Category Archives: 1:250

Promotional Planes – Part Five

By Fabrizio Panico

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

The present pandemic has impacted heavily upon our lives and a lot of things that we once took for granted are no longer possible. Travel has almost stopped: railways services have been reduced, entering other countries banned, and airplanes forced to stay on the ground. Lot of airlines are on the verge of bankruptcy. It is only the memory of previous trips that remains for the moment, helped sometimes by the souvenir scale models of the planes we flew in. These are usually to 1:200 or 1:250 scale and made in China, they are plastic snap together kits, with a hollow fuselage. They are quite easy to assemble quickly, with fully printed airline liveries and a stand to display them on. Following our previous articles, and while we wait to resume our journeys, let’s review some of our most recent “souvenirs” from better times.

Wizz Air Airbus A321neo (1:200 scale by OHS Models)

Wizz Air, legally incorporated as Wizz Air Hungary Ltd, is a European low-cost airline with its head office in Budapest, established in September 2003 (IATA code W6). The airline serves many cities across Europe, plus some selected destinations in North Africa and Middle East. Like many low-cost airlines, Wizz Air prefers to use smaller or secondary airports to reduce costs. In 2019 Wizz Air was able to transport nearly 40 million passengers, and although it is not a flag carrier it has the largest fleet of any Hungarian airline : 137 aircraft, mainly Airbus A320 and A321, with almost 250 on order, all A321. At the present time there are two subsidiaries : Wizz Air Abu Dhabi founded in 2019 and Wizz Air UK founded in 2017, mainly to take advantage of landing and take-off slots acquired from Monarch Airlines at London Luton airport, but also to retain full access to the UK market following Brexit. A new livery was introduced in 2015 to celebrate its 11th anniversary and 90 million passengers.

The Airbus A321 is a member of the A320 family: short to medium range jet aircraft. They are twin-engined with a narrow-body (single aisle) and specifically intended for commercial passenger services. Its stretched fuselage (almost 7 metres longer) was the first derivative of the base A320 and entered service in 1994, about six years after the original A320. The A321neo, similarly to the 320neo, has new, more efficient engines, some structural strengthening in the landing gear and wings, and the addition of “sharklets” (Airbus slang for winglets). The first A321neo entered service in May 2017, both medium and long-range (A321-200) versions are available. Since the start of production more than 2,000 A321 aircraft have been delivered, with 3,000 firm orders for further production.

The 1/200 scale model sports the new Wizz Air livery, no registration number and is produced by OHS Models. A nice reproduction of this aircraft, which is in service with more than 100 operators.


British Airways Boeing 747-400 (1:250 scale by Premier Planes, a brand of Premier Portfolio International – ref. 7325 – code SM747-64HB)


We have already illustrated the British Airways history (see part three), the flag carrier and the largest airline in the UK (IATA code BA). No need to repeat it here.

Even the Boeing 747-400 is an old friend, the same mould already seen with Virgin Atlantic livery (see part three). It is much more interesting in British Airways livery, the 1999-2000 “Union Flag/Chatham Royal Dockyard” that replaced the unpopular “Utopia” livery.

British Airways aircraft already shown (see part three) sported the successive liveries : the “Updated Union Flag” on the A380 (2000-2011) and the “To Fly To Serve Union Flag” on the B787-8 (2011-2014). In this case the “tail number” is G-CIVE. The aircraft registration number (or “tail number”) is a code assigned to each aircraft by its own countries National Aviation Authority, according to the Chigaco Convention (Convention on International Civil Aviation). It consists of a prefix indicating the nationality (one or two-character alphanumeric code) and a registration suffix for the specific aircraft (one to five characters). About liveries, in 2019 four British Airways aircrafts received “retro” liveries (BOAC, BEA and two former BA liveries) as part of the celebrations of a centenary of airline operations in UK.

Following the 2020 global collapse of air traffic BA phased out its entire 747-400 fleet, originally intended to leave service in 2024.


