Model Airliner Magazine Issue 6 February/March 2018

AMSTERDAM AVIATION COLLECTORS FAIR 2018 PREVIEW

m Model Airliner

.com

ISSUE 6 | FEBRUARY 2018

BEST OF 2017 MODEL & MANUFACTURER AWARDS

AIR BERLIN TRIBUTE

SPOTTER'S DECK!

OUR NEW SECTION FOR PLANE SPOTTERS

MODEL REVIEWS...

HERPA TWA B707-320 GEMINI JETS SOUTHWEST MAX 8 SKYSHOP TAP A330 RETRO LIVERY PHOENIX A380 HOUSE LIVERY

THROUGH THE YEARS WITH THE 747 - PART 2

ALL THE LATEST RELEASES IN ALL SCALES THE ONLY MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO MODEL AIRLINER COLLECTORS

CONTENTS Nathan Bennett, Editor-In-Chief.

Welcome to Issue 6 of Model Airliner Magazine.

As you can see we have increased our content to 44 pages!

This gives you more value for money and of course more news and articles about model airliners. 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 33 of this issue.

As always, we are interested in hearing from you and would welcome any ideas or articles you wish to submit for consideration in a future issue.

You can get in touch with us by visiting the contact page on our website at www.modelairliner.com or via email at info@modelairliner.com! Thank you for reading Model Airliner Magazine!

Nathan Bennett Editor-In-Chief

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LATEST NEWS

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THROUGH THE YEARS WITH THE

BOEING 747 - PART 2

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PHOENIX A380 1/400 REVIEW

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A VISIT TO MINIATUR WONDERLAND

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SPOTTER'S DECK

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COLLECTOR'S SPOTLIGHT

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2017 MODEL AND MANUFACTURER

AWARDS 26

AIRPORT SPOTLIGHT -

KESTREL HEATH AIRPORT

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GEMINI JETS SOUTHWEST B737

1/400 REVIEW

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COLLECTOR'S PICS

Alex Kulak

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SKYSHOP TAP A330 REVIEW

Daniel Dominguez

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AIR BERLIN TRIBUTE

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AIRPORT FIRE TRUCK COLLECTION

36

HERPA TWA B707 REVIEW

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AMSTERDAM AVIATION

FAIR PREVIEW

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WIN A MODEL!

40

LONDON ENTHUSIASTS FAIR

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SOCIAL MEDIA

------------------------------------------------------------------------Editor In-Chief:

Nathan Bennett

Senior Editor:

Donald Gardner

Design & Art Direction:

Nathan Bennett

Contributors:

Richard Stretton

Lynden Westrich Raimond Schulz

Justin Hayvice Jeff Comfort Cody Diamond Published by:

Delta Golf Publishing LLC

Cover Photo Credits:

Aer Berlin by Raimond Schulz Delta 747-400 by Jeff Comfort

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 2018 Delta Golf Publishing LLC. Model Airliner Magazine Issue 06. All rights reserved.

Unauthorized redistribution or duplication of this publication is prohibited.

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LATEST RELEASES HERPA 1/500

MARCH/APRIL 2018 RELEASES

Qantas Boeing 747-400 "We Go Further" - 25 Years Herpa Wings Edition VH-OJA "City of Canberra" Emirates Boeing 777-300ER TUIFly Boeing 737-800 (2014 Colors) British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner G-ZBKM Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737-800 LN-DYA "Erik Bye" Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 777-200 UR-GOA Zeppelin Reederei Zeppelin NT "Europa Park" D-LZFN UTair Tupolev TU-154M RA-85018 Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-800 "60th Anniversary" CN-RGV Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet SSJ-100 "90th Anniversary" RA-89009 Soviet Air Force Antonov AN-22 Antei - 8th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment (VTAP), 12th Mginskaya Red Banner Air Transport Aviation Division, Migalovo Air Base Air India Airbus A320neo VT-EXF Air Mauritius Airbus A350-900 3B-NBQ "Pieter Both" American Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 N137AA El Al Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner 4X-EDA Hongkong Airlines Airbus A350-900 B-LGA United Airlines Airbus A320 N491UA Soviet Air Force Antonov AN-22 Antei - 8th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment (VTAP) Eurowings Europe Airbus A320 "Eurowings Holidays" OE-IQD

HERPA 1/200 ACCESSORIES MARCH/APRIL 2018 RELEASES Airplane Hangar Display Case Back by popular demand: Protect your favorite aircraft models in this "hangar". With a surface of 250 x 210 mm it is suitable for 1/200 models up to the size of the Transall C-160, Boeing 707, or 1/72 Military series up to the Eurofighter. Model not included with display case.

MODEL AIRLINER

ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 03

LATEST RELEASES HERPA 1/200

MARCH/APRIL 2018 RELEASES

Airbus A330-900neo (Snap-Fit) U.S. Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-114 "Aardvarks", U.S.S. Enterprise Belgian AF Solo Display Team Lockheed Martin F-16AM FA-123 U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52H Stratofortress 644th Bombardment Squadron Zeppelin Reederei Zeppelin NT "Europa-Park" D-LZFN Austrian Airlines Fokker 100 "Goodbye Fokker" OE-LVE "Zagreb"

Trans World Express De Havilland Canada DHC-7 "Dash 7" N173RA S7 Airlines Airbus A319 VP-BHQ Russian Air Force - Tupolev TU-95MS "Bear H" 184th Regiment / 6950th Donbass Red Banner Air Base "Smolensk" RF-94178 / 29 red QantasLink Fokker 100 VH-NHP Eurowings Airbus A330-200 D-AXGB (Snap-Fit) Germania Airbus A321 D-ASTE (Snap-Fit) Eurowings Europe Airbus A320 "Eurowings Holidays" - OE-IQD (Snap-Fit) S7 Airlines Airbus A319 VP-BHQ (Snap-Fit)

HERPA 1/400

MARCH/APRIL 2018 RELEASES Swiss International Air Lines Bombardier CS300 HB-JCB

Hop! Air France Embraer E170 F-HBXE

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LATEST RELEASES GEMINI JETS 1/400 JANUARY 2018 RELEASES Air Canada Airbus A330-300 C-GFAF American Airlines Boeing 777-300ER N721AN Delta Air Lines Airbus A321SL N302DN Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321neo N202HA

Malaysia Airlines Airbus A350-900 9M-MAC Qantas Airbus A380-800 VH-OQG WOW Air Airbus A321neo TF-SKY

GEMINI200

JANUARY 2018 RELEASES Alaska Embraer 175 N182SY Alaska Boeing 737-900S N493AS Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321neo N202HA Mexicana Boeing 727-200 XA-MEE PEOPLExpress Boeing 747-100 N603PE S7 Airlines Airbus A320neo VQ-BCF Vueling Airbus A321S EC-MLM

MODEL AIRLINER

ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 05

LATEST RELEASES NG MODELS 1/400 FUTURE 2018 RELEASE

Rumors are circulating about a new manufacturer on the 1/400 scale scene. NG Models plans to release a selection of Boeing 757's in various liveries. As you can see the gears have been mastered nicely and come with antennas too. It is understood a winglet version will be released in the future.

AEROCLASSICS 1/400 FEBRUARY 2018 RELEASES Air Rhodesia Viscount VP-VNI Air Zimbabwe Viscount Z-YNI Eastern Airlines DC-8-20 N8608 Iran Air A310-300 EP-IBK Iran Air A310-300 EP-IBL Japan Asia Airways DC-10-40 JA8534 Quebecair B737-200 C-GQBD Quebecair B737-200 C-GQBJ Quebecair B737-200 LN-BRL SATA International A310-300 CS-TGU SATA International A310-300 CS-TGV Taron A310-300 YR-LCA

Increase your customer base by advertising with Model Airliner Magazine!

Affordable advertising packages are available for our upcoming issues Contact us via email at info@modelairliner.com for package details!

