of the jet-race, and never having operated a Boeing aircraft, Douglas was in a good position to secure an order from KLM for its new DC-8, which it duly did. The first of 7 DC-8-33s arrived in March 1960. Registered sequentially, from PH-DCA onwards, deliveries of short DC-8s continued until early 1966, albeit these were later DC-8-52/53 and 55s. KLM’s DC-8s were named mainly after famous inventors or explorers. Aircraft carried such names as ‘Sir Frank Whittle’, ‘Thomas Alva Edison’, ‘Anthony Fokker’, ‘Guglielmo Marconi’ and ‘Orville Wright’. Five DC-8-50s were received in 1961 alone and PH-DCK, which arrived on January 5th, was named ‘Admiral Richard E Byrd’. Byrd was a US naval officer who was famous for his feats of exploration. These included polar expeditions and flights across the Atlantic, Arctic and Antarctic. On top of this he was also a recipient of the Medal of Honor during his naval career. The mid-1950s and early 1960s were a difficult time for KLM as it came under greater government ownership and control. A return to majority private ownership in 1966 appears to have assisted the airline back into profit and the DC-8 fleet was increased to include 11 stretch DC-8s. As the widebody 747 and DC-10 joined the fleet in the 1970s the original DC-8s became surplus to requirements. PH-DCK
was one of several aircraft that saw some service with KLM’s partner in South America, the Venezuelan flag carrier VIASA, where she was registered YV-132C from June 1976-March 1984. She was subsequently sold for spares to International Airline Support Group (IASG) and broken up in 1988 at Miami.
THE MODEL The format for my reviews is to split them into three key areas: • The mould of the aircraft • The paint and livery • Printing and quality control Each can get a maximum score of 10 for a section giving a maximum combined score of 30.
THE MOULD Aeroclassics have consistently produced excellent moulds in the modern era of 1:400 scale collecting and they can almost always be relied upon to be the best representations available in the scale. Certainly their Douglas products are particularly good, and from DC-4 all the way through to DC-10 they are unrivalled. Their 2008 DC-8-50 mould is a great example of this as it beats the old 2001 Gemini mould in every way. The old Gemini mould is certainly a product of its age and I’m sure that if Gemini produced a new DC-8 it would be better, but that is simply never going to happen. As the Pan Am release from last year showed Gemini do still have the mould so comparing the two still seems fair. The entire shape of the Aeroclassics mould is spot on. I have heard complaints about the nose being too pointy but I don’t see it. If anything the Gemini DC-8 has a too rounded and chunky nose. The undercarriage of the mould is also superb with a well sized nosegear door set (unlike the updated Gemini mould) and well detailed and suitably slight gear legs. Aeroclassics tyres and wheelhubs are simply rubber rings on spigots but with the DC-8 it makes very little difference. The wings and engines are another strongpoint. The series 50 engines are well shaped and detailed. They do not suffer from the occasional incorrect angle that sometimes afflicts the Aeroclassics series 10s. The mould is old enough to be a cradle mount although there is a seam it is short and has a tight fit. Removing the wing seam is the only aspect that could, in my opinion, improve the mould but I’m not knocking a point off for that.
SCORE - 10 PAINT & LIVERY The KLM jet liveries of the 1960s I have heard called the ‘chocolate box’ schemes due to the striping. This model wears the late 60s livery rather than the jet delivery scheme. The differences are subtle but obvious in comparison. The blue striping on the tail of this scheme is horizontal rather than diagonal, whilst on this version the cheatline stripes are not separated by a white line. There are other smaller differences also. The striping around the nose is simpler, the hyphen dropped from the titles between KLM and Royal, plus the KLM logo is added above the flags. If anything I think I prefer the updated version of the scheme, which looks more stylish than the first jet scheme. The arrival of the 747 would sadly see the tail striping dropped altogether. MODEL AIRLINER
Aeroclassics have used the correct colours for the light and dark blue stripes and the placement of the stripes on the tail is correct, as is the KLM logo inside the roundel. The cheatlines are roughly correct but the upper lighter band looks thicker than the lower and in comparison to photographs it does look like it is a fraction too high. The windows are almost at the top of the line in the images I’ve seen. The titles themselves also appear a fraction too tall. Both of these are relatively minor and hardly noticeable. The Dutch flag is present with the KLM logo twice on each side and ‘The Flying Dutchman’ titles also appear correctly inside the dark cheatline band. It is at the last however that Aeroclassics have made a mistake, although it is one that few I suspect will notice. The aircraft name is present in the correct location but looks a bit short. Get out the magnifying glass and you can tell why – it is the wrong name! Aeroclassics has named this DC-8 ‘Gerhard Mercator’ rather than ‘Admiral Richard E Byrd’. There was a fleet member named after the renowned map maker but it was PH-DCR not DCK. It is an odd mistake to make until you realize that Aeroclassics have previously made PH-DCR, way back in 2008. They must have simply altered the registration and not the name of the aircraft for the new version. Oops!
