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This may come as a surprise to some of you given my classic leanings but my favourite aircraft type is probably the Boeing 757. I find it to be a massively satisfying aircraft both in terms of appearance and performance. Being the workhorse of the UK charter fleet there were always plenty at Gatwick when I was a kid, flying for the likes of Air Europe, Inter European, Monarch, Air 2000, Airtours, Flying Colours, Caledonian etc and of course whenever I visited Heathrow I was quickly bored by the stream of BA 757s.
Gemini's 757 Moulds
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It is a bit of a shame therefore that like the L-1011 and A310 it hasn't had the best deal in 1:400. Gemini have made an impressive 82 models (four have also been badged as schucos) however 59 of those have been US examples which I guess is hardly a surprise given the 757s popularity in the USA and Gemini's focus. Their breakdown of US 757s is as follows:
Allegient: 2
America West: 9
American Airlines: 8
ATA: 1
Continental: 2
Delta & Song: 11
Eastern: 1
FedEx: 1
Hooters: 1
National: 1
North American: 1
Northwest: 2
Omni: 1
TWA: 1
United: 4
UPS: 8
USAF: 2
US Airways: 3
I actually like the Gemini mould however as is well known its failings primarily centre around the undercarriage which is uber-chunky. I also think that on some models the cockpit windows are too small and misplaced (see AWA original colours for example).
Interestingly until I actually started looking in detail at my 757s I didn't realise there had been two different Gemini 757 moulds. Prior to about 2001 the seam ran around the wing joint fairing whilst post 2002 or so they seam was modified and a smaller seam presented. Here is a comparison of the two moulds (US Airways older mould / Delta newer mould). Interestingly you can clearly see here the difference in cockpit printing. I actually prefer the larger US Airways printing:
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on Flickr
The newer mould also doesn't have horizontal stabiliser seams and looks like it sits a bit higher at the back:
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on Flickr
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on Flickr
Other Manufacturers
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In addition Phoenix have done 20 models using the Gemini mould though just recently they seem to have refitted it with rolling gears. Being Phoenix as per usual the wheels are far too large and the nosegear too short giving the new version a bizarre nose-down stance which looks awful in my opinion.
Anyway there's a good mould fighting to get out here and with some mods to the undercarriage it would be a very good one. The 757 certainly deserves it. Sadly I get the feeling that there have been too many releases to make it worth Aeroclassics while making their own mould which is a shame as there are plenty of older 757s that I'd like to see.
I should also mention that Dragon Wings made 9 aircraft on their own mould which is ok too but again suffers from poor nosegear and often bad cockpit printing.
In my collection I now own 12 of Gemini's 757s - all being Yankees except for one. Here are some shots of them:
Delta 97 colours and Eastern are old mould: Delta Widget and NW new mould
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on Flickr
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on Flickr
US Airways old mould : rest new mould
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on Flickr
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on Flickr
ATA old mould : 2 AWA New mould
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on Flickr
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on Flickr
Gemini's 757 Moulds
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is a bit of a shame therefore that like the L-1011 and A310 it hasn't had the best deal in 1:400. Gemini have made an impressive 82 models (four have also been badged as schucos) however 59 of those have been US examples which I guess is hardly a surprise given the 757s popularity in the USA and Gemini's focus. Their breakdown of US 757s is as follows:
Allegient: 2
America West: 9
American Airlines: 8
ATA: 1
Continental: 2
Delta & Song: 11
Eastern: 1
FedEx: 1
Hooters: 1
National: 1
North American: 1
Northwest: 2
Omni: 1
TWA: 1
United: 4
UPS: 8
USAF: 2
US Airways: 3
I actually like the Gemini mould however as is well known its failings primarily centre around the undercarriage which is uber-chunky. I also think that on some models the cockpit windows are too small and misplaced (see AWA original colours for example).
Interestingly until I actually started looking in detail at my 757s I didn't realise there had been two different Gemini 757 moulds. Prior to about 2001 the seam ran around the wing joint fairing whilst post 2002 or so they seam was modified and a smaller seam presented. Here is a comparison of the two moulds (US Airways older mould / Delta newer mould). Interestingly you can clearly see here the difference in cockpit printing. I actually prefer the larger US Airways printing:
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on FlickrThe newer mould also doesn't have horizontal stabiliser seams and looks like it sits a bit higher at the back:
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on FlickrGemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on FlickrOther Manufacturers
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition Phoenix have done 20 models using the Gemini mould though just recently they seem to have refitted it with rolling gears. Being Phoenix as per usual the wheels are far too large and the nosegear too short giving the new version a bizarre nose-down stance which looks awful in my opinion.
Anyway there's a good mould fighting to get out here and with some mods to the undercarriage it would be a very good one. The 757 certainly deserves it. Sadly I get the feeling that there have been too many releases to make it worth Aeroclassics while making their own mould which is a shame as there are plenty of older 757s that I'd like to see.
I should also mention that Dragon Wings made 9 aircraft on their own mould which is ok too but again suffers from poor nosegear and often bad cockpit printing.
In my collection I now own 12 of Gemini's 757s - all being Yankees except for one. Here are some shots of them:
Delta 97 colours and Eastern are old mould: Delta Widget and NW new mould
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on FlickrGemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on FlickrUS Airways old mould : rest new mould
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on FlickrGemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on FlickrATA old mould : 2 AWA New mould
Gemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on FlickrGemini Jets Boeing 757-200s by rstretton, on Flickr
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