Just Aircraft UK - What To Buy & Why?

What To Buy & Why?

Big Bird, Herpa Wings, & Star Jets all have their strengths and weaknesses, so to get the best 1:500 scale models, you need to choose carefully.
This is my guide as to what to buy and why.

Boeing 747 Big Bird for the excellent 747-300/400 mould, its the best in its details and its use of all metal tail and landing gear, the printing is of the highest quality. Their use of the correctly detailed engines is another plus point.
For the 747-100/200 series, Star Jets and Herpa Wings are pretty even on this. Star Jets using all metal parts like Big Bird, and its extra details are a plus point, however, it is let down by the visible seam in the rear tail assembly, where Herpa Wings models do not have this problem, but their tails and landing gear although detailed, are made of plastic.
Boeing 777 Star Jets has this one in their favour with the introduction of their new seam-less mould. With its all metal parts, and high printing detail too. Star Jets are also known for offering liverys that require a polished metal or chrome finish over the rather dull and un-realistic silver paint that Herpa Wings insists on using. The Herpa Wings models are good, but just not quite as good as the Star Jets examples.
Boeing 767 Star Jets, for much the same reasons as the 777. It has a slightly better mould than Herpa offers.
Boeing 757 Herpa Wings, their mould is the best here, and in general is one of Herpa's best, the only draw back being the plastic landing gear and tail. Star Jets' mould is also very good, however the front landing gear has no doors, and that is a problem when being compared to the Herpa.
Boeing 737 Herpa and Star Jets both make popular models for this type. Star Jets printing and detail are better, but they only have the 800 and 900 series moulds, where Herpa has them all apart from the very old 100 series.
Boeing 727 Herpa and Star Jets, again are pretty even here. Both their models are good moulds, and are detailed too. Star Jets has the edge slightly due to its use of the polished metal and chrome over Herpa's silver paint finish, when choosing a model that is produced by both these manufacturers.
Boeing 717 / 707 Herpa has this one to themselves, but due to an excellent mould, these are very nice models.
Airbus A319 / A320 / A321 Star Jets, their mould is just so much better than Herpa's, whose nose, and fuselage is all wrong. Star Jets' only draw back is that the rather small front gear doors are printed, and look like they are missing, where with Herpa, theirs are too big.
Airbus A300 / A310 Herpa. Although, they are the only manufacturer producing these aircraft types, the moulds are good, and the models are convincing.
Airbus A330 / A340 Star Jets. Both these aircraft have superb moulds, along with Star Jets highly detailed printing, and metal tail / landing gear, not forgetting the correctly sized, and very detailed engines. Leaving Herpa Wings laging behind in all departments.
Concord� Herpa, being the only manufacturer, does however have a nice mould for this aircraft, only let down by the old generation rear landing gear, so any future models from any manufacturer could improve here.
Boeing MD-11 Star Jets, this is one of their best moulds beating Herpa in all areas. The usual high standards are evident all over this mould. Herpa, only offering their old generation has no chance.
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Herpa, (but not out of choice, as these are still old generation.) The mould is a good and correct shape, though! This desperatly needs to be made in new generation by Herpa, or by Star Jets, especially with their real metal finishes on colour schemes that require it.
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Star Jets, an excellent mould again, although there is a seam in the tail area, it is always a tight, neat fit. The usual Star Jets metal parts are apparent. Herpa, again, offering its old generation mould has no chance.
BAe 146 / Canadair Jet / ATR Props / Fokker 70 / 100 / DC-3 Herpa, although having this large sector to themselves, has excellent moulds. Making great models in many liverys. This is where Herpa is at its best, with the smaller aircraft, not forgetting its larger, excellent 757 mould, though.

These are all my opinions, but I am sure many collectors will agree with much of the above, and anyone new to collecting should get the best if they follow this as a guide.