Those that read my ramblings know I am a full time classics collector, with only rare forays into near modern territory via a few 1990s US subjects and some 2000s Russkies. Well I am now travelling into unknown territory and going decidedly modern with a portion of my collection. I'll still be collecting classics and scrapping with several of you for Waffle Collection Sales but, finances willing, I'm also going to be branching out into a new area. And where is that area? Well at the risk of doing the dirty twice over not only will I be going modern but also collecting modern Chinese airlines (which I know draw the ire of many of our western members).
Why you ask? Well there are many reasons.
Why modern?
- As I hope you've seen on my new website a big chunk of it relates to the development of the aviation industry since deregulation (or at least liberalisation) of various markets has occurred. Its really interesting stuff and most of it is in the realm of modern aircraft types, since most major markets have only begun to feel market liberalisation since 1990.
- Also I have 800 models and frankly was running out of new aircraft types to collect. Modern aircraft open an exciting new area of different moulds.
- Modern technology opens up a huge potential for exciting liveries especially special schemes, which look stunning. I admit the new China Eastern colours hardly inspire though!
Why China?
- It's without a shadow of a doubt the place to be in aviation at present. I don't think people in the West truly understand the scale of change that has happened there in the past 20 years. It has grown from a tinpot industry with a few aircraft to the second largest market in the world. There are 160 cities with over a million inhabitants and provinces with populations the size of Canada, Spain, Turkey, France etc. So with increasing wealth there's going to be lots of new aircraft and airlines.
- Though it's not fully deregulated its an exciting dynamic market with a wide range of airlines operating lots of different service models and in an interesting regulatory environment.
- Chinese airlines can be conservative, which means there are still some cheatlines about, but they also embrace the capability of modern tech to make truly wonderful new special schemes. Plus the conservatism limits the ability to make ugly cheap low cost liveries like Scoot or Nok Air.
- There are lots of Chinese buyers meaning there are lots of Chinese releases so unlike other developing markets there is an impressive variety of models available and typically from the higher mould quality manufacturers (Aeroclassics and Phoenix).
So there it is my new shelving area will be full of Chinese airliners. I have split the existing shelves into airline specific areas though I can see I'll need a 5th shelf soon for other non-aligned airlines. At present including my two CAAC classics I have six Chinese releases (and yes one is even a 787) but there are nearly 20 on the way to add to these.
Rest assured this also means there will be more modern histories coming too and mould reviews of newer types like Next Gen 737s and A320s.
For my classic friends - forgive me and rest assured Steve that though there will be some modern beauties there will be no Hello Kittys or Pokemons!
Here's how the new area is looking now:
New Chinese 1:400 Model Collection Area by rstretton, on Flickr
New Chinese 1:400 Model Collection Area by rstretton, on Flickr
Why you ask? Well there are many reasons.
Why modern?
- As I hope you've seen on my new website a big chunk of it relates to the development of the aviation industry since deregulation (or at least liberalisation) of various markets has occurred. Its really interesting stuff and most of it is in the realm of modern aircraft types, since most major markets have only begun to feel market liberalisation since 1990.
- Also I have 800 models and frankly was running out of new aircraft types to collect. Modern aircraft open an exciting new area of different moulds.
- Modern technology opens up a huge potential for exciting liveries especially special schemes, which look stunning. I admit the new China Eastern colours hardly inspire though!
Why China?
- It's without a shadow of a doubt the place to be in aviation at present. I don't think people in the West truly understand the scale of change that has happened there in the past 20 years. It has grown from a tinpot industry with a few aircraft to the second largest market in the world. There are 160 cities with over a million inhabitants and provinces with populations the size of Canada, Spain, Turkey, France etc. So with increasing wealth there's going to be lots of new aircraft and airlines.
- Though it's not fully deregulated its an exciting dynamic market with a wide range of airlines operating lots of different service models and in an interesting regulatory environment.
- Chinese airlines can be conservative, which means there are still some cheatlines about, but they also embrace the capability of modern tech to make truly wonderful new special schemes. Plus the conservatism limits the ability to make ugly cheap low cost liveries like Scoot or Nok Air.
- There are lots of Chinese buyers meaning there are lots of Chinese releases so unlike other developing markets there is an impressive variety of models available and typically from the higher mould quality manufacturers (Aeroclassics and Phoenix).
So there it is my new shelving area will be full of Chinese airliners. I have split the existing shelves into airline specific areas though I can see I'll need a 5th shelf soon for other non-aligned airlines. At present including my two CAAC classics I have six Chinese releases (and yes one is even a 787) but there are nearly 20 on the way to add to these.
Rest assured this also means there will be more modern histories coming too and mould reviews of newer types like Next Gen 737s and A320s.
For my classic friends - forgive me and rest assured Steve that though there will be some modern beauties there will be no Hello Kittys or Pokemons!
Here's how the new area is looking now:
New Chinese 1:400 Model Collection Area by rstretton, on FlickrNew Chinese 1:400 Model Collection Area by rstretton, on Flickr
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