400 Scale is increasingly dominated by ultra-modern twinjets like the A321 and 787, which given the age profile of collectors, especially in emerging markets, and the sheer volume of modern aircraft isn’t surprising. Even when a company has got classic moulds getting them to use them regularly, or well, is a challenge, which too often leaves the classics collector reliant on Aeroclassics, and accepting of models that have to be ‘good enough’ because nobody else will make them.
Nonetheless, in recent years there have been a small number of brands, like Patriot Models, who are interested in more obscure types, like the Antonov 12, and increasingly it seems production methods allow for smaller runs and more customisation. Nowadays it is not unusual for even large brands like JC Wings to produce quite obscure aircraft (like the XB-70 or Beluga) and for most brands to be able to produce specific add-ons for existing moulds enabling accurate representations of bizarre unusual one-offs.
Even so, airliners from before 1970 from anyone but Aeroclassics are blindingly rare and often poorly represented in the scale. Unsurprisingly, the focus of Chinese firms when making more unusual types has been aircraft that at least served in China or are Soviet. It is therefore a big surprise to be informed of a RedNote post advertising the creation of a new 400 scale mould for a type never before represented in the scale.
That type is the de Havilland DH.106 Comet 1 – the first pure jet airliner to fly and enter service (even if only briefly). The only previous Comets in 400 scale have been made by Aeroclassics but they all represent Comet 4s (aside from a single release pretending to be a Comet 3) and the Comet 4 is a very different machine to the original Comet.
I so far have no further details than the single post and from it what can be gleaned is the new brand is called AeroTopia and their new Pioneer Series will ‘bring some special stories to those pioneers of milestone and unfulfilled aircraft’.
They have announced 3 Comet 1s for release in December. AU SP1061 E1 is clearly BOAC, AU SP1061 E2 is Canadian Pacific and AU SP1061 E3 is G reg but unclear. Presumably the the third aircraft could only be the prototype, perhaps in company colours or unpainted with the BOAC logo forward?
Also unknown is who is behind this new brand, where they are being manufactured or whether they are even die-cast or 3D printed, although I’m assuming they are diecast at this point.
Obviously, given the Comet 1’s grounding in April 1954 there aren’t a lot of liveries available to be made but in addition to those mentioned there are also Air France, Aeromaritime / UAT and the Royal Air Force (as a Comet 2).
Interestingly there was also seemingly a poll on the post in RedNote asking ‘what else is interesting about the Pioneer series?’. This appeared to have suggestions for future aircraft such as the Dassault Mercure, Boeing SST 2707 and Bristol Brabazon. I guess given the lack of information one shouldn’t get ahead of one’s self and it’ll be interesting to see whether anything comes of any of this or whether it is just idle talk. Regardless, it is great to see that not everyone is only focused on boring modern twinjets and that there are those, even in China, interested in the history of aviation. Hopefully more info will become available soon. Stay tuned.