SCORE - 7
PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL There’s a lot of natural metal finish on this DC-8 and it looks good. It also helps you to see the line down the side of the fuselage showing that the cross section is not a circle. Aeroclassics have correctly applied grey paint to a few areas, like the radome. There isn’t a lot of extra printing detail required but what is there, like the engine manufacturer logo on the nacelles, is good. Less impressive is that the engine fans themselves are left in unpainted plastic grey. They are quite far back in the nacelles but nicely detailed nonetheless. It is a shame therefore that from the front they standout for the wrong reasons. Although Aeroclassics DC-8s are a little prone to broken nosegear legs this model is perfectly put together and survived transportation. Fitting of the wings and stabilizers is firm and there are no construction quality problems.
SCORE – 9 CONCLUSION If you don’t get out the magnifying glass then this model looks almost perfect. It is however a shame that nobody at Aeroclassics thought about what changing the registration meant for the name of the aircraft. Any aviation enthusiast would have known to look for this but yet again it is clear that the people who make the models really know next to nothing about their subject matter. Given that, it is amazing this DC-8 is so nice, and even with the wrong fleet name it is still a cracker.
FINAL SCORE – 26/30 Checkout Richard's site www.yesterdaysairlines.com for an an in-depth review of airline history, model reviews and more!
ISSUE 4 / NOVEMBER 2017 | 31
BACK ISSUES If you are a new reader thanks for picking up a copy of Model Airliner and showing your support in helping the publication grow. You can order back issues of the magazine directly through our website! As always, each copy will be shipped directly to your door and packed full of articles, reviews, competitions and tutorials. Model Airliner Magazine is the perfect coffee table magazine for all your model airliner needs. We will soon announce a subscription service where you can pay up front and receive each issue at a reduced member rate. DIALOGUE WITH THE DON: NEW FEATURE FROM GEMINI
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DIALOGUE WITH THE DON: MONTHLY CHAT WITH GEMINI
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Gemini200 Review
Article and Photos by Donald Gardner
Aer Lingus A330-300 [EI-EAV] As part of its September release lineup, Gemini Jets debuted its first 1/200 scale Aer Lingus A330-300 model, which bears a real world registration of EI-EAV. Over the years, the manufacturer previously released several 1/200 scale Aer Lingus models including a Boeing 757-200 and Airbus A321. Both were very popular among collectors. In regards to other Aer Lingus A330 models on the market, JC Wings and Inflight200 have released versions of the model. Let’s see how Gemini Jets inaugural Aer Lingus A330-300, EI-EAV scores.
History
Aer Lingus currently operates 11 A330 aircraft (4 A330-200 and 7 A330-300), and the airliner serves as an integral part of the carrier’s long haul fleet. EI-EAV happens to be one of the newest aircraft as it is just over eight years old and was delivered to the airline in 2009. The aircraft’s seating configuration includes 30 Aer Lingus Business Class lie-flat seats and 287 Recaro made coach seats.
fuselage. While the paint is smooth, and even throughout the majority of the model, the paint on the right forward cargo door seems blistered. The paint seems to have bubbled up into blisters which is usually caused when its sprayed onto a surface that has been exposed to warm temperatures.
The Review
In this review I evaluate the aircraft’s mould, paint and livery as well as quality control. Each section has a maximum score of 10 points, meaning the highest attainable score for the model will be 30 points.