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LATEST RELEASES INFLIGHT200

DECEMBER 2017 RELEASES Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 747-200 LV-OPA Air Berlin Airbus A320-200 D-ABNW AirLanka Boeing 747-200 4R-ULF “King Vijaya” American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 N324RA America West Airlines Boeing 747-200 N533AW Austrian Airlines Airbus A330-200 OE-LAM Cebu Pacific Air “Cebu City” DC-9-30 RP-C1509 Finnair Airbus A340-300 “Moomins” OH-LQC Iran Air Airbus A330-200 EP-IJB LAN Airlines Airbus A340-300 CC-CQC LATAM Airlines A350-900 A7-AMA

Lockheed Martin LM-100J Hercules (L-382) N5103D LOT Boeing 787-8 SP-LRH “2018 Winter Games Livery” One-Two-Go (Orient Thai Airlines) Boeing 747-300 HS-UTK Pan Am Boeing 727-200 N4745 PEOPLExpress Bob Hope Boeing 747-200 N605PE TAA DC-9-30 VH-TJN TWA DC-9-51 N416EA United Airlines Retro Friendship Boeing 747-400 N121UA US Navy Lockheed LC-130F Hercules (L-282) XD-06 US Air Force Boeing EC-137 Sentry 71-1408 (707-300)

INFLIGHT200

JANUARY 2018 RELEASES Air India B747-400 VT-EVA Air Pacific DC-10-30 N821L Air Transat A330-200 C-GTSN El Al B747-400 4X-ELB Finnair DC-9-50 OH-LYX Gulf Air B747-200 LN-AET Hebei Airlines B737-800 B-7227

MODEL AIRLINER

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines A330-300 PH-AKF KLM Royal Dutch Airlines A330-300 PH-AKB MEA Middle East Airlines B747-200 OD-AGH Pacific Western Airlines C-130 Hercules C-FPWK Qatar Airways B777-300 A7-BAA Virgin Australia B777-300 VH-VPD

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LATEST RELEASES JC WINGS 1/400

DECEMBER 2017 RELEASES Air China B747-8I “Chinese Air Force One” Alitalia B747-200 “Baci Dall” I-DEMF American Eagle ERJ-145LR “Pink Ribbon Livery” N691AE B777-300ER “Asia’s World City” B-KPF B777-300ER “Asia’s World City, Flaps Down” B-KPF Canadian Airlines B747-400 C-FBCA Cathay Dragon A321-200 “New Livery” B-HTF

China Airlines B737 MAX 8 EVA Air B777-300ER “Sanrio” B-16722 EVA Air B777-300ER “Sanrio” Flaps Down B-16722 Finnair A321-200(S) “Santa Claus” OH-LZL Finnair A350-900 “Happy Holidays Livery” OH-LWD Finnair A350-900 “Happy Holidays ” Flaps Down OH-LWD Hainan Airlines B737 MAX 8 B-1390

JC WINGS 1/400

JANUARY 2018 RELEASES Lucky Air A330-300 B-1059 Capital Airlines A350-900 NA S7 Airlines B737-800 VQ-BKW Japan Transocean Air B737-800 JA06RK

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Hainan Airlines B787-900 B-1343 Air China A320-200 B-8891 Singapore Airlines B787-10 9V-SCB

LATEST RELEASES JC WINGS 1/200

DECEMBER 2017 RELEASES Aeromexico B777-200ER N746AM Airbus A350-1000 “House Livery” F-WWXL Airbus A350-1000 “House Livery, Flaps Down” F-WWXL Air China B747-8I “Chinese Air Force One” B-2479 Air China A350-900 Cargolux B747-8F “Joe Sutter-Father of the B747” LX-VCL China Southern B737 MAX 8 B-1201 Ethiopian Airlines B787-8 ET-AOS EVA Air A321-200(S) “Gudetama” B-16205

Finnair A350-900 “Happy Holidays Livery” OH-LWD Finnair A350-900 “Happy Holidays, Flaps Down” OH-LWD Garuda Indonesia B737 MAX 8 PK-GDA Hainan Airlines B737 MAX 8 B-1390 Japan Airlines MD-11 “J-Bird” JA8589 Shanghai Airlines B737 MAX 8 B-1382 United Airlines L1011-500 “Saul Bass Livery” N501PA

JC WINGS 1/200

JANUARY 2018 RELEASES Air China A320-200 B-8891 Boeing Aircraft Company B737 MAX 8 N8701Q Capital Airlines A350-900 NA EVA Air A330-300 B-16333 Hainan Airlines B 787-900 B-1343 Iran Air A300-600 EP-IBB

Japan Transocean Air B 737-800 JA05RK Korean Air A330-200 HL8211 LOT Polish Airlines B 767-300 SP-LPC Qatar Airways A350-1000 F-WZNR Singapore Airlines B 787-10 9V-SCB

JC WINGS 1/500

DECEMBER 2017 RELEASES Hawaiian A330-200 “Moana” N390HA Hawaiian A330-200 “Moana” N391HA

MODEL AIRLINER

ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 09

LATEST RELEASES PHOENIX 1/400

DECEMBER 2017 RELEASES Air China B747-8I “China’s Air Force 1” B-2479 Air China B747-8I B-2482 Citilink A320neo “50th A320” PK-GTF EVA Air Cargo B777F B-16781 Finnair A350-900 “Happy Holidays” OH-LWD Finnair A321-200(S) “Happy Holidays” OH-LZL Hainan Airlines A330-300 B-8016 Japan Transocean Air B737-800(W) “Jinbei Jet” JA05RK

Jin Air B777-200 HL7733 Scoot A320-200 9V-TAZ Scoot A320-200(S) 9V-TRN Sichuan Airlines A350-900 “Panda Livery” Singapore Airlines B777-300ER “Star Alliance” 9V-SWJ Uni-Top Airlines Airlines B747-200F B-2462 Virgin Australia A330-200 VH-XFJ VivaAerobus A320-200(S) w/Sharklets XA-VAR VivaAerobus A320-200 XA-VAZ

PHOENIX 1/400

JANUARY 2018 RELEASES Air China B737 MAX 8 B-1397 Airbus A350-1000 “House Livery” F-WWXL Airbus A350-1000 “Carbon Fibre Livery” F-WLXV Boeing B787-10 “House Livery” N528ZC China Southern B737 MAX 8 B-1206

Qatar Airways A350-1000 A7-ANA Thai Lion A330-300 HS-LAH Thai Lion A330-300 HS-LAI Transavia B737-800(W) “Peter Pan” PH-HIS Singapore Airlines B787-10 9V-SCB

PHOENIX 1/200

DECEMBER 2017 RELEASES Air China B747-8I “China’s Air Force 1” B-2479 Air China B747-8I B-2482 Finnair A350-900 “Happy Holidays” OH-LWD

PHOENIX 1/200

JANUARY 2018 RELEASES Sichuan Airlines A350-900 “Panda Livery”

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Finnair A350-900 OH-LWH Garuda Indonesia A330-200 “Panda” PK-GPS Garuda Indonesia A330-200 PK-GPQ

MODEL AIRLINER MAGAZINE SPECIAL FEATURE

THROUGH THE YEARS WITH THE BOEING 747 Article by Cody Diamond | Photos by Raimond Schulz

The 747-300 is the last variant to be considered a member of the “Classic” 747 family. The -300 was launched in 1980 and first flew in 1982 and was the first 747 to feature a stretched upper deck (SUD). The launch customer was Swissair, who would eventually operate five of the type. The -300 was available in a Combi configuration just as the 747-200B was as well.

Systems on the 747-300 were nearly identical to that of the -200 and other classics and thus crew differences training and costs were minimal.

The -300 was the final version of the 747 to feature a flight engineer. Ja-

MODEL AIRLINER

pan Air Lines (JAL) operated the 747300 short range variant, in addition to its 747SR fleet. Following the launch of the -300, an upper deck stretch conversion was offered to several airlines for 747-100 and -200 fleets.