Joon Airbus A320-200ceo (1:200 scale by Socatec Aircraft Models – ref. 18257)

Joon S.A.S. was a short lived subsidiary of Air France (IATA code JN) based at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Created at the end of 2016 as “Boost”, it had changed its name to Joon by July 2017. Operations started in December 2017 and ceased in June 2019 when the group decided that the brand no longer formed part of the group’s long term strategies. Aimed at young people, Joon was intended to compete in the low-cost field, serving short and medium-haul destinations in Europe. Its name “Joon” was chosen for sounding similar to the French word “jeune”, meaning “young”. In June 2019 its staff was absorbed in Air France, together with the sixteen aircraft of its fleet (seven A320-200, four A321-200 and five A340-300), all of them had previously transferred to Joon from the Air France fleet.

The Airbus A320-200 is a member of the A320 family, a short to medium range twin-jet narrow-body aircraft, pioneering the use of digital fly-by-wire flight control systems in the 1980s. After the development of the A320neo (neo for new engine option) in December 2010, the original family was renamed A320ceo (ceo for current engine option). The A320-100 was the first to be produced (only 21 units), while the -200 variant has had over 4,500 units produced. The main changes over the -100 being wingtip fences and increased fuel capacity for increased range.

We have already met an Aegean Airlines A320-200ceo by PPC Holland (see part two) and an easyJet A320neo by Premier Planes (see part one). This 1:200 scale model is produced by Socatec Aircraft Models, is quite a bit heavier than the one by PPC Holland (a cheaper product), there are small differences but the detail level is almost the same.

Livery on this model is the one and only Joon one : white fuselage, grey wings and ailerons, blue tail rudder, with no registration number on it. Quite a nice reproduction, just in time for the Joon shut-down.


Joon Airbus A340-300 (1:200 scale by Socatec Aircraft Models – ref. 18423)

The Airbus A340 is a long range, four engine, wide body jet airliner (twin aisle), its family includes four fuselage lengths, developed in parallel with the twin engine A330. The most common type is the first one launched, the A340-300, sharing the fuselage and wings of the A330. A shorter variant exists as the A340-200, while the heavier A340-500 and A340-600 are longer and have larger wings and different engines. The first Lufthansa and Air France aircraft entered service in 1993 and production ended in 2011 with only 380 aircrafts built, all variants included. It was unable to compete with the more economical B777 due to increased jet fuel prices. In January 2021 Lufthansa, the largest remaining operator, decided the immediate retirement of their entire A340-600 fleet following the global crisis of air traffic.

The 1:200 scale model wears the Joon livery, has no registration number and is produced by Socatec Aircraft Models, like the previous A320-200ceo.

In part one we met another A340-300 by Premier Planes for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), but in 1:250 scale. The Joon one is an imposing model, requiring quite a large space to be displayed.


Manufacturer Details

  • OHS Models (www.ohsmodels.com).
  • Premier Planes is a brand of Premier Portfolio International (www.premier-portfolio.net ).
  • Socatec Aircraft Models (www.socatec.aero )

We welcome your comments and questions.   Please go to our Model Auto Review Facebook page or email the Editors at maronlineeditor at gmail.com.

News from the Continent October 2019 – Schuco

By Hans-Georg Schmitt

This article covers the August and September releases from Schuco. Schuco are based in the heart of the historic toymaking area of Germany but their models are all made in China today. They are mostly diecast to a variety of scales although the Pro-R ranges are moulded in resin.