The Mould
Gemini Jets A330 mould is one of the manufacturer’s most impressive in my opinion. The detail and quality of the mould make it a desirable among collectors. The Aer Lingus A330-300 model has several detailed features. On the upper fuselage the wifi and communications antennas are accurately depicted and the overall size of the model is quite impressive. The aircraft comes with a set of magnetic landing gear, which allow the airliner to be displayed in the in-flight and landing configurations. A stand also comes with the model for display purposes. As far as other unique features Gemini Jets has accurately detailed the General Electric 2 x GE CF6-80E Turbofan engines from the nacelle to the fan blades. Overall, I have no issues with the mould. SCORE = 10
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SCORE = 6
Paint and Livery
Gemini Jets has done an excellent job with the paint and livery of G2EIN384. The iconic “Shamrock” logo appears on the vertical stabilizer, winglets and even the engine nacelles. One interesting fact about the Aer Lingus fleet is that every aircraft boasts a name on the forward fuselage. EI-EAV even has its own name as it is known as St. Rotan, or “Little Seal”. Ronan happened to be the name of several Irish saints who were part of Ireland’s history. St. Rotan appears on the forward left fuselage, which Rotan appears on the forward right side of the fuselage. The paint details are exquisite as the emergency exit and handle markings are found on the aircraft doors. The Airbus A330 logo is even found on the forward left and right fuselage. The one gripe I have with the paint has to do on the forward right side of the
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Quality Control
It seems that Gemini Jets has not overlooked the quality control of this release. The model arrived with no broken parts and in good condition. It’s always good to receive a quality model with good working parts. SCORE = 10
Overall
I have to give my approval to this model and would recommend it to an Aer Lingus or Airbus A330 collector. The detailed mould is what makes the model desirable one in my opinion. On the other hand, the paint blistering really detracts from the quality of the model because it is easily noticeable. However, I’m very pleased with this release. Since this is the first Gemini rendition of an Aer Lingus A330-300, I would advise you to order your model before they sell out. Nice job Gemini!
SCORE = 26/30
SOCIAL MEDIA
This issue’s featured model aircraft related social media group....
Group name: Custom Made Model Airports Platform: Facebook Current likes: 1,546 (as of 19th October 2017) Admins: 1 Summary: As their page desciption rightly states “Always wanted a model airport but don’t want to buy a Gemini or Herpa one? Custom Made Model Airports offers services to create your dream model airport!” Direct link to the page is: Search ‘Custom Made Model Airports’ The group is a public group which means you can ‘like’ the page to follow all future posts.
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MODEL SHOWS ON APPROACH November 4th, 2017
November 4th, 2017
November 4th & 5th, 2017
November 26th, 2017
26th Houston Airline Collectibles Show & Sale
Chicagoland Airline Collectibles Show
Frankfurt Aviation Weekend
Heathrow Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Fair
Holiday Inn Elk Grove Village 1000 Busse Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Gymnasium Frankfurt-Schwanheim Saarbrucker Strasse 4, 60529 Frankfurt, Germany
Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames Middlesex TW16 5AQ
Show Hours: 10:00AM-5:00PM.
Show Hours: 10:30AM-3:00PM
aviationweekend.com
Admission: £4.00 for Adults, Seniors £3.50, Children £1.50.
1940 Air Terminal Museum 8325 Travelair St. Houston, TX 77061 Show Hours: 9:00AM-3:00PM Admission: $7.00 Contact: Duane Young jetduane@att.net or (504) 458-7106.
Show Hours: 9:00AM-3:00PM Admission: $5.00 Contact: Steve Mazanek at 773-909-5623
Contact: Keith Manning keith768@btinternet.com
MINNEAPOLIS AIRLINE COLLECTIBLES SHOW On October 14th, Model Airliner Magazine headed up Donald Gardner attended the annual Minneapolis Airline Collectibles Show in Bloomington, Minnesota. It was great event which gave the magazine further exposure in North America. Photos courtesy of Jean Claude Cau.
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1st International Amsterdam Aviation Collectors Fair Date: Sunday February 25, 2018 Time: 10.30 a.m. - 16.00 p.m. Location: Van der Valk Hotel Schiphol A4 www.hotelschiphol.nl
• The first big Aviation convention of 2018, don’t miss it!! • 150+ tables with models, books, safetycards, slides, instruments, postcards and airline memorabilia, offered for trade by stallholders from all over the world. • All in one large conference room (2000 m2) in an excellent hotel on the east side of highway A4. • Only 10 minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, for those who wish to combine the fair with some airplane spotting.
Enjoy the history of aviation at the home of aviation pioneer Anthony Fokker!! The location is easy to reach by: 1. Car, free parking at the hotel for stallholders. The conference room is accessible by car so you can unload inside. For visitors free parking is available on both sides of the A4. When parking on the west side, please take the bridge to the east side. 2. Free hotel shuttle bus (bus stop A9‐A13). 3. Public transport (Arriva busline 365 and 370 from Schiphol Airport). Entrance fee : € 2 www.aviationfair.com amsterdam@aviationfair.com
: facebook.com/aviationfair
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