KLM and UTA were the only two airlines to convert existing 747-200’s to stretched upper deck configuration.

No -100’s were ever converted, however two late built 747-146B(SR)’s were delivered new to JAL in 1986 with a stretched upper deck.

The 747-300, like other classic 747’s, could be powered by the CF6, JT89D, or the RB211. Operating weights

PART TWO

were very similar to that of the 747200B. The stretched upper deck allowed for up to a total capacity of 69 passengers in an all economy configuration. A total of 81 747-300’s were built, and just three remain active in 2018. The last passenger airline to fly the airplane is Mahan Air in Iran, which operates a former UTA / Air France 747-300 Combi.

ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 11

The 747-400 was launched in 1985 and was the first major change to the production of the 747. Featuring a redesigned wing with winglets, a full glass cockpit, and a two man crew, the 747-400 would be able to replace the 747SP on ultra long haul flights while adding capacity. It would become the first new variant of the 747 that would require a different type rating to operate.

The -400 first flew in 1988 and was certified in early 1989, and delivered to launch customer Northwest Airlines that

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year. Northwest, and later Delta Air Lines, would eventually operate 16 of the type.

Delta would be the last US passenger carrier to operate a scheduled passenger 747 in December 2017, when it retired its 747-400. United would also retire its 747400 fleet in November of 2017.

The 747-400 was available as both a freighter and passenger airplane, as well as a Combi. Engine options were the PW4056, PW4060, PW4062, CF6, and RB211. The -400 was the first 747 to not have the JT9D as a power plant option,

though the PW4000 series shares a similar engine core to the JT9.

The -400ER would first fly in 2002 and was available as a freighter and passenger airplane, though only six passenger examples would see airline service with Qantas. The -400ER features an increased maximum takeoff weight of 910,000 lbs and additional fuel tanks. The standard 400 has a maximum takeoff weight of 875,000 pounds. 694 747-400’s were built, and 364 remain active, making it the most popular 747 variant ever built.

The 747-8 features an all new wing but full crew commonality with the -400. The flight management system is updated, with a similar FMC to that of the 777.

First flying in 2010 as a freighter, thus far 122 airplanes have been built, with 31

still on order. Several fly as business jets, and Lufthansa, Korean Air, and Air China are the only passenger airlines to operate the -8. Featuring a lengthened fuselage, the -8 has a maximum takeoff weight of 987,000 pounds. Two -8’s that were des-

tined for Transaero will become the replacement airplanes for the -200’s that operate as Air Force One. With a maximum speed of Mach 0.9, the -8 is only powered by the GE GEnx-2B67.

DREAMJETS 1/500 scale plastic Jetways.

$12 USD per box of 2 For larger orders email: sales@glitter-dragon.com

MODEL AIRLINER

ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 13

MORE PERSONAL SPACE

Airbus Industries A380-841 [F-WWDD] Phoenix 1/400

Few aircraft have started as many Boeing vs Airbus flamewars as the A380, with Boeing lovers taking its role as an usurper of the 747 very personally whilst delighting in its relatively limited sales compared to the 'Queen of the Skies'. More level heads can take a more reasoned view of the Whalejet, which is a spectacular feat of engineering.

Airbus has certainly put a lot of effort into improving sales and few prototypes have worn as many different special schemes as the four prototypes. This gives plenty of opportunity for 1:400 scale models with the fight currently between JC Wings / Gemini Jets / HYJLwings and Phoenix.

THE REAL THING The Airbus A380 has reached the order milestone of 317 units, which is in historic terms not a bad total, but with 142 of those being from Emirates it is often seen like a disappointment. This is partly down to the change towards frequency rather than capacity, to appease frequent flying business travelers and take advantage of lighter market regulation. This is a shame as it seems the A380 offers one way to decrease aviation's environmental impact by enabling efficient mass movement. As it is the type it's primarily used on high density long haul routes between capacity restricted hubs like Heathrow and Los Angeles.

The first A380, F-WWOW, was rolled out on January 8, 2005 and flew for the first time on April 27. The certification programme for the Rolls-Royce Trent 970 powered A380-841 was completed in late 14

Article and Photos by Richard Stretton

March 2006, however service entry was delayed until October 2007. Nonetheless the prototypes were kept busy on sales tours and testing improvements.

F-WWDD was the fourth aircraft completed and first flew on October 18, 2005.

Soon afterwards she wore Emirates colours at the 2005 Dubai Airshow. By early February she had shed her Emirates colours for cold weather trials at Iqaluit in the Artic Circle, but by the 17th of the month she was in the Singapore Airlines livery and on her way to the Asian Aerospace show in Singapore, where she undertook flying displays.

In May 2006 she was painted into a version of the Airbus house colours for the first time and performed in May at ILA Berlin. Three days later on May 18, 2006 F-WWDD became the first A380 to land at London Heathrow and gave a fly-by of the Airbus facilities at Bristol Filton, before returning for more flying at ILA Berlin, this time with Lufthansa titles added.

She was kept busy into July, and now wearing Etihad titles, for hot weather testing in the UAE. Into 2007, she continued as part of the test programme whilst taking time out in March to display for

Rolls-Royce employees at Derby, Chester and Bristol. She was completely unpainted for this activity but gained "Greener, Cleaner, Quieter, Smarter" titles in 2008 for tests using environmentally friendlier alternative fuel. F-WWDD performed at the 2008 ILA wearing this scheme but gained another special livery "A better environment inside and out" and "Airbus A380 see the bigger picture" by July, in time for the first visit of an A380 to Manchester and an appearance at Farnborough.

It wasn't until mid-2009 that F-WWDD was repainted into Airbuses' new house colours when she performed at the Paris Airshow and soon after the EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh in the USA. Her travels took her to Moscow in October and the Dubai Airshow in November. Highlights for 2010 included being the first A380 to visit Amsterdam, on July 15, further visits to ILA Berlin and Farnborough plus an appearance at the Zhuhai airshow in China.

The routine of testing and airshows continued for WWDD until 2017. Over the later years of her career she wore several different short term titles with slogans like "Love at first flight", "Own the Sky",

"iflyA380.com" and "More personal space". Finally she was retired in February 2017 and sent to the "Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace in Paris Le Bourget.

Despite this retirement she was still able to be used to display the mockup of the A380 plus with winglets and cabin layout.

A380 production appears to be slowing as orders have dwindled in recent years, however an A380neo is still a possibility and F-WWDD certainly put in the hard yards supporting the programme that bore her.

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 total score of 30.

THE MOULD In general, and excusing their 747, Phoenix produces excellent widebody moulds and accordingly their A380 has an excellent reputation. The first thing that is noticeable about the mould when you handle it is how much lighter it is than the Gemini / JC Wings mould. It actually weighs less than their 777 mould and so I assume it is hollow, not that any of this has any impact on the mould’s quality.

Beginning at the front the nose is pretty much spot on and has the strongly rounded curve at the nosecone that is too sloped on the top side in the Gemini version. This alone makes the mould superior however there are a few other places where the mould excels over the Gemini specifically the undercarriage and the tailcone.

The undercarriage is very nicely detailed and the maingear bogies all move up and down independently. The tailcone mean-

MODEL AIRLINER

while has excellent APU detailing where the exhaust pipe meets the squared off tip.

Additionally, the fuselage mould has a small rooftop dome in relief unlike on the Gemini and also has 4 of the 5 aerials compared to 3 on the Gemini. The rest of the mould is almost faultless. The huge gullwing profiled wings are excellent as are the engines and pylons. About the only way the mould could be improved would be to introduce see through engines with separate fanblades.

SCORE – 10

PAINT & LIVERY This aircraft wore a variety of liveries during her career but for the last 8 years she wore Airbuses’ smart house scheme, which helpfully left most of the fuselage blank for various promotional slogans.