August Releases

Edition 1:43

450269300 Mercedes-Benz 300SL “Gullwing” -beige

450368800 Volkswagen Transporter T1b Microbus “Fire Brigade”

Edition Pro-R32

450907600 Deutz 60 hp tracked tractor – green

Edition 1:18

450036300 Porsche 911 S Coupe 1973 – black

Edition Pro.R18

450016200 Volkswagen Transporter T1a – Building Society Advertising Vehicle Schwäbisch Hall”

Edition 1:87

452639800 Jaguar E-Type Coupe – grey

September Releases

Edition 1:43

450260200 Porsche 356 A Coupe – stonegrey

450367200 Barkas B1000 Pick up “Schwalbe (Swallow ) Motorcycle Service”

450273700 Eicher ED 16 tractor with mowing bar

Edition 1:18

450016100 Fendt Dieselross F20G – green – with mowing bar

Edition Pro.R18

450905900 Volkswagen Transporter T1b with articulated trailer as race car transporter “Continental Motors” red

Edition 1:87

452640800 Volkswagen TransporterT1 in a set of 8 different pieces

452644500 Volkswagen Transporter T3b Camper “Joker”

452641600 Fendt Favorit 622 LS tractor – green

452641900 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U406 – light green
452643300 Military Vehicle set “Tank Company”

Aviation 1:250

403551697 Concorde “Air France” test livery

We welcome your comments and questions.   Please go to our Model Auto Review Facebook page or email the Editors at maronlineeditor at gmail.com.

News from the Continent December 2019 – Schuco

By Hans-Georg Schmitt

Two releases of models took place in November 2018. Each is described separately below. Schuco-Dickie are a long established German Group which also produces Solido models following their acquisition by the Group. Models are diecast in China for Germany unless stated otherwise. The ranges shown vary in scale and in detail with the Pro ranges being the most detailed and most expensive.

PICCOLO

450533600 Volkswagen T1 microbus “Surfer-Bus”



EDITION 1:43

450185600 Piccolo Gift-Set B


450292900 Hanomag L28 Delivery van “Kreidler” with Kreidler Florett motorcycle and driver figurine

450293900 Hanomag L28 Delivery van “Horex” with Horex motorcycle and driver figurine

450249600 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gull-wing coupe, dark blue


450368900 Set “Volkswagen T1b Samba bus, box van; Pick up with crew cab and Pick up


450374300 Volkswagen Transporter T1b Samba bus, red and beige



EDITION 1:32

450769900 Lanz Bulldog tractor with roof and manure barrel trailer


450781300 Fendt Favorit 622 LS tractor


450781500 Fendt 211 Vario tractor, green


450781700 Fendt 211 V Vario tractor, green


450765900 Set “Legendary tractors” – 3 models in a wooden box



EDITION PRO.R32

450903600 Steyr 1300 System Dutra tractor



EDITION 1:18

450041000 BMW Isetta Export motorcoupe, red/beige


450041100 BMW Isetta Export motorcoupe, blue/grey


450033300 Porsche 550A Spyder”Edition 70 Years of Porsche”, white



EDITION PRO.R18


450008600 Porsche Master tractor, red



EDITION 1:64

452019300 Set ‘Volkswagen Transporter T1’ ( three models )



EDITION 1:87

452632800 Volkswagen Transporter T1c box van with trailer, loaded with Porsche tractor


452634100 Mercedes-Benz O 321 Bus “German Bundespost”



MILITARY 1:87

452636360 MAN 7t gl. KAT1 Rocket launcher Lars II, German Bundeswehr

452636400 MAN 5t gl KAT1 tank truck with spots-camouflage



AVIATION 1:250

403551694 Junkers Ju52/3m


403551682 Ju-Air, Junkers Ju52/3m



AVIATION 1:600

403551691 Boeing 777-300 Air France ‘Olympia 2024’

Second Release November 2018

PICCOLO

450559500 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Piccolo Assembling Box ‘The little Gullwing-Mechanic’



EDITION 1:43

450310300 Mercedes-Benz Lo 2750 Flatbed truck “German Reichspost”


450310400 Mercedes-Benz Lo 2750 Flatbed truck ‘Christmas 2018’


450367600 Porsche 911 S – sepia brown



EDITION PRO.R43

450904100 Magirus Deutz O 6500 ‘Soccer World Champion Germany 1954’



EDITION 1:32

450769300 Lanz Ackerluft Tractor with half track


450778600 Güldner G60A tractor with roof and front loader


450776000 John Deere Harvester 1270G 8W with log


450779900 Hanomag Robust 900 tractor with front loader



Edition 1:18

450011700 K.L. Bulldog tractor – red


450011900 Lanz Bulldog halftrack -blue


450014700 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U401 with wild boar – green



EDITION PRO.R18

450006800 BMW 850i Cabriolet – red

450006900 BMW 850i Cabriolet – blue



AVIATION 1:600

403551690 Airbus A330-300 “KLM”


403551693 Boeing 777-300 “Japan Air Force 1”


Promotional Planes – Part Three

By Fabrizio Panico

 

Three more models from Premier Planes, British liveries for all of them.

