NG Models has struggled with producing a 747 classic mould, which is surprising given the quality of the rest of their mould catalogue. This model has been released as part of a new subline called NG Lite. To get a full understanding of what NG Lite represents see my Youtube Video on NG Lite here. As it stands this NG Lite version is substantially cheaper than a standard NG Models release and that does provide significant compensation for it not being quite up to the standards of their usual products. Let’s see how it fares under review.
Each review is to split into three key areas:
- The model mould
- The paint and livery reproduction
- Printing and quality control
Each section can get a maximum score of 10 for a maximum combined score of 30
MOULD
I have now reviewed two versions of the 747 classic sample from NG Models and neither have particularly impressed, but there’s definitely an excellent 747 fighting to get out in this version, albeit one that still needs some work (as NG have accepted). For my review of the ‘sample’ from May see here:
A lot of the criticism of this mould has been associated with the shape of the nose, which bears a strong resemblance to that of the NG 747SP. The criticism isn’t wrong, but as with the 747SP, it doesn’t have a drastic impact on the finished product, when painted up. Having said that, the angle leading up from the nosegear to the nosecone is not sharp enough and the nosecone point ends up being slightly too low.
It is certainly something I would like to see fixed, because it does make the nose inferior to some older moulds (especially the Dragon and BigBirds) and will also probably negatively impact it in comparison to the new HX Models 747 under development.
The rest of the fuselage is very nice and this joins a very short list of seamless 747 moulds, made up of the Dragon Wings, Aviation400, and the abomination Phoenix calls a 747. Unlike on the latter the wing/fuselage join is very well crafted.
Arguably, a bigger issue than the nose on the mould are the wings. They look great from distance but if you look in detail towards the tip they are clearly too wide, with an extra 6th leading edge slat that simply shouldn’t be present. This is a major error that I had picked up way back in October last year when I reviewed the original sample. NG have said they will fix it.
Pleasingly NG have created 747-100 specific engine pylons, which are well shaped aside from the inner ones, which do not extend far enough back on the wing. The rear margin should extend far closer to the flaps.
Criticism has also been aimed at the size of the engine nacelles, which are a little too large at the front. Once again these originally came from the 747SP, which people haven’t really had an issue with, but wrong is wrong.
There are no issues with the rear of the fuselage or stabilisers, which are excellent. Being an NG Lite release it isn’t fitted with aerials.
There’s no doubt this mould has flaws but even with them it still presents well. Hopefully, most of them can be fixed before long. For a company with the experience and good history of NG this mould is a mis-step, but even with the flaws it is still miles better than the Phoenix version.
SCORE – 6
PAINT & LIVERY
The 747 prototype livery is simple but iconic with the red cheatline and flash on the tail. There has been some discussion over the corect colour of the titles with some suggesting they ought to be black. That isn’t true and the dark blue used here is correct.
Positionally the elements are fine, although the meeting point of the top of the cheatline and the nosecone radome does illustrate the imperfection in the shape of the nose itself.
The model is painted as it was when it first flew, not as it is today. That means it doesn’t carry the ‘City of Everett’ titles or the test pilot names under the cockpit but does include the Western Air Lines Indian Head logo by the 747 titles. NG put a lot of effort into identifying all the airline customer logos and they are present and correct as far as I can tell.
SCORE – 10
PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL
NG has said that the NG Lite line may come with some simpler printing, but I don’t see any evidence of that here really – possibly because originally this was never intended to be an NG Lite release. Overall the print work is good.
One area of print I would like to have seen better is on some of the airline logos. They are very small and yet identifiable by eye, however a couple, especially the Continental Saul Bass meatball, are not as well defined as I’d like them to be.
Build quality of the model is good, but when it arived the left side wing was detached. Fortunately, there was no paint damage and I was able to reattach it, but there was a marked absence of glue.
SCORE – 8
CONCLUSION
Overall, this model scores reasonably well, all things considered but it is a compromise. I don’t have major issues with the concept of NG Lite, although it really isn’t aimed at collectors like me, but it is impossible not to feel that NG have slipped this model into that category because it isn’t up to their usual standards. Having said that, the price point for this model is substantially lower than it would be if it were a standard release. That helps, but I’d rather have a better model myself. They have said they fix the mould and they really need to because with HX Models breathing down their neck with a competing 747 classic they need to get it right next time.
FINAL SCORE – 24/30