This model wears the ‘More personal space’ titling which was worn from October 2013 for the Dubai Airshow and into 2014. This version of the livery also had the more modern Airbus typeface applied.

The livery only uses a few colours – a dark purplish blue and a lighter blue form the main combo with pink and purple for the special titling. It does seem Phoenix have perhaps made the dark blue a little too dark but it isn’t a million miles away from the correct colour.

The placement of livery elements is accurate everywhere except for the main A380 titling on the tail, which appears to be slightly too low. Otherwise livery detail is good down to the red lower half of the winglets to the Engine Alliance logo on the nacelles and the airline customer logos. The logos although tiny are readable under a magnifying glass and include customers like Austral, Virgin Atlantic, Skymark and Hong Kong Airlines that have never taken delivery of aircraft.

SCORE - 9

PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL The A380 despite its massive size doesn’t have huge amounts of detail on the fuselage requiring printing. The printing is very good especially on the engines and many entry doors. Underneath printing is a little Spartan as is often the case with Phoenix who prefer to use the moulded undercarriage doors do the talking rather than using outlining on them.

Pleasingly the engine inners and fanblades are nice and dark and not silver but on the flipside the engine wheelhubs are silver, when they ought to be white.

Construction quality is good especially on the undercarriage, which for once has no tyre tabs. The wings also have a nice close fit to the fuselage. Slightly spoiling things is the starboard horizontal stabiliser, which is not fully fitted into the slot at the front. It isn’t major, but is noticeable in comparison to the other side of the model.

SCORE – 8

CONCLUSION My first Phoenix A380 is an excellent model and easily one of the best Phoenix models I’ve reviewed. The mould is superb, which helps a lot and there are only a few small defects that cause it to drop points. If only Phoenix could put this kind of effort into some of their narrowbody moulds then they would be competing more strongly with JC Wings, Aviation400 and Panda. As it is the A380, along with the 777 and A350, remain the primary reasons to buy Phoenix models in 2017.

FINAL SCORE – 27/30 SCORING CHART

ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 15

MINIATUR

Article and Photos by Donald Gardner

WUNDERLAND

Nestled in the city centre of Hamburg, Germany is a fantasy land full of planes, trains and automobiles. Since its opening in 2001, Miniatur Wunderland has attracted over 10 million visitors from around the world. Join me as I embark on an adventure through one of the museum's most popular exhibitions, Knuffingen Airport.

History and Location Miniatur Wunderland is located in Hamburg's Historic Warehouse District, near the River Elbe. This area was once home to many maritime shipping companies, who used the river as a means of transit. It's a short walk (15-20 minutes) from Hauptbahnhof, Hamburg's main rail station.

Construction of the exhibition began in 2000 and today, Miniatur Wunderland is home to the largest model railway layout in the world. It also features a popular attraction, Knuffingen Airport. Miniatur Wunderland is a favorite among tourists visiting Hamburg, and therefore I recommend getting your tickets ahead of time to avoid waiting in long lines.

You can make a reservation on-line via Miniatur Wunderland's website. The reservation will provide you with a designated time slot for your visit.

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You can also check the estimated wait times for entry. Admission prices are very reasonable.

Knuffingen Airport Knuffingen Airport is an impressive exhibit to say the least and is a very popular stop for museum visitors.

Construction of the layout began in 2005, and was completed in 2011.

Over 150,000 hours of labor and 3.5 million euros were required to complete the massive project.

Admission Prices

Children (Smaller than 1 meter/3 feet accompanied by parent) Free Children (16 years old or less) 6.50 euro Adults 13 euro

One of the most amazing accomplishments of the design team was their ability to simulate a realistic airport with lighting, parking stands, moving planes, ground service equipment and vehicles. Knuffingen even boasts an arrivals and departures board which corresponds with the airport's arriving and departing traffic.

The airfield is home to 55 aircraft ranging from the Lockheed Constellation to Airbus A380. If you look closely during your visit, you may even see an unexpected guest, the Starship Enterprise. The layout accu-

MODEL AIRLINER

rately simulates vehicle and aircraft ground movements. Ground service equipment transverse the entire airport and simulate refueling, and cargo loading. Furthermore, airliners operating in and out of Knuffingen simulate all phases of a routine airline flight including pushback, taxi, takeoff, landing and parking. The airport features a main terminal building along with several remote parking aprons as well as a cargo facility.

One of the most exquisite features which has been incorporated into the layout, is its ability to transition be-

tween daytime and night conditions every 15 minutes. This allows for the airport's impressive apron, taxiway, and runway lighting to be showcased.

Although I've only shared a few detals about this captivating exhibition, hopefully I've given you a reason to visit Hamburg! After all, I don't want to compeltely spill the beans by divulging all of the exhibit's mangificent features. For the model aircraft collector and enthusiast it is simply mesmerizing and you won't be disappointed!

ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 17

K C E D S ' R E SPOTT Welcome to the debut of our Spotter’s Deck. We realize that many aviation enthusiasts are photographers

as well so we wanted to showcase their talents with this new section. Enjoy the photos from planespotters worldwide!

arrives at 400 N674US, st Boeing 747la s ne Li r Ai Delta ional from . Paul Internat ort.

Minneapolis St rnational Airp te In n so ck Ja ld fie ts ar H a Atlant Jeff Comfort.

Photo credit

down touches ir 747-8 al A n o n ti a a re Ko s Intern le e g n A at Los credit . Photo Airport ez. g omin u Daniel D

Hawaiian Airli nes 767-3G5( ER) N581HA depa rts Phoenix Sky-Harbor In ternational Ai rport at Sunset. Ph oto credit Alex Kulak.

jetBlue Airways Airbus A320-200 N746JB tax ies for departure at Ft. Lauder dale Hollywood Interna tional Airport. Photo credit Daniel Dominguez.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900ER N265AK “Honoring those Who Serve” livery afternoon departure from Phoenix Sky-Harbor International Airport .

Photo credit Alex Kulak.

Want to be featured in our Spotter’s Deck?

Submit your photos to info@modelairliner.com!

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COLLECTOR'S SPOTLIGHT PHOTOS BY JUSTIN HAYVICE

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ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 19

2017 MODEL AWARDS COMPILED BY RICHARD STRETTON AND DONALD GARDNER

Welcome to our 2017 Model and Manufacturer of the Year Awards. This past year, The Diecast Flier and Model Airliner Magazine reviewed a host of models from major manufacturers. We know it takes great deal of effort and time to design and produce model aircraft so we wanted to recognize those manufacturers who have scored highly on a consistent basis in our model reviews. Join us as we breakdown our scores of the major model manufacturers including Gemini Jets, Aeroclassics, Inflight200, JC Wings, Phoenix and Panda to see who produced the best products in 2017!

This year’s review and awards will consist of the following: 1/200 Scale Model of the Year 1/200 Scale Manufacturer of the Year 1/400 Scale Model of the Year 1/400 Scale Manufacturer of the Year

Model Scoring and Evaluation If you’ve followed our reviews throughout the year you maybe familiar with our scoring system. If not, here’s a little tutorial. All model reviews are evaluated in three areas: • Mould • Paint and Livery • Printing and Quality Control Each area has a maximum possible score of 10 points, so the highest score attainable for each model is 30 points. The total score then falls somewhere within the range of the scoring chart.

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1/200 Model and Manufacturer Awards In 2017, Model Airliner Magazine and The Diecast Flier reviewed a total of 15 1/200 scale models from various manufacturers including Gemini Jets, Inflight200 and Herpa. Here’s a breakdown of the 1/200 scale reviews by manufacturer. Please note, we did not receive any models from any of the manufacturers for review purposes. The models you have seen throughout our various review articles are owned by the reviewers.