Plastic snap-fit model airplanes have been a long time favourite promotional item of the airline and aircraft manufacturing industries, usually to 1/200 or 1/250 scale, made in China and quite easy to assemble quickly. They come with fully printed airline liveries and with a stand to display them. You can found them at Airport Retail Shops, On-Board In-flight Duty Free Catalogs, Airline Company Stores, Airline Marketing/Promotion Departments.

Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-400 (1/250 scale by Premier Planes)

The Virgin airline was established in 1984 as British Atlantic Airways to fly from London to the Falkland Islands, but the short runway at Port Stanley Airport precluded such an idea. Sold to Richard Branson it changed name and started operating between Gatwick and Newark using a leased 747-200. Today Virgin Atlantic uses a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, being in 2002 the first airline to operate the A340-600. It has recently completed a re-fit of all its 747 fleet.

The current livery dates from 2010, its “Eurowhite” design features purple billboard titles on the fuselage (also on its underside), and red metallic paint for the aircraft’s tail and engines. On aircraft that have winglets, the wingtips are red, with the Virgin logo on the inside facing passengers on board. Near the nose of each aircraft is a pin-up girl, the “Scarlet Lady”, carrying a Union flag, a tongue-in-cheek challenge to BA‘s traditional role as the UK’s flag carrier. The registration number on the model is G-VAST.

Following its introduction in 1969, the Boeing 747 became a major success with airlines and the flying public. As the world’s first wide-body jetliner, the 747 revolutionised air travel: nicknamed “Jumbo Jet”,. Its first first commercial flight was in 1970 and the 747 held the passenger capacity record for 37 years. By March 2017 more than 1500 aircraft had been built, with more cargo variants still on order. The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the 747 family. While retaining the four-engine wide-body layout of its predecessors, technological and structural changes produced a more efficient airframe. Its distinguishing features versus preceding 747 models are 6-foot winglets mounted on 6-foot wing tip extensions. It has a cruise speed of up to 920 km/h and a range up to 13,450 km. It entered in service in 1989, and its production ended in 2007 when it was superseded by the improved 747-8.

British Airways Airbus A380 (1/250 scale by Premier Planes)

British Airways (BA) is the flag carrier and the largest airline in the UK, based on fleet size. BA is a founding member of Oneworld, an airline alliance, its main hub is at the London Heathrow Airport.

BA originated in 1974 from the merger of four previous airlines : BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation), BEA (British European Airways), Cambrian Airways and Northeast Airlines.

 

A long-time Boeing customer, in 1998 BA ordered a few Airbus A320 family aircrafts and in 2007 it purchased 12 Airbus A380s and 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, starting its long-haul fleet replacement with the Boeing 777 as the centrepiece.

Its livery went through many different evolutions: the original one was white fuselage with a dark blue underside, blue engine nacelles, a blue speedbird logo (like the BOAC one) near the cockpit, and the tail design representing a quarter of the Union Jack flag with red tail top. In 1984 after some minor colour changes, the speedbird was replaced by a red speedwing, and the red top tail by a blue one with the BA coats of arms. In 1997 BA adopted a new “Speedmarque” on forward fuselage, but the major change was the introduction of tail-fin art (known as “Utopia” or “world image”) representing countries on BA’s route network. Seen as a move away from the traditional British image of the carrier, they were unpopular with many people in the UK. The former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher showed her displeasure at the designs declaring “We fly the British flag, not these awful things.” Virgin Atlantic took advantage of the controversy by applying a Union flag scheme to the front end of its aircraft (to the Scarlet Lady). The model shows a later livery (2011-2014), called “To Fly To Serve Union Flag”, where a crest is added next to titles on the fuselage (white with blue underside), grey wings, blue winglets and engine nacelles. The tail shows one of the old “Utopia” tails (a bit updated), known as “Chatham Dockyard”, initially applied only to the Concorde, a stylised Union flag as flown by Lord Nelson. There is no registration number.