Gemini Jets=25 A total of 9 Gemini Jets models were reviewed by either The Diecast Flier or Model Airliner Magazine and overall they produced a large number of quality 1/200 scale products. Gemini Jets models averaged a score of 25 points. We reviewed a range of aircraft models from the United Express Embraer 120 to the Delta Air Lines A350. Overall, Gemini’s moulds seemed to be it’s strong point with an average score of 8.5.

We were quite impressed with the 1/200 scale widebody aircraft mould.

Our highest scoring model was the American Airlines Boeing 747-100 which received a perfect score of 30. The Delta Air Lines A350 model received the next highest score as it came in with a 29. Below are the average scores for Gemini Jets when it comes to mould, paint and livery and printing and quality control.

Inflight200=26.6 Last year, a total of 5 Inflight200 models were reviewed by either The Diecast Flier or Model Airliner Magazine. Overall, Inflight had higher average scores when it came to the mould, paint and livery and print and quality control (See chart at right). Inflight also averaged a score of 26.6 in each model review. Inflight200’s rendition of Iron Maiden’s Ed Force 1 Boeing 747-400 model was the high scoring model as it came in with a 29. The United Airlines Boeing 777-300 “New Spirit of United”, Northwest Airlines DC-9, and American Airlines B747SP were the next highest as each model scored a 27. Overall, the detail of Inflight200’s models are top notch, from paint and livery to print and quality control.

1/200 Manufacturer OF THE YEAR Inflight200 and Gemini Jets, both produced many high quality 1/200 scale models this year. However, Inflight200’s average score of 26.6 per review, topped Gemini Jets score of 25.

Therefore Inflight200 is our 2017 1/200 Scale Manufacturer of the Year!

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1/200 MODEL OF THE YEAR When it comes to model of the year, one aircraft stood out in its review.

This was Gemini Jets rendition of the American Airlines Boeing 747100. The classic model scored a perfect 10 in each category (mould, paint and livery, printing and quality control). It was the only 1/200 scale model to receive a perfect score and therefore it is our 2017 1/200 Scale Model of the Year!

Our 2017 1/200 Scale Model of the Year is: Gemini Jets American Airlines Boeing 747-100

1/400 Model and Manufacturer Awards Richard Stretton presents the 1/400 Scale Model and Manufacturer Awards.

Since March 2017 when I started reviewing 1:400 scale models on Diecast Flier there have been 64 individual reviews covering 61 new release models and 3 older releases. I have actively tried to cover a wide range of moulds this year and avoid duplication so the resulting scores can be used to provide an overall indicator of manufacturer performance.

But which models truly impressed, which did not and who was the best manufacturer of the year? As an overall total of the year you can see that the output from the manufacturers is comfortably falling within the acceptable range but is close enough to the cut-off to indicate that substantial numbers of models didn’t make it. The chart at right presents the number of models I reviewed by manufacturer.

Gemini Jets featured most heavily, not because I particularly collect them, but because my supplier could easily send them through. Aeroclassics feature second heaviest mainly because they are my personal favourite manufacturer. Phoenix and JC Wings get a solid number of reviews whilst Panda is chomping at the heels of the rest. The three models reviewed made for Skywings were actually made by either Panda (1) or JC Wings (2) so from this point on will be included in those makers scores. Here is the 2017 rundown of the big 5 1/400 scale manufacturers from worst to best:

Gemini Jets = 23.4 The 18 Gemini Jets reviewed get only a total average of 23.4 – the lowest of all the manufacturers. The best scoring model from them was the fantasy Norwegian Boeing 737 MAX-8 and the next was the Emirates A380-800 EK-EEQ. Far too often however Gemini’s models are an exercise in mediocrity with the scoring grouped perilously close to the cutoff mark. Only those two models scored 27 or above whilst 10 models were in the 23-26 range. That left an unhealthy 6 models languishing in the rubbish categories, one of which plumbed the depths of a 17. This was of course the Aeromar ATR-42, which although using an excellent mould had a shocking level of livery research and quality control.

Looking at the total average category scores it is clear that Gemini Jets biggest weakness are the moulds they use. There are plenty of paint and quality issues but overall they iron themselves out for a decent score.

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Phoenix = 23.8 When Phoenix stick to their raison d’etre of Asian widebodies they tend to score well. Even so their highest score this year was 28 for an Aeromexico 777-200ER. They did get three more models into the highest ‘High Flyer’ category and three more into the 2nd highest ‘Workhorse’ range. Unfortunately they also had two ‘Gas Guzzler’s and one ‘Hangar Queen’. The latter was the awful Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 – but the failings of that model apply to almost all their 737-800s in 2017.

Looking at the total averages Phoenix have quite a high mould score but it is nowadays still below everyone else but Gemini. It is the quality and printing areas where they fail worst.

Aeroclassics = 24.8 Comfortably into third place is Aeroclassics. They actually have three models scoring 28 and another three at 26 or 27 – all in the ‘High Flyer’ range. They also get seven models into the ‘Workhorse’ area. Unfortunately they have let themselves down quite a bit as well. Nothing scores lower than the “Gas Guzzler” category but there are three models in this range. For me the best model was the Aero California Douglas DC-9 and the worst was the Aeroflot Airbus A310 F-OGQQ. The Aeroclassics total averages tell a story of a manufacturer rather resting on its laurels. They have an excellent mould total score – far better than anyone else given the huge range of moulds they are using.

However the print and quality control score is the second lowest – only Phoenix are worse. I had previously not had to worry about this category for Aeroclassics.

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JC Wings = 25.8 JC Wings have had an excellent year. Their best model was the Air China 777-300ER on the outstanding new mould but four other models get into the “High Flyer” range including the lovely flaps down 787-9. It is true that their score is bolstered somewhat by Gemini taking the flak for their inferior Airbus A320 and A320neo moulds (which are shared by both manufacturers) but even so I have been impressed by the other new moulds and the care the products have seen overall.

The worst model is the Royal Thai Air Force A340-500 but JC Wings themselves admitted to me they understood the inferiority of the mould – not that it's the only issue it has. Overall the JC Wings mould score is as I said bolstered by the absence of an A320 but is higher than Phoenix showing that JC are making swift progress. Impressively they get an excellent print and quality score.

Panda Models = 28.0 JC Wings have had an excellent year. Their best model was the Air China 777-300ER on the outstanding new mould but four other models get into the “High Flyer” range including the lovely flaps down 787-9. It is true that their score is bolstered somewhat by Gemini taking the flak for their inferior Airbus A320 and A320neo moulds (which are shared by both manufacturers) but even so I have been impressed by the other new moulds and the care the products have seen overall.

The worst model is the Royal Thai Air Force A340-500 but JC Wings themselves admitted to me they understood the inferiority of the mould – not that that is the only issue it has. Overall the JC Wings mould score is as I said bolstered by the absence of an A320 but is higher than Phoenix showing that JC are making swift progress. Impressively they get an excellent print and quality score.

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1/400 MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR Our 2017 1/400 Manufacturer of the Year is: Panda Models

1/400 SCALE MODEL OF THE YEAR In the model of the year category 3 models scored 29. The Gemini Jets Norwegian 737 MAX-8 is a fantasy model so it can’t win top spot, which leaves it between the Panda produced Skywings China Eastern A330 and the JC Wings Air China 77W. I am giving it to the latter since JC Wings are untouched by scandal and this new mould shows great potential.

Our 2017 1/400 Scale Model of the Year is: JC Wings Air China 777-300ER

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ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 25

AIRPORT SPOTLIGHT

KESTREL HEATH AIRPORT As part of this month’s Airport Spotlight, we visit the Kestrel Heath Airport, a 1/500 scale layout.

Named after the Kestrel bird, the airport is an impressive diorama to say the least. We recently had the opportunity to chat with airport designer Kian McVicker.

Current Location: Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England Scale: 1/500 MAM = Model Airliner Magazine | KM = Kian McVicker

MAM: How did you decide on the name Kestrel Heath Airport?

KM: My airport is actually named after the Kestrel bird.

They’re a common site near my hometown!

MAM: Closest Airport to your hometown?

KM: Doncaster Robin Hood Airport (DSA). It’s a wonderful airfield to catch a glimpse of rare cargo aircraft such as the An-124 and An-12.

MAM: Do you have a favorite airport?

KM: Hard question really. In England I would say Manchester International Airport just because of the variety of aircraft. Everything from A380 to standard 737s. But I love Corfu Airport in Greece the approach into the airport is amazing. Also both are great for plane spotting.

MAM: When did you begin to collect diecast aircraft models?

KM: I began collecting in 2015, when I acquired a British Caledonian 1/100 scale model from a model shop in East Yorkshire. Since then, I’ve discovered 1/500 scale aircraft models and have collected that scale. My first 1/500 model was a British Airways 747 with the Ireland tail. The majority of my collection now consists of 1/500 scale models.

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MAM: Why did you choose 1/500 scale size for your airport? Is there something that intrigues you about this particular scale?

KM: I believe the size of 1/500 scale models is appealing to collectors and makes it easier to create and display aircraft. It’s great for making the most of any space. I've used half of my spare room to create my diorama, but have the capacity to display every model I own if desired.

Although, the scale is small, I feel the detail aspect is still there!

MAM: What inspired you to design your own airport diorama?

MAM: Can you tell us how you designed and constructed your airport?

KM: Well it actually resulted from a space issue when it came to displaying my models. I filled three large shelves, and decided to research display ideas to solve this problem. I found several model airports online, and decided that an airport diorama could help me free up some capacity of my shelves.

KM: I gained several ideas from researching actual airports that exist. Designing was very simple, yet complicated. I ordered several Custom Made Model Buildings

by Dave Southam and used realistic like model grass designed for hobby layouts. A wood base was utilized for the layout and I painted part of the diorama gray. Pens were used to simulate realistic airport markings.

MAM: What is the largest aircraft that’s part of your layout? Smallest aircraft?

KM: Largest to visit KTH is the An-225. However the A380 is the largest passenger aircraft to operate, while the smallest is the Welcome Air Dornier 328.

MAM: Favorite aircraft diorama collection?

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KM: I really like all my models, but my favorite is my Luftwaffe A310. The aircraft looks great on my airport. I’m also a big fan of military models such as the United States Air Force (USAF) C-17. However, I do love all models!

MAM: How many aircraft are based at your airport?

KM: We have over 20 airlines represented as part of the layout which include passenger, cargo and military aircraft.

I happen to have a large collection of TUI models, as well as Royal Air Force and United States Air Force aircraft.

MAM: Are there any future expansion plans for your airport diorama layout?

KM: I may expand in the future. Maybe a second runway near the Heritage hangar. However, any expansion will most likely take place in 2019.

MAM: Do you have a website or location where other collectors can see your airport?

KM: Yes you can find me at the following pages You can Like my Page on Facebook @KestrelHeathAirportUK You can follow me on Twitter - @KestrelHeathUK You can follow me on Instagram - @kestrelheathairportuk

Want to be featured in our Airport Spotlight Series?

Send a photo of your diorama to info@modelairliner.com MODEL AIRLINER

ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 27

1/400 SCALE REVIEW

Southwest Boeing 737 MAX 8 Gemini Jets

As the Boeing 737 MAX 8 begins to make its debut in North America, Gemini Jets recently became the first manufacturer to release a model of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in the Southwest Airlines livery. I’ve gone over the model from left to right, top to bottom, back to front, and I have to say, I think it came out astonishingly well considering Gemini Jets 1/400 scale models haven’t always received the best reviews.

I truly believe this model lives up to the Gemini Jets phrase “As Real As it Gets”, which is displayed on all of their boxes.

Let's checkout some of the characteristics that makes this model one of the best on the market!

The model comes in an all white box, as all the Southwest models do, with a promotional picture of the aircraft on the front, along with the Southwest Airlines logo, and the aircraft type that rests just underneath the logo. The right and left side of the box show a smaller picture of the aircraft, along with the item number which is GJSWA1676. The bottom displays 5 traits, which are listed on every Gemini Jets box, and lastly the back, contains a short summary of model logistics.

Article and Photos by Lynden Westrich

A Few Facts About the MAX 8 All in all, I think the MAX 8 is going to be one of the next best things for aviation and will to revolutionize the industry in all sorts of ways. It is also slated to provide a more competitive advantage for its operators as it will reduce operating costs by 8%, while its Advanced Technology Winglets improve fuel efficiency by nearly 2%. The aircraft will be environmentally friendly by reducing carbon emissions, and its noise output level will be reduced by almost 40% compared to older aircraft.

Meanwhile, improved flight deck technology is slated to help ease the delivery of information to flightdeck crews.

The Review 28

In this review I take a look at the aircraft mould, paint and livery as well as printing and quality control. Each section has a maximum score of 10 points, and the highest attainable score for the model will be 30 points.

The Mould The mould is very robust and features both diecast metal as well as plastic parts.

The majority of the fuselage is comprised of diecast, as are the wings. However, the horizontal stabilizers seem to have been replaced, with a cheaper plastic material.

Although it lightens the overall weight of the

model, it’s a downgrade from the metal horizontal stabilizers once found on many of Gemini Jets 737 models. I hope for the future sake of the MAX, or any other 737 released, Gemini will re-introduce the metal stabilizers. It adds more realism, detail and value to the model, instead of having the plastic ones which can easily break and are difficult to repair. Luckily enough, I haven’t had that issue, yet.

As far as the details they are all there in my opinion as the model features the wifi dome, and VHF communications antennas just like the real 737 MAX 8 does.

Gemini Jets has also done a nice job modeling the LEAP 1B engines found on the 737 MAX, which are larger than the normal CFM56-7B engines, typically found on other 737 variants.

Score 10/10 Paint and Livery When it comes to paint and livery, Gemini Jets has accurately replicated Southwest’s new “Heart” livery on this aircraft model.

The new livery features yellow, white and blue colors which embrace portions of the

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aircraft’s tail, winglets and fuselage. The new livery has a special meaning as well as its intended to showcase the strength and passion of Southwest’s 46,000 employees who help connect the airline’s passengers throughout the carrier’s route network.

Score 10/10 Print and Quality Control

the MAX 8 launch customer, the model will be a treasure for years to come. The value for the price is appropriate as the detail, and paint and livery make this MAX 8 model one of the best. It will be interesting to see if other manufacturers try to render this model, as it will be very hard to beat the job Gemini Jets has done!

Total Score 30/30

Print and quality control are top notch as well! The registration N8705Q is rendered correctly on both sides of the rear fuselage. Meanwhile, the engine nacelles feature white Southwest.com lettering. The aircraft registration, N8705Q is also correctly rendered and the Southwest Heart logo can be found near the forward entry doors. Emergency overwing exit markings and entry/exit doors are very detailed as well. Overall the detail is superb.

Score 10/10 Conclusion Overall, I would highly recommend this model to any collector or Southwest Airlines fan! Given the fact that Southwest is

ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 29

COLLECTOR'S PICS Welcome to Collector's Pics. Here is a selection of pictures we received from fellow collectors and readers of Model Airliner Magazine.

Gemini Jets 1/200 United Express CRJ700. Photo credit Omid Sarmadi.

At Right: Aeroclassics 1/400 Scale Aer Lingus Lockheed Constellation. Photo credit Akira Hiraco.

Hasegawa 1/200 Aeronaves DC-3 Photo credit Akira Hiraco.

Want your pictures to be featured in the next issue?

Submit your photos to: info@modelairliner.com!