British Airways A380 first service was on August 2013 : it is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner. It is the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft and the upper deck extends along the entire length of the fuselage. Carbon-fibre is used on key parts of the A380, about 25% of its overall structure is made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. As already seen in part two (Air France A380), its first flight was in 2007 with Singapore Airlines. Its range is 15.700 km and a cruising speed of 900 km/h. Components’ transportation, assembly methods and all airport services had to be modified due to its extra-large dimensions.

Comparing the Premier Planes A380 to the Socatec one (both 1/250) it is easy to find some small differences, but quite visible is the different shape of the wings junction to the fuselage (same could be said for the tail wings). Which is the most correct one ? or are they two different versions? Maybe a  reader knows the answer?

British Airways Boeing 787-8 (1/200 scale by Premier Planes)

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a long-haul, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner. It is Boeing’s most fuel-efficient airliner and is a pioneering one with the use of composite materials as the primary material in the construction of its airframe. The 787 Dreamliner’s distinguishing features include extensive electrical flight systems, raked wingtips to improve fuel efficiency, and noise-reducing chevrons on its engine nacelles. The airliner’s maiden flight took place at the end of 2009, with the first delivery in 2011 (launch customer All Nippon Airways). The 787 is the first major commercial airplane to have a composite fuselage, composite wings, and uses composites in most other airframe components. Carbon fibre, unlike metal, does not visibly show cracks and fatigue, prompting concerns about the safety risks of widespread use of the material. The rival Airbus A350 uses composite panels on a frame, a more conventional approach, which its contractors regarded as less risky. The aircraft has suffered from several in-service problems, but the most known concerns fires on board related to its lithium-ion batteries. A FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) directive in January 2013 grounded all 787s in the US and other civil aviation authorities followed suit. After a revised battery design the 787 returned to passenger service later in April.

British Airways has ordered a total of 42 Boeing 787 aircraft, the first of which (a 787-8) arrived in 2013, and the first 787-9 (a stretched version) in 2015. With a typical capacity of 214 passengers and a mach 0.89 speed, it enjoys more comfort thanks to increased humidity, low pressurization and larger windows. The windows are interesting as they have no conventional blinds instead an electrochromic dimming system is used so that the windows can pass gradually from completely transparent to completely obscured.

The model’s livery is similar to the one on the BA A380, but it is missing the crest next to titles on the fuselage : it is a 2000-2011 livery, called “Updated Union Flag”, with the UK titling removed from rear of fuselage and the tail flag enlarged and raised higher on the tail compared to the previous livery, the 1999-2000 “Union Flag / Chatham Royal Dockyard” that replaced the unpopular Utopia scheme. There is no registration number.


Premier Planes is a brand of Premier Portfolio International (www.premier-portfolio.net ). This company specialises in supplying products to airlines and airports carrying airlines liveries.


We welcome your comments and questions.   Please go to our Model Auto Review Facebook page,  or email us at maronlineeditor @ gmail.com.

Promotional Planes – Part Two

By Fabrizio Panico

 

Here are three more models from my “souvenir” collection. As usual they are to 1:200 or 1:250 scale and made in China. They are plastic snap together kits which are quite easy to assemble quickly. They come with fully printed airline liveries and with a stand to display them. You can found them at Airport Retail Shops, On-Board In-flight Duty Free Catalogues, Airline Company Stores, Airline Marketing/Promotion Departments, and sometime (not them all) at a few specialised retailers.