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1/200 SCALE REVIEW

TAP Portugal Airbus A330-300 SkyShop 1/200

Headquartered in Lisbon, TAP Portugal serves as the flag carrier of Portugal and has a rich history which dates back to its founding in 1945. TAP currently operates an all Airbus fleet of 67 aircraft, ranging from the A319 to A340. In 2017, the airline announced it would celebrate its history and relationship with Portugal by re-painting an A330-300 aircraft in its 1950s, ‘Transportes Aereos Portugueses’ retro livery. SkyShop Lisbon, a model store located near Lisbon Portella Airport has released a 1/200 scale model of the TAP Portugal “retro livery”. They produce a wide variety of TAP models under an official license from TAP Portugal. For any TAP, or airline history fan, this model is a must. Its livery features many details unique to the history of TAP as well as Portugal.

Article and Photos by Donald Gardner

THE REVIEW

In this review I evaluate the aircraft’s mould, paint and livery, and printing and 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 I have been impressed with the mould of the model and its detail since I initially pulled it out of the box. The A330-300 mould, is solid, robust, and is constructed of diecast metal.

It comes with landing gear, which can be displayed in the gear up and gear down configurations. A stand is also included for display purposes. The A330-300 is outfitted with 2 Rolls Royce Trent 772B60 engines which each produce 71,100 pounds of thrust. SkyShop has done a phenomenal job with the engines as they are detailed down to the spinner. The model also has a red crown jewel beacon, and VHF communication antennas located on the upper and lower fuselage.

I didn’t notice any flaws with the mould.

Score 10/10

AIRCRAFT HISTORY TAP Portugal’s retro livery originally debuted when the carrier introduced its Lockheed Super Constellation into its fleet in the 1950s.

Last year, TAP announced it would re-decorate one of it’s A330-300 aircraft in its 1950s “retro” livery, to celebrate the airline’s history and special relationship with Portugal. The aircraft features the ‘Transportes Aéreos Portugueses’ paint scheme and is also named “Portugal”. The A330300 is the 2nd aircraft to be named after the country, as a Boeing 747 received this honor in the early 1970s. The aircraft has a registration of CS-TOV and seats 285 passengers. Prior to CS-TOV, the last aircraft to be decorated in the ‘Transportes Aereos Portugueses’ livery was a TAP Boeing 727-200.

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PAINT AND LIVERY The paint and livery are my favorite attributes of the model, and tell a story about TAP as well as the history of Portugal. If you are curious what TAP stands for all you have to do is look at the title ‘Transportes Aéreos Portugueses’, displayed on the upper portion of the right and left forward fuselage. As mentioned earlier, the aircraft is named “Portugal” and this title is displayed on the forward nose area of the fuselage along with Portugal’s coat of arms symbol. The coat of arms, which is comprised of red, blue and gold, was adopted by the Kingdom of Portugal during the Middle Ages and is the main heraldic insignia of Portugal. The Star Alliance logo is displayed near the forward entry door. The majority of the main fuselage is decked out in red and white striping, while the underbelly has a metallic grey. All in all, the color detail of the paint and livery is impressive. The rendition of the code of arms is stunning , as I can’t imagine it was easy to scale this design.

The Portuguese flag is also displayed just in front of the ‘Transportes Aéreos Portugueses’ title.

Score 10/10 PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL SkyShop has certainly done an excellent job when it comes to the print and quality control standards of this model. One of the most impressive features one will notice, are the print markings on the engines and cargo doors. The engine access

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panel doors and cargo door markings are accurately rendered. Entry and exit door markings are appropriately scaled and easy to read. The aircraft registration CSTOV is printed on the outboard areas of the wings, as well the aft fuselage. One of the most of my favorite print features is the “Do Not Walk Outside this Area” marking depicted on both wings. I only noticed a minor flaw when it comes to the paint, on the right wing leading edge and wingtip area which seems to be a bit chipped. Other than that the model’s print and quality control is superb.

Score 8/10 CONCLUSION This model is one of the best 1/200 scale releases I’ve seen and I will be excited to see what other 1/200 scale models SkyShop will produce. From nose to tail, the livery is stunning and accurately reflects that found on the actual TAP A330 “Retro” aircraft. If you’ve read any of my previous reviews, you’ll know that details are the main selling point of a model for me.

I have to say, I enjoyed learning about all of the history the aircraft represents and how it relates to the history of TAP and Portugal. Any retro airline livery aficionado should consider adding this model to their collection!

Final Score 28/30

MODEL TRIBUTE FEATURE

THE END OF AN ERA On October 27, 2017, Germany's second largest carrier Air Berlin ceased trading. The carrier was headquartered in Berlin. We have a look at some of Air Berlin's aircraft in miniature scale in this tribute to the carrier.

Photos courtesy of Raimond Schulz

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ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 33

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EMERGENCY....EMERGENCY!

When it comes to model dioramas we often overlook other areas of the airport. We are proud to introduce a lovely selection of Airport Fire Trucks owned and photographed by collector Shrey Chopra! These are awesome models in 1/87 scale! Models here include the Delhi/Fujairah- Rosenbauer Panther CA5, Singapore- New Rosenbauer Panther, Hongkong- Iveco Magirus Super Dragon 8x8, Frankfurt Ziegler Z8 XXL and the Rosenbauer Simba 8x8.

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ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 35

1/200 SCALE REVIEW

TWA Boeing 707-320 Herpa Wings 1/200

Although TWA no longer exists as an airline, it is still one of the most recognizable brand names across the world. From its founding in 1924 until its acquisition by American Airlines in 2001, TWA was a major player in aviation history in the United States and Worldwide. One of the staples of the TWA fleet was the Boeing 707-320.

Herpa Wings has produced a 1/200 scale model of a TWA 707-320 with the registration title N764TW. It’s certainly a model which has the ability to restore the nostalgia of the golden age of air travel as well as the airline’s history!

TWA AND THE BOEING 707 TWA introduced the Boeing 707 into its fleet in the late 1950s as it worked to phase out the Lockheed Constellation.

TWA originally operated the 707-120 domestically, but needed a version of the 707 for intercontinental travel. This led to TWA’s addition of the 707-320 variant and N764TW was delivered to the airline in 1959.

THE REVIEW In this review I evaluate the aircraft’s mould, paint and livery as well as print and 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 Herpa Wings has produced an impressive mould of the TWA 707. Constructed of diecast metal, the model features a polished landing gear, polished underbelly 36

Article and Photos by Donald Gardner

well, detailed landing gear, HF and VHF communication antennas and is equipped with 4 Pratt & Whitney JT4A-3&5 engines. The landing gear is glued into place, therefore the aircraft can only be displayed in the gear down configuration.

The HF (High Frequency Radio) antenna, used by the 707 for long range communications, is attached to the upper section of the vertical stabilizer. VHF communication antennas are located on the upper and lower fuselage. When it comes to propulsion, the 707-320 model is equipped with 4 Pratt & Whitney JT4-3&5 which have a thrust out put of 17,100 pounds each.

Overall, I have no complaints with the mould other than the fact I wish

Herpa would’ve chosen a magnetic gear as opposed to a fixed landing gear. It’s certainly nice to have the option to display an aircraft in both the gear up and gear down configurations. Another thing I would’ve liked to have seen is a red jewel beacon on the upper and lower fuselage.

Instead, Herpa Wings has simply painted a red dot on the top mid-section of the fuselage to simulate a red beacon.

Score 9/10

PAINT AND LIVERY

PRINT & QUALITY CONTROL

CONCLUSION

One of the first noticeable things about this model is the Starstream livery and Double Globe TWA logo. This particular livery, preceeded the TWA Red Stripe livery and debuted as TWA begin its transition into the jet age. Red striping graces the fuselage from nose to tail, while the remainder of the fuselage is painted in white. If you look closely, the red paint appears to form the shape of an arrow.

The lower portion of the fuselage as well as the underbelly is nicely polished and represents the aluminum fuselage found on the Starstream livery. The Double Globe logo features two golden globes which are connected, along with red TWA lettering in the center. The paint and livery colors on the model are accurately rendered as well and Herpa Wings has certainly done an excellent job when it comes to paint and livery. The area just below the cockpit windows and the plane’s nosecone and are painted in black. Honestly, no complaints here.

The printing and quality control of N764TW are excellent. Red TWA lettering is painted on the outboard section of the wing and an American flag graces the top portion of the vertical stabilizer. The Starstream lettering is printed parallel to the elevators and is positioned just aft of both rear entry/exit doors.

Overwing exit markings are also featured on the model as is entry/exit door lettering. Herpa Wings has also made an attempt to re-create windshield wipers, but they’re printed very faintly with black paint. The thin paint makes them a bit difficult to see due to the fact the nose area below the cockpit windows is also painted in black.

Herpa Wings has done a fantastic job with its model rendition of N764TW. It has rendered TWA’s Starstream livery in an accurate fashion. Furthermore, the printing and quality control of the model are excellent. If you’re a TWA, or Boeing 707 fan and haven’t purchased this model, I recommend adding this nostalgic airliner to your collection. I’ve certainly added this model to my list of favorites!

Final Score 28/30

Score 9/10

Score 10/10

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ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 37

AMSTERDAM COLLECTOR FAIR 2018 On February 25th, a new aviation fair will make it’s debut in the Netherlands. Fair organizer Patrick Van Rooijen and his team hope that the Amsterdam Aviation Collector’s Fair will become one of the premium shows for aviation enthusiasts worldwide. Model Airliner Magazine will serve as the Official Partner of the 1st Annual Amsterdam Aviation Collector’s Fair and recently had the opportunity to chat with Patrick about his vision for the event!

2018 Amsterdam Aviation Collector’s Fair Date: February 25th, 2018 Location: Vander Walk Hotel A4 Schiphol Airport Time: 10:30AM to 5:00PM (10:30-17:00) Admission: 2 Euros

MAM: What led you to the idea to host an aviation fair?

PVR: A few friends of mine were with me at a show in Frankfurt in 2016, and we were discussing the aviation fairs that were hosted in Holland. There have been a couple of large fairs over the years, that were wonderful. We thought, why not go back in time and try to re-invigorate the passion and enthusiasm for aviation in the Netherlands. We noticed most shows only start promoting 1-1.5 months before the show and feel this is not enough time.

We then made up flyers and began contacting model aircraft shops and collectors to see if they would be interested in a show in Amsterdam. The response was overwhelming. We reached out to the Vander Walk Hotel to be our host. Holland lacks a large aviation fair that attracts aviation enthusiasts from around the world.

MAM: Why did you choose Amsterdam for the fair location?

PVR: We felt that Holland was lacking a large aviation fair that attracts aviation enthusiasts from around the world.

MAM: Who is the fair sponsored by?

PVR: We’re able to host this years fair due to the generous support from our vendors as well as the visitors who will join us for the festivities on February 25th!

MAM: Who is part of the planning team for this year’s event?

PVR: Rutger Van Hasselp, Arjan Van Vaarwater and myself are responsible for this year’s fair. The three of us were actively engaged in the planning which included designing the website, and flyers. We are working hard to make the event a success.

MAM: Are you an aviation enthusiast yourself? What types of memorabilia do you collect?

PVR: Yes, I am. I used to only collect DC-8 models and had a collection of approximately 200 aircraft. I also collected slides and pictures. After relocating to Sweden I ended up selling my collection. After getting back into the hobby, I focused on collecting 1/200 scale models of Dutch airlines. However, I do enjoy collecting the older jets such as the DC-8, DC-10, and Caravelle.

After a bit of pondering, I felt my collection was a bit small so I decided to add models with Swedish registration numbers to the collection since these can be quite rare. Presently, I have between 40-45 1/200 scale models. Recently, I began expanding my collection to include Boeing 757 models.

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MAM: What led to your interest in aviation?

PVR: When I was a young child my father took our family to Schiphol every other weekend. I loved seeing the DC-8s and 707s. This is when my passion began. Although, my love of aviation cooled a bit as I grew older, I continued to visit the airport through the years, and that reinvigorated my passion.

MAM: What is your favorite model?

PVR: The Aeroclassics KLM DC-8 because it represents the glory days of aviation, and the beginning of the jet age.

MAM: How many vendors do you have registered for the fair?

PVR: We currently over have 110 vendors and 205 tables booked as we want to accommodate as many people as possible.

MAM: What type of aviation memorabilia and collectibles can visitors expect to find at the fair?

PVR: Everything in relation to aviation, including diecast aircraft models, postcards, slides, photos, t-shirts, model dioramas, and aircraft instruments.

MAM: What is your overall goal in hosting the fair?

PVR: Overall, we hope to revive the aviation enthusiasts community in the Netherlands.

Aviation is an exciting thing which still fascinates many.

For more information visit the Amsterdam Aviation Collectors Fair Site at:

1st Interna Amsterdam tional Aviation Collectors Fair

Date: Sund ay February 25, Time: 10.30 a.m. - 16.00 2018 Location: Va p.m. n der Valk www.hotel Hotel Schip schiphol.nl hol A4 • The first big Aviation convention of 2018, don ’t miss it!!

• 150+ tab les with mo dels, instrument s, postcards books, safetycards, slides, and airline offered for me trade by stal lholders from morabilia, all over the • All in one world. large confere nce an excellent hotel on the room (2000 m2) in east side of highway A4.

• Only 10 min ute for those who s from Amsterdam Sch airplane spo wish to combine the iphol Airport, fair with som tting. e

Enjoy the his tory of avi ati pioneer An thony Fokker on at the home of avi ation !!

The location is 1. Car, free easy to reach by: parking at the hotel for room is acc stallholder ess s. The confere free parking ible by car so you can nce unl is available on the wes on both side oad inside. For visi tors s of the A4.

2. Free hot t side, please take the Wh el shuttle brid ge to the eas en parking bus (bus stop 3. Public t side. transport A9‐A13).

(Arr iva busline Airport).

365 and 370 from Schipho l Entrance fee :€2 www.aviat ion amsterdam fair.com @aviation fair.com : facebook.co m/aviation fair

www.aviationfair.com

WIN

This issue we are giving one lucky reader the chance to win a Gemini Jets Hawaiian Airbus A321neo model in 1/400 scale courtesy of Model Airliner Magazine.

Gemini Jets Hawaiian Airbus A321neo GJHAL1653

You could get your hands on this very model!

To win this fantastic release all you have to do is answer the following question: In 1929, Inter-Island Airways, now known as Hawaiian Airlines began service.

What was their first aircraft? a) Sikorsky S-38 b) Ford-Trimotor c) Bellanca CH-300

Send your answer and full name to our email: info@modelairliner.com We will draw out the winner at the beginning of March 2018.

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 March 2018. 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 the winner.

MODEL AIRLINER

ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 39

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/

London Aviation Enthusiast Fair - November 2017 At the end of November 2017, Model Airliner Magazine attended the annual London Heathrow Aviation Enthusiasts Fair held at the nearby Kempton Park. The event was well attended as always and gave us chance to show off the hot-off-the-press Xmas Issue of the magazine. The next one will take place on May 6th, 2018 from 10.30am to 3pm. More info: www.aircraftenthusiastfair.co.uk

40

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SOCIAL MEDIA

This issue’s featured model aircraft related social media group....

Group name: Gemini Jets 1/400 Scale Aircraft Model collecting Platform: Facebook Current members: 1,238 (as of 23rd January 2018) Admins: 3 Summary: A group dedicated to serious model collectors. Buy, sell and share your models with the other members.

Search ‘Gemini Jets 1/400 Scale Aircraft Model collecting’ The group is a closed group which means you will be vetted before being allowed to join.

42

MODEL AIRLINER

ISSUE 6 / FEBRUARY 2018 | 43

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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