Aegean Airlines Airbus A320 (1:200 scale by PPC Holland BV)

Aegean Airlines is the largest Greek airline by the total number of passengers carried, by the number of destinations served, and by fleet size. A member of Star Alliance since 2010, it started operating in 1987 as VIP and business carrier. Scheduled passenger services started in 1999 with two BAe Avro RJ100 planes. Following healthy growth it acquired its main rival, Olympic Airways, at the end of 2013. Today its fleet is composed of Airbus aircraft, mainly A320-200 and A321-200, plus a Learjet for VIP transport.

As already seen in part one the Airbus A320 is a short to medium range twin-jet narrow-body airliner, pioneering the use of digital fly-by-wire flight control systems in the 1980s . Unlike the easyJet one, this is a model of an A320-200ceo (current engine option), missing the “sharklets”.

The Aegean livery is mostly “eurowhite”, featuring a thin red line towards the lower part of the fuselage. Above it, the fuselage is white and features the airline’s name, written in dark blue.

Below the red line, the fuselage is painted grey, like the wings. The Aegean Airlines logo, two seagulls flying in front of the sun, is featured on the tail of the aircraft. No registration number is printed on this plane.


 

Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 (1/250 scale by Limox Wings)

No need to trace the history of Lufthansa, the largest German airline, and the largest in Europe in terms of fleet size when combined with its subsidiaries. Formed in Berlin in 1926, after the Second World War it  had to wait 1955 before being allowed to restart scheduled flights. In 1997 it was one of the five founder members of Star Alliance. Its fleet saw aircraft by Lockheed, Douglas, Vickers, Boeing etc, today the majority is by Airbus, plus a few Boeing 747s to be joined by the new 777.

The A350-900 is the cornerstone of Airbus all-new A350 XWB (extra wide body) family : long-range, twin-engine wide-body jet airliners shaping the future of medium, long and ultra-long haul travel with state-of-the-art comfort and amenities. The A350 is the first Airbus with both fuselage and wing structures made primarily of carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer. The first A350 entered service in 2015 with Qatar Airways, and the first Lufthansa flights were in 2017.

The livery is the classic one: white fuselage, grey on the lower part, blue Lufthansa logo, white wings, blue tail with the “crane” in a yellow roundel, and grey engine casings. The registration number is D-AIXA.


 

Air France Airbus A380-800 (1/250 scale by Socatec)

Air France needs no introduction: the French flag carrier was formed in 1933 from a merger of several airlines, it was a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance and merged in 2003 with KLM. Starting with Potez 62, then DC3, DC4 and Lockheed Constellations, Air France entered the jet age in 1953 with the Comet, the world’s first jetliner, the Sud Aviation Caravelle, the Boeing 707 and later on the 747 and the Airbus A300. The first Concorde flew in 1976 from Paris to Rio, starting supersonic transport. Today Air France operates a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing wide-body jets on long-haul routes, and A320 on short-haul ones.

The Air France A380 was introduced at the end of 2009 on the Paris to New York route. It is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner, which first flew in 2007 with Singapore Airlines. Its range is 15.700 km and a cruising speed of 900 km/h.

Being the world’s largest passenger airliner, it is quite easy to understand the problems found on assembling the different extra-large components to be transported from the different production facilities all over Europe : traditional transportation methods often proved unfeasible. The same happened at airports, their services (lifts, tractors, jetway bridges etc) had to be modified in order to accommodate the A380.

Since the late 1970s Air France’s livery is a “eurowhite” scheme : white fuselage with the blue airline’s name, grey wings. The tail is white with a series of parallel angled red and blue lines across it. Since 2009 the livery saw the tail slightly changed : there are now 3 blue bars running down instead of 4 previously. The bars also now curve at the bottom, reflecting the design of the logo.

The model wears this latest livery with the registration number F-HPJA.

About the makers of these promotional models

PPC Holland BV, founded in 1978, is one of the largest trade-only supplier of aviation related gift items, working with all the major aircraft manufacturers and supplying to more than 200 airline and aviation related companies (www.ppcholland.nl).

Limox GmbH, founded in 2004, has taken over the distribution of Hogan Wings brand models for Europe, Russia and the Middle East : they are sold under the “Limox Wings” brand, like every Lufthansa licensed model (www.limox.de and www.hoganmodels.com). Some of them can be found on Amazon online shops.

Socatec Aircraft Models has developed a very wide range of models and decorative items on the theme of Aeronautics and Space for enthusiasts and professionals over the last 20 years. As a supplier of promotional items Socatec offers a range of official objects for famous brands, like Air France (www.socatec.aero).

More planes can be seen in Part 1.


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Promotional Planes – Part One

By Fabrizio Panico

How many times while waiting to board your flight did you visit the shops at the airport, or once embarked did you look through the airline magazine? Of so you probably saw this sort of model of airliners. Not exactly a toy (usually marked 14years+) being made to scale and sponsored by the airlines themselves.

A nice “souvenir” of your travels, a gift to a younger relative, or a collectors piece? Here are a few examples I have collected. They are usually to 1:200 or 1:250 scale and made in China. They are plastic snap together kits which are quite easy to assemble quickly. They come with fully printed airline liveries and with a stand to display them.

easyJet Boeing 737-200 (1/200 scale by Premier Planes)

An historic plane for easyJet,since the airline started operating from Luton airport in 1995 with two “wet leased” Boeing 737-200s.

This kind of livery is called “telephone number livery” (initially booking was by telephone only), and it carries registration number G-BECH.

The 737 is a short to medium range twin-jet narrow body airliner, derived from 707 and 727, later developed into a family of ten models with capacities up to 215 passengers. Launched in 1965, it had its first flight in 1967 and entered service with Lufthansa in 1968. The 737-200 is an extended fuselage version and entered service in 1968 with United Airlines.


 

easyJet Airbus A320 (1/200 scale by Premier Planes)

Like other low-cost airlines easyJet’s strategy is to operate just one aircraft type: initially Boeing 737, then Airbus A319 (still operating) and now Airbus A320. It sports the white and orange 2015 livery, and carries registration number G-EZOM. By the presence of the winglets, named “sharklets” by Airbus, it can be identified as an A320neo (new engine option) which entered in service in 2016 with more efficient engines, airframe improvements and the winglets.

Like the Boeing 737 the Airbus A320 is a short to medium range twin-jet narrow body airliner, its family includes the A318, A319 and A321, with capacities up to 220 passengers, and a range up to 12.000 km. The A320 family pioneered the use of digital fly-by-wire flight control systems. The A320 was launched in 1984, first flew in 1987 and was first delivered in 1988.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Airbus A340-300 (1/250 scale by Premier Planes)

SAS is a member of the STAR Alliance. SAS uses the A340-300 on all its Asian routes. It is configured in three different classes and has a total 245 seats. It has a length of 63.7 metres and a wing span of 60.3 metres, a cruising speed of 875 kph and a range of 12.800 km. The current livery was introduced in 1998 : a fuselage in light beige with “Scandinavian” in silver and “Airlines” in white. The tail and winglets in blue, and the engine casings in scarlet. There is a stylised version of the Scandinavian flags. No registration number is printed on this plane.

The Airbus A340 is a long range, four engine, wide body jet airliner, its family includes four fuselage lengths. The most common type is the first one launched the A340-300, sharing the fuselage and wings of the twin engine A330. A shorter variant exists in the A340-200, while the heavier A340-500 and A340-600 are longer and have larger wings. They seat up to 440 passengers, with a range up to 16.700 km.

The first Lufthansa and Air France aircraft entered service in 1993 and production ended in 2011.


Premier Planes is a brand of Premier Portfolio International (www.premier-portfolio.net). This company specialises in supplying products to airlines and airports carrying airlines liveries.

Readers are invited to send us articles and we would welcome articles about static aircraft models. MAR magazine used to incorporate Mini Avia and we would be very happy to continue that tradition if readers with some knowledge would like to contribute information and articles.  

We welcome your comments and questions.   Please go to our Model Auto Review Facebook page,  or email us at maronlineeditor at gmail.